Many people will be pleasure lovers, slanderers, and unholy in the Last Days, according to the Bible
Pleasure lovers, Slanderers, and Unholiness in the End-Times
Hello and welcome back to Spiritual Podcast, the podcast where we unpack the Word of Yahweh in the Bible and hold it up to the world around us. I’m your host, Elder Dan. Today, we’re diving deep into a passage that feels like it was written for the headlines we’re scrolling through right now: 2 Timothy 3. Buckle up, because Paul’s words to Timothy are about to hit us right where we live. Let’s talk about the Last Days, where people are described as lovers of pleasure, slanderous, and—here’s the kicker—having a form of holiness but denying its power. Sound familiar? Let’s break it down.
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So, picture this: Paul’s writing to his young protégé, Timothy, and he’s laying out a vivid description of what the Last Days will look like. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim—having a form of holiness but denying its power.” Yes, that’s a long list. Some of those I have already discussed in previous episodes. I urge everyone listening and reading this to check them out.
Now let’s unpack this, starting with that phrase: lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Yahweh. Doesn’t that just nail the vibe of our culture today? We’re living in an era of instant gratification. Scroll, like, binge, repeat. Whether it’s chasing the next dopamine hit from a viral video or obsessing over the perfect vacation pictures to post on socials, we’re wired to prioritize what feels good right now. But here’s the thing: pleasure isn’t inherently bad. Yahweh created good things for us to enjoy. The problem comes when worldly pleasure becomes our priority over heavenly things—when it’s Yahweh, our Elohim, who we must worship and chase first above all else!
I was reading a post on social media one day—yep, I went down the rabbit hole—and someone was ranting about how society is obsessed with “living your best life” at the expense of everything else. And I thought, “Wow, that’s 2 Timothy 3 in a nutshell.” We’re so focused on curating our personal brand of happiness that we forget the deeper call to love Yahweh Almighty and live for His purposes.
Next up, let’s talk about that word slanderous. If there’s one thing that defines our online world, it’s this. Slander is not just gossip anymore; it’s weaponized. It’s cancel culture, hot takes, and tearing down other people’s characters 100% or more. Paul warned us that in the Last Days, people would use words like daggers—spreading lies, twisting truths, and destroying reputations without a second thought. And don’t we see that everywhere? From everyday feuds, reality TV, and celebrity drama, we’re quick to judge and quicker to condemn.
But here’s where it gets real: slander doesn’t just hurt the person on the receiving end. It poisons the one dishing it out, too. It’s like we’re building walls between each other, brick by brick, with every harsh word. And in the process, we’re drifting further from the love and grace we’re called to show.
And now let’s get to the part that really stings: having a form of holiness but denying its power. This one’s tough because it’s not about outright rejecting Almighty Yahweh—it’s about faking it. It’s showing up to church, posting that inspirational verse, or reading the Bible while living a life that says, “Elohim’s power doesn’t actually change me.” Yes, it’s spirituality as a costume, not a conviction!
I think about the big name religious leaders and influencers out there—some with massive platforms—who talk a big game about faith, but their actions tell a different story. Maybe it’s the pursuit of fame over humility or preaching justice while ignoring love. Paul’s saying that in the Last Days, people will wear holiness like a mask, but when push comes to shove, they’ll deny the transformative power of the Bible. And honestly? That’s a challenge for all of us. Are we living like the Holy Spirit actually has the power to reshape our hearts, our choices, our lives? Or are we just going through the motions?
So, what do we do with this? The Apostle Paul doesn’t just leave us with a grim picture. At the end of verse 5, he gives Timothy a charge: “Have nothing to do with such people!” Now, that’s not about shunning everyone who messes up—because, let’s be real, we’d all be on that list sometimes. It’s about being discerning. It’s about surrounding ourselves with people who are serious about pursuing Yahweh’s whole truth, not just playing the part. And it’s about checking our own hearts to make sure we’re not slipping into that “fake form of holiness” trap.
Here’s the hope in all this: Yahweh, our Father in heaven, His power is real! It’s not just a nice idea or a catchy hashtag. It’s the power to forgive, to heal, to transform. In a world chasing pleasure and throwing shade, we’re called to be different—to love Yahweh first, to speak truth with love and grace, and to let our faith actually mean something.
Friends if you’d like to continue this conversation or share your thoughts on this topic, leave a comment below or reach out to me directly. You are also welcome to read or listen to our previous podcast on this website and visit our sister website by clicking here to read and learn more genuine truths from the Bible.
Alright, that’s it for today’s episode of Spiritual Podcast of genuine Bible truths. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s take Paul’s words to heart and ask ourselves: Are we lovers of Yahweh or lovers of pleasure? Are we building others up or tearing them down? And are we living in the power of the true Gospel of Yahshua the Messiah or just wearing its mask? Folks, what do you think of our topic today? We’d love to hear your feedback on the subject wherever you’re listening and let’s keep this conversation going. Until next time, stay rooted in truth and keep seeking Almighty Yahweh, the One who holds it all together.
Brethren, before I go, let me pray this prayer for you: May Yahweh bless you and keep you; may Yahweh make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. I humbly pray all these things to Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah, our Master and coming King, amen. Kindly keep praying for the shalom of Israel. Take care. Halleluyah!