If you’ve been paying attention to the tone of the culture lately, you’ve probably felt it: people seem quicker to snap, quicker to hate, and slower to show basic human decency. We’re watching public meltdowns, aggression in everyday interactions, and a growing sense that something is “off” in the way society behaves.
That’s why so many believers keep returning to the Bible’s warnings about the last days—especially the phrase “perilous times.” It’s not just a dramatic slogan. Scripture describes a real spiritual and moral environment that grows harsher as the end draws closer.
In a recent videocast, Scott discusses the “big picture” of what’s happening—how lawlessness appears to be accelerating, how public behavior is becoming increasingly unhinged, and how a climate of chaos can be used to push larger systems of control. Whether you agree with every detail or not, the central question is worth wrestling with:
How should Christians think and live when the world increasingly resembles the conditions Scripture warned would come?
Below is an informational overview of the themes discussed—grounded in biblical language, emphasizing discernment, and pointing to the practical “playbook” believers need right now.
When Love Grows Cold: The Normalization of Lawlessness
Jesus gave a warning that hits differently in today’s world:
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12, KJV)
“Iniquity” isn’t merely personal mistakes—it’s a societal pattern of lawlessness, rebellion, and moral inversion. When that becomes common, love doesn’t just weaken; it cools. Compassion dries up. Patience disappears. People become more hostile, less human, more reactive.
You see this in everyday public encounters now—situations that used to end in embarrassment or apology increasingly end in screaming, threats, and violence. The point isn’t to mock broken people; it’s to recognize what Scripture said would happen when lawlessness spreads: love collapses, and behavior follows.
“Perilous Times” Isn’t Vague—It’s a Character Profile
One of the clearest “last days” passages isn’t a timeline. It’s a description of people:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, KJV)
Notice what makes the times “perilous”:
- Self-worship (lovers of their own selves)
- Material obsession (covetous)
- Arrogance and contempt (boasters, proud)
- Moral breakdown in families (disobedient to parents)
- Spiritual counterfeits (a form of godliness, denying the power)
That last line is especially sobering: religion without power. Christianity reduced to aesthetics, slogans, politics, or performance—while the transforming power of Christ is ignored. The result is a world filled with noise, but starving for truth.
Chaos Creates “Solutions”: Why Discernment Matters More Than Ever
A key theme discussed is that social disorder often becomes the justification for new layers of control. When fear rises, people beg for “security.” When violence increases, people accept surveillance. When trust collapses, people hand power to systems they would have resisted in calmer times.
Whether the headlines involve protests, policing controversies, immigration crackdowns, or culture war flashpoints, the pattern is the same:
- Crisis
- Public panic
- A new “solution”
- A permanent shift in power
Christians don’t need to live in paranoia, but we do need to live awake. The Bible repeatedly warns of deception in the last days, and deception thrives where people are emotionally hijacked and spiritually dull.
Discernment means you don’t instantly “pick a side” because a clip went viral.
It means you slow down, test the claims, weigh motives, and refuse to be manipulated by outrage.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV)
“As the Days of Noah”: Not Just Sin—A World Being Prepared
When Jesus compared the end times to Noah’s era, He wasn’t merely talking about wickedness. He was describing a world that carried on as normal—right up until judgment arrived.
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37, KJV)
Noah lived in a culture that had crossed lines and normalized corruption. Yet Noah’s response wasn’t to blend in or become numb.
He built. He preached. He obeyed. He stayed faithful.
That’s the “playbook” believers need today:
- Build your life on obedience, not trends
- Keep your family anchored in truth and stability
- Stay spiritually alert, not entertained into apathy
- Refuse the counterfeit, even if it looks like “religion”
Noah didn’t “win” the culture. He walked with God in it—and that’s what mattered.
Don’t Get Lost in the Theater—Stay Focused on the Assignment
There’s no shortage of noise right now: endless commentary, viral clips, rage cycles, and “breaking news” every hour. It’s easy to get pulled into distraction—arguing constantly, doom-scrolling, or living in a permanent adrenaline spike.
But Christians aren’t called to be consumed by the chaos. We’re called to be salt, light, and watchmen—with steady hearts and clean hands.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life…” (Luke 21:34, KJV)
The “cares of this life” can be more than finances—it can include obsession with the spectacle. If you spend all your strength reacting, you’ll have none left for praying, witnessing, serving, and enduring.
Practical Steps for Believers Living in Perilous Times
Here are grounded actions you can take right now:
1) Strengthen spiritual disciplines
Daily Bible reading, prayer, and consistent church life are not “optional extras” in perilous times—they’re survival.
2) Guard your inputs
Not everything that trends is true. Not everything that’s “shocking” is important. Protect your mind and your household.
3) Learn to slow down
If something is designed to trigger outrage, it’s probably designed to control your attention. Pause before you share, accuse, or conclude.
4) Prioritize your witness
The darker the world gets, the more precious genuine Christian character becomes: humility, compassion, courage, truth, and stability.
5) Keep an eternal perspective
Systems rise and fall. The Word of God stands. Christ is still King.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, KJV)
Want the Full Breakdown?
If you want to hear the full discussion and the broader context behind these themes—perilous times, lawlessness, societal instability, and how these patterns connect to end-times warnings—watch the episode here.
