"This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come" (II Tim. 3:1).
In Paul's epistle to Timothy he
describes in great detail what would characterize the last days before the
return of Jesus Christ. There are
several unmistakable indications that the time period we are now living in
could properly be called the last of the last days. There are many signposts that point us directly to the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ. We are nearing
the end of the present age and it won't be long until Jesus comes back in the
air for His saints in the Rapture. For
the saint of God the last days should be a time of great rejoicing as we
anticipate the Rapture, but is also a time of great sorrow as we witness the increase
of immorality and apostasy, conditions which are associated with the last
days.
Almost
two thousand years ago the writers of the New Testament declared that they were
already in the last days. The New
Testament frequently describes the time frame between the first and second
Advents of Jesus Christ as the last days, meaning that it is the closing period
of this age. At this late hour we are
living in the last of the last days and have every reason to expect the
imminent return of Jesus Christ. As we
examine the conditions that describe the last days we ought to be following the
admonition of Jesus Christ in Luke 21:28 which states: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and
lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Many
people falsely assume that the last days consist only of a brief time period
just before the coming of the Lord in the Rapture. However when one looks up all the references to the "last days", "the latter
days", and "the time of
the end" in the Holy Scriptures he will find that this time period
began with the first Advent of Jesus Christ and will culminate in the second
Advent of Jesus Christ. In fact many of
the signs given by Jesus Christ that relate to His second coming have reference
to the seven- year tribulation period which begins right after the Rapture of
the saints and ends with the second Advent of Christ to the earth to set up His
kingdom. I agree with A.W. Pink who
wrote:
"All
the 'Signs' recorded in the Word of God have to do with His return to the
earth. But as there will be only a
comparatively short interval between the two stages in the second coming of
Christ, the Signs which proclaim the one announce the other. If the fulfillment of certain inspired
predictions declare that the return of Christ to the earth is near at hand,
then His descent to the air is so much nearer still. If we know that the end of the Age itself is now almost reached,
then it is doubly certain that the Rapture of the saints may occur at any
hour." (1)
There
are several passages of Scripture that tell us precisely when the last days
began. They began with the first Advent
of Jesus Christ to the earth. Hebrews
1:1-2 declares: "God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Thus the writer of Hebrews considered
himself to be in the last days. The
last times are associated with the manifestation and incarnation of the Lamb of
God who was foreordained to be a sacrifice for the sins of His people in I
Peter 1:20 which states: "Who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
these LAST TIMES for you."
John the beloved considered the days in which he lived as the last time
in I John 2:18 which states: "Little
children, it is the LAST TIME; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,
even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last
time." Though the Antichrist
has not yet come on the scene we have witnessed several forerunners of
Antichrist over the past two thousand years who have had the foul spirit and
motives of the Antichrist. Technically
the last days have spanned almost two thousand years.
There
are several other events that will occur in the time frame known as the "last days." The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached
around the world, first by the Lord's New Testament churches before the
Tribulation Period, and then by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the
Tribulation Period. Matthew 24:14
declares: "And this gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; AND
THEN SHALL THE END COME." The
end referred to in this passage is the end of the present age which will
culminate in the Second Advent of Christ when He comes back to the earth with
His saints to usher in a new age of righteousness and peace of one thousand
years.
The seven-year Tribulation Period, known
as the time of Jacob's trouble, which begins right after the Rapture of the
saints, is also included in the time frame of the "last days."
Jeremiah 30:7; 23-24 state: "Alas!
For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's
trouble; but he shall be saved out of it...Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD
goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the
head of the wicked. The fierce anger of
the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed
the intents of his heart: IN THE LATTER DAYS ye shall consider it."
The restoration of Israel is also included in
the time frame known as the "last
days." Hosea 3:5 declares: "Afterward shall the children of
Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall
fear the LORD and his goodness in THE LATTER DAYS."
