Danger South Of The Border

According to some, the country of Mexico is blowing up after the assassination of a major drug lord as we read in a report from Reuters:

One of Mexico's most notorious drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera, or "El Mencho," was killed in a military raid on Sunday, sparking widespread retaliatory violence. President Claudia Sheinbaum has been under mounting pressure from Washington to intensify her offensive against drug cartels blamed for producing and smuggling drugs, particularly the synthetic opioid fentanyl, across the border to the U.S.

El Muncho died while after he was captured:

Oseguera, 59, the mastermind of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died in custody after being injured in a military operation by Mexican special forces in the town of Tapalpa in Mexico's Jalisco state, according to Mexico's defense ministry. His corpse arrived in Mexico City on Sunday afternoon in a heavily guarded convoy of National Guard troops.

Apparently the US aided in the capture:

Reuters had reported on Sunday that a new U.S.-military-led task force played a role in the raid led and carried out by Mexican forces. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later posted on social media that the United States provided intelligence support. Leavitt added that the Trump administration "commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation."

The arrest and death of El Mencho in turn sparked a torrent of cartel violence that is making the country unsafe to visit and even leave:

After reports of El Mencho's death, cartel henchmen blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than a half a dozen states, paralyzing parts of the country. No civilian deaths have been reported. In Jalisco's popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, frightened tourists on social media described a "war zone" as plumes of dark smoke rose into the sky from around the bay. Air Canada (AC.TO), opens new tab, United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab, Aeromexico and American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab suspended flights in the area.

In short, Mexico is burning up with no end in sight. It’s tragic, but is this a prophetic sign?

Perilous Times

But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. (2 Tim 3:1-4, AMPC)

Paul tells us when these difficult times will occur in the first verse. He notes that it will be in “the last days” and so we need to scrutinize that phrase to figure out what he means. Obviously the advice had to mean something to Timothy, so was he only talking about those days alone? Yes and no. Yes, Timothy should definitely watch for these people in his church and environment. It would be silly to think it didn’t have that connotation. However, the Greek word used for “last” gives a future meaning as well. The word is ésxatos (from esxaton, "end, last") – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). 2078/esxatos ("future things"), the root of "eschatology" is "the study of last things." This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death ("the after-life"). You will notice that the word is used when we talk about prophecy and so the interpretation that it is also talking about the very last of the last times is seen in this verse as well. We’re not stretching this point at all.

A Harsh Environment

We turn once again to the Greek word for “perilous” is xalepós and in Thayers Greek Lexicon we read that it means hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous when talking about environment and harsh, fierce, savage when talking about men. Putting it together, Renner explains it this way:

This word chalepos was used to denote spoken words that were hurtful, harsh, cruel, ruthless, cutting, wounding, and therefore hard to bear. But it was also used to describe animals that were vicious, ferocious, fierce, unruly, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and dangerous. In nearly every place where this word is used in secular literature of the ancient world, it depicts something said that is harmful or an environment besieged with high risk or danger.

I think the point is made that we should sleep with one eye open during these times. Even physical harm can occur with these people and they are not below putting killing on their list of things they want to do. As you can see I’m not exaggerating when I say that Mexico is just one more example of the times just before Jesus returns.

A Much Bigger Problem

Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 doesn’t single out one nation - it describes what societies look like when moral restraint collapses and evil becomes normalized. That’s why it resonates when we look at regions where cartel intimidation shapes daily life. It starts with the inner engine: people becoming lovers of money and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. When greed and appetite take the driver’s seat, violence becomes a tool instead of a taboo. From there, you see the breakdown of restraint: people become without self-control, reckless, and increasingly brutal - not just committing violence but using it to dominate and terrify. As fear spreads, trust collapses. Paul’s words treacherous and slanderers fit a world where betrayal, propaganda, threats, and narrative control become weapons - and where silence can feel safer than truth. And when a culture trains itself to defy authority and conscience, it shows up as broad rebellion: disobedient attitudes, unholy living, and even a chilling loss of normal human compassion - what Paul calls being without natural affection. Worst of all, this environment can develop a religious “shell” that looks respectable while denying real transformation - an appearance of godliness but denying its power. That’s how Lawlessness doesn’t just exist; it gets covered, excused, and absorbed into “normal life.”

That’s the sober connection: not “Mexico equals prophecy,” but Mexico as a real-world example of the kind of perilous times Paul said would come - and a reminder to stay awake, stay prayerful, and refuse to let our love grow cold.

No Fear

It is important to understand how we should feel about the times we live in. As each of the various terms are studied and dissected, one could easily get depressed or live in fear of what these people are capable of doing overall, let alone to us personally. But again, a closer look at the Greek word used for “perilous” and the only other time it is used in the New Testament will help us set our approach and attitude so that it is uplifting and not fearful. This Greek word is also seen in describing the two demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28:

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. (NLT)

As the narrative suggests, going anywhere near these two men was a dangerous thing and no one dared do it. The implication is that death would ensue and most likely did for some. But we need to recognize someone who wasn’t afraid to see them. Jesus didn’t hesitate to go to them because He was greater than the demons in these men. So are these dangerous times, yes. But should we be fearful, no. Again, I turn to the same article from Renner to tie a ribbon on this lesson:

Because the word “perilous,” the Greek word chalepos, is used to describe the demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28, I personally believe that the Holy Spirit was warning us that demonic activity will be released in the last days that will bring about hurtful, harsh, cruel, ruthless, cutting, wounding situations that will be emotionally hard to bear. As a result of demonic activity, the world will become a place that is vicious, ferocious, fierce, unruly, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and dangerous. We are living in a generation that faces threats that no other generation has ever known. As always, the Holy Spirit was correct in what He was trying to tell us.

So how should we as believers respond to all of this?

Should we stay in our houses, close the blinds, and hide from what’s going on in the world?

Should we never fly on a plane again or take public transportation?

Should we stop sending our children to public schools?

What should we do in response to these Spirit-predicted truths and the external reality that continually faces us in the world today?

Instead of retreating in fear, you and I must accept the challenge to step forward as Jesus did when He encountered the demon-possessed men of the Gadarenes. What terrified other people and made them retreat in fear is exactly what beckoned Jesus to action. In this hour, we must not retreat in fear!