2 Timothy 3:4 says “People will be treacherous when there will be terrible times in the last days.” This means that people will easily betray others for their own survival and this will become common in the last days. Even nowadays, people easily betray or slander others for their own benefit. It will be a really terrible time.
When Korea had tough days under Japanese colonial, those who took part in independence movements were arrested and cruelly tortured by Japanese police. Even though the police officers tortured them brutally to find out hidden members of the movements, they did not say anything but shouted, “Hail for the independence of Korea!” and died in imprisonment. On the other hand, some of them gave up enduring torture and betrayed fellow members of the movements.
Bible explained that Christians will betray each other in the time of distress of the last days. Matthew 24:9-12 says, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
Why would people hand others over to persecution? It is for their own benefit. The Bible said that false prophets will deceive many people, wickedness will increase, and the love of many will grow cold on the last day. This means that people will do illegal things for their own needs, by any means. When Judas handed Jesus over to the chief priests, he was driven by the evil selfishness of taking his own benefit.
We should make a firm decision not to betray the name of Jesus no matter what may happen to us. What we have to do is only glorify His name. We should not become stupid betrayers of Him by trying to make use of Jesus for getting fleshly benefits or financial advantages. This is stupid. We should remain faithful and keep faith to give glory to the Lord.
Pastor Seok-Jeon Yoon
Extracted from Yonsei Newspaper #794