Finally,
the last days will culminate with the establishment of a Theocratic Kingdom
upon the earth when Jesus Christ shall reign with His saints for a thousand
years. Micah 4:1-3 describes this
blessed period of time: "But in the
LAST DAYS it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above
the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
And many nations shall come, and say, come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach
us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of
Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more."
Since we have established the Scriptural
time frame for the period known as the last days, we will now proceed to
examine the conditions that will prevail in the last days that point us to the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we
examine the many signs of the coming of the Lord we should remember that the
Rapture is imminent and could occur at any time. May God grant us grace to "discern
the signs of the times" (Matt. 16:3) as we view the conditions of the
present age and anticipate the coming of our Lord.
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and
fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4).
The
angel informed Daniel of two primary signs that will be evident at the time of
the end. They are as follows:
1. "Many
shall run to and fro" meaning that the ability to travel great
distances with ease will characterize the last days. When this prophecy was written it was difficult for man to cover
great distances. Walking, horseback,
camels, and mules were the fastest ways to get from one place to another. For almost eighteen hundred years the
ability to travel great distances in a relatively short period of time was
virtually unknown. However, since the
invention of the steamship, the locomotive, the automobile, the airplane, and
the space shuttle man has been able to travel great distances with ease. Sir Isaac Newton, the great scientist of the
early 1700's, commented on this verse by predicting man would one day be able
to travel fifty miles per hour.
Voltaire, the reprobate philosopher, a century later, said that Newton
had allowed the Bible to make him a deluded fanatic for predicting such
nonsense. Yet man can now get from one
place to another by traveling several hundred miles per hour. A trip that would once take weeks or months
can now be easily accomplished in a few hours.
All one has to do is go to any major airport to find many running to and
fro with great ease!
2. The angel also informed Daniel that "knowledge shall be increased." Over the past one hundred years the increase
of educational, scientific, and technological knowledge has been
phenomenal. Fifty years ago who would
have ever dreamed that vast amounts of vital information could be stored on a
small micro chip! Technology is
advancing at such a rapid rate inventions
and computers become obsolete in a very short period of time. Not only has knowledge increased, but the
ability to transmit information has also been phenomenal. Computers, faxes, and satellites now
transfer up to the minute information with ease.
Another
aspect concerning the increase of knowledge is the ability of the governments
of our world to store vast amounts of information about each of its
citizens. Vital information can be
called up from computer memory on any given individual in the United States in
a matter of minutes. There has been a
push for a cashless society in the world economy for several years. Technology has already been developed where
biochips can be placed in the skin of the hand of an individual enabling them
to transact their business without cash.
It is interesting that the mark of the beast will be necessary to buy or
sell during the Tribulation Period. I
am sure that this type of technology will be employed by the Antichrist and the
one world government. Some twenty five
hundred years ago God told Daniel that there would be phenomenal advances in
travel and knowledge. We are seeing
these things occurring before our very eyes!
"And as he sat upon the mount of
Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall
these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of
the world?" (Matt. 24:3).
Many
of the signs Jesus speaks about in Matthew twenty four will have a complete
fulfillment during the seven-year Tribulation period and will culminate in His
second Advent to the earth. However,
many of the initial aspects of these signs have been partially fulfilled in our day.
1. Jesus foretold of distress among the nations
in Matthew 24:6-7 which state: "And
ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom..."
Many of those critical of premillennialism will say that there have
always been wars and rumors of wars.
That is true, but everyone must admit that violence and warfare have
seen a significant worldwide increase over the past seventy years or so. World War One was the first war to involve
several nations fighting against one another and it was only a harbinger of the
brutal wars that would follow. World
War Two was international in scope involving several nations with multitudes of
casualties. The Korean War, the Vietnam
War, the Israeli-Arab Conflict, the war in Bosnia, gang warfare in the streets
of America, and countless other wars and revolutions have taken place since
World War One. Never in human history
has there ever been a period of such
worldwide fierceness, violence, and bloodshed as there has been over the
last seventy five years. These wars are
only skirmishes compared to the violence and warfare that will occur during the
last half of the Tribulation, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon. In our present day, war could break out at
any time and in any place. Certainly
this sign is being at least partially fulfilled before our very eyes.
