I really appreciated this message.

While not downplaying the idea a persecution in these last days, he stresses that the "difficult times" mentioned in 2 Timothy 3 is referencing the difficulty in removing self off of the altar and loving God more than loving self. Everything mentioned in the verses below is an offshoot of loving self.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

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Todd