THE STORY of an infamous murder in Victorian London reminds us of Paul’s warning to Timothy of godlessness in the end times.

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. (2 Tim. 3:2–5, ESV)

In the 19th century, Darwinian evolution and the occult teachings of Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy, formed competing worldviews based on the notion that humanity was either evolving into a higher life form or devolving from a race that lived during a golden age. Paul took neither view, but warned Timothy that a rise in godlessness would emerge in the last days. But as Jesus told the disciples on the Mount of Olives, when we see such things, look up because redemption draws near.