11. slanderous: This is the sin which Satan often does before God. He slanders the believers, slandered Job. This is a vice inherited from Satan. “Whoever slanders his neighbour in secret, him will I put to silence” (Ps.101:5a). Men have always told hurtful lies about other men, but today, in media and in politics, slander has been elevated to both big business and big money.
12. Without self-control: Self control is an important quality for any believer. Timothy was an young man. Paul says that “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (1:7). If someone lacks self-discipline, he should ask God to improve his self-discipline. The Holy Spirit provides us the self-discipline. The story of no self-control can be written across almost everything today – sex, drugs, alcohol, food, work. Whatever we do, we often do it out of control.
13. Brutal: Resembling the beast, showing lack of sensibility. Cruelity and brutality would increase in proportions in the last days.
14. Not lovers of the good: Always on the lookout for evil. A disjointed or separation of body acts and heart. Always looking out for harming someone so that he may be benefitted.
15. Treacherous: Dangerous, trending to betray people.
16. Rash: A disregard for rules, regulations. Violations of human divine systems thereby causing pain and suffering for others.
17. Conceited: False pride, having an exaggerated sense of self importance. This is the mark of the beast (follower of anti-christ) who deceives the world through his false pride, false teaching. The above vices brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, onceited are all found in evil people. These will increase in proportion as the day of the Lord is approaching.
18. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God: People love pleasure, enjoyment, entertainment. They do not want to be grateful to creator and sustainer of their lives. “If we deny or disown Him, He will also disown us” (2:12b). Today, we live in a culture when the simple good of life is now despised and attacked, through abortion, through the glorifying of violence and murder, and through euthanasia.
19. Having a form of godliness but denying the power of God: In the last days many will come with empty promises. They have a form of godliness, but deny the very power of God. Anti-christ will come with all might and pomp. There would be leaders who would try to unity, one nation, one world-power etc. They are all followers of antichrist to deceive and trap the children of God. In our self-obsessed world, people feel very free to have a “salad bar” religion. They pick and choose what they want. They feel free to be very “spiritual,” but sense no obligation to be Biblical.
This attitude marks our current age. There was a national advertising slogans in US 1990s:
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- Nothing is taboo.
- Break all the rules.
- Live without boundaries.
- Relax: No rules here.
- Peel off inhibitions. Find your own road.
- We are all hedonists and want to do what feels good. That’s what makes us human.
- Just do it.
The message is the same: You make your own rules. You answer to no one. You are the one that matters. Your universe revolves around you. This is nothing but denying the power of God.
Turn away from such people: It is God’s command that we turn away from such people described by the above characteristics. Many people think that it is just enough to give little heed to such people, but spend time with people such nature. But when we entertain them, they put their influence upon us. “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor.15:33).