2. Matthew 24:7 declares: "...and there shall be famines, and pestilence's, and earthquakes
in divers places." Presently
two billion of the world's population are going to bed hungry every night. Thousands are dying from starvation and
malnutrition around the world. Within
the last fifteen years we have witnessed two of the worst famines in recorded
history in Ethiopia and Somalia. Along
with terrible famine comes pestilence and disease. Those who are not killed by starvation usually die because of
pestilence that is directly associated with their unsanitary living
conditions. Even in countries where
there is plenty of food pestilence and disease are stalking the
population. The disease of cancer has
claimed millions of lives in this century alone. Diseases associated with sexual immorality are more rampant today
than ever before. The deadly and
incurable plague of AIDS is spreading world wide. Even though our modern world is highly sophisticated and more
technologically advanced than ever before, famines and incurable diseases are
wreaking havoc on the world population.
Jesus also warned that there would be
earthquakes in various places. Never
before in human history has there ever been as many earthquakes in various
places in such a short span of time.
Prior to 1960 there were only twenty four major earthquakes recorded
from 34 A.D. until 1959. Since 1960
there have been over forty major earthquakes.
Stop and think how many major earthquakes have happened within the last
twenty years. Just within the last
decade Mexico, China, India, Russia, Japan, and California have been hit with
major earthquakes. Earthquakes are
happening all over the world like never before. Every time that I hear of another devastating earthquake I
remember the words of the Lord and look for His soon return.
3. Matthew 24:12 declares: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax
cold." Think how prevalent
sin, iniquity, and open violation of God's laws have become over the past
thirty years. Several million unborn
babies have been legally slaughtered in America alone in the last twenty years,
because the love of many has waxed cold.
Immorality, infidelity, illegitimacy, teenage pregnancy, and pornography
run rampant because the love of many has waxed cold. We have witnessed the breakdown of the family because of the
moral disintegration of our society.
Murder, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse are prevalent in our society
because the love of many has waxed cold.
What is even worse is the coldness that exists among professing
Christians. Some churches should be
renamed "First Church of the Deep Freeze", Jack Frost, Pastor because
of the coldness that exists!
4. Matthew 24:24 declares: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
should deceive the very elect."
More new religions and religious leaders claiming to have the corner
market on truth and the answer to all of life's problems have arisen over the
past one hundred years than in all of recorded human history. These false Christs and prophets are
preparing the way for the reception of the Antichrist. The present day Charismatic Movement, that
is popular among the masses of professing Christendom, boasts of great
miracles, signs, and wonders. The false
prophets who are promoting the Charismatic Movement are preparing the way for
the Man of Sin. The religious masses
who are being deceived today by the false religious peddlers will gladly
receive the message of the Antichrist when he arrives on the scene. II Thessalonians 2:9-10 declares: "Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved."
5.
Matthew 24:32-33 declares: "Now
learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth
forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see
all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." The fig tree represents the nation of
Israel. When the branch is yet tender
and brings forth some leaves then know that the time of the Lord's coming is at
hand. The picture is that of an
immature fig tree that has not yet brought forth any fruit. In 1948 Israel officially became a nation. Israel has yet to bring forth fruit unto God
because she has not yet been converted.
However the fact that she is presently occupying the land promised by
God in the Abrahamic Covenant should startle the world into anticipation of the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Matthew 24:37-39 declares: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into
the ark. And knew not until the flood
came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be." If you study the
characteristics of the days of Noah prior to the flood you will find that they
are very comparable to our present day.
Every form of wickedness imaginable was rampant among the masses
according to Genesis 6:5; 11-12 which states: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually...The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled
with violence. And God looked upon the
earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the
earth." Noah's day was
characterized by sexual immorality, divorce and remarriage, gluttony, and
drunkenness