4. People will be proud (huperephanoi): self-exaltation, conceit, arrogance; being haughty; putting oneself above others and looking down upon others; scorn, and contempt. It means to show oneself; to lift one's head above another; to hold contempt for another; to compare oneself with others. Pride can be hidden in the heart as well as openly displayed.

Very simply stated, the proud person feels that he is better than others. Note that this is a feeling within the heart. The proud person may appear quiet and humble, but within his heart he secretly feels better than others. God resists the proud.

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

"Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Romans 12:16).

"For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Galatians 6:3).

"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined" (Psalm 10:2).

"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

"A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin" (Proverbs 21:4).

"He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat" (Proverbs 28:25).

"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north" (Isaiah 14:13).

"Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD" (Obadiah 4).

5. People will be blasphemers (blasphemoi): the word means to slander, insult, rail, revile, reproach, curse. Blasphemy is usually thought to be against God, and it is. But it is also a sin against men. Men can blaspheme men. Think of the cursing and insults thrown against God and men today. Practically everyone is cursing and reviling someone: mothers, fathers, children, teachers, professionals, actors, comedians, politicians, even some professing religionists feel the need to occasionally curse in order to be acceptable.

Why is there so much cursing today? Because there is a loss of respect for both self and others, for both position and authority. People rail, revile, insult, reproach, and curse when they are disturbed within—when they sense dissatisfaction, disapproval, unacceptance, bitterness, emptiness, loneliness, and reaction within their heart. A disturbed and dissatisfied heart causes people to blaspheme God and man, including themselves (blaming and cursing themselves when they fail and come ever so short).

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne" (Matthew 5:34).

"[Men] whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness" (Romans 3:14).

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God" (James 3:8-9).

"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12).

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

"And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:12).

"[The wicked person] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity" (Psalm 10:7).

"For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak" (Psalm 59:12).

"As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him" (Psalm 109:17).

"For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others" (Eccles. 7:22).

6. People will be disobedient to parents (goneusin apeitheis): refusing to do what one's parents say; rebelling against one's parents; showing disrespect to parents; rejecting parental instruction; dishonoring parental example. If a child will not honor and respect his mother and father, who will he respect? If a child will mistreat his parents—those who are the closest to him—who else will he mistreat? If a child will not obey his parents, those who love and care for him most, who then will be obey? Parents are the ones who gave birth, loved and cared for the children of the world. If the children are not loyal to them, then the children will not be loyal to anyone. The home, society, and civilization will crumble.

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).

"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19:3).

"Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen" (Deut. 27:16).

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD" (Psalm 34:11).

"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old" (Proverbs 23:22).

"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it" (Proverbs 30:17).

"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Matthew 15:4).

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Ephes. 6:1-3).

"But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite [repay, take care of] their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God" (1 Tim. 5:4).

7. People will be unthankful (acharistoi): no sense of gratitude or appreciation for what one has and receives; no giving of thanks to God or man. Many persons feel that the world and society or business and government owe them the good things of life. They have little if any sense of debt to others. This is the reason many waste time on the job, do mediocre work, and feel little obligation to the world and society. They fail to see how privileged they are to be alive and to live in such a beautiful world and to have a job and friends and neighbors. They fail to see how good God has been to them, and how caring and responsible some people are. Therefore, they reach out to get more and more without sensing any need to express thanks and appreciation. They take and take and forget all about the thanksgiving—the debt and contribution—they owe to God and men.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:21).

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [fit] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col. 1:12).

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thes. 5:18).

"When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee" (Deut. 8:10).

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name" (Psalm 100:4).

"And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing" (Psalm 107:22).

8. People will be unholy (anosioi): profane, indecent, shameless, given over to the most base passions, being blind to modesty, decency, purity, and righteousness. The unholy person...

·is mastered by passion.

·seeks constant gratification of the flesh.

·senses little shame.

·is blind to decency.

·seeks his pleasure in the abnormal. (Just think of the abnormal sex that is flaunted today.)

Thought 1. Oliver Greene has a very practical and straightforward comment on unholiness:

"This is an unholy age. People have lost respect for their bodies. Women (even church members, professing Christians) dress indecently and expose their nakedness. Men do the same. Men and women tear down the temple of the Holy Spirit.

" 'What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods' (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

"A person who tears down and destroys his body through drink, tobacco, foods, and habits is unholy in his living.

"This is an age when people have lost respect and reverence for a holy God, the holy Bible, and holy living. If you are 'a good mixer,' if you can play cards, dance, drink, dress indecently, laugh at a filthy joke, you are a wonderful fellow, a number one citizen; and you can teach a Sunday school class, pray in public, sing in the choir, and hold any number of responsible positions in the church. But the church member who refuses to drink cocktails, use tobacco, attend dances and parties, and who believes in old-time Christianity is called a fanatic or a 'religious square' " (The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Timothy and Titus, p.335).

"That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear" (Luke 1:74).

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11).

"For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:45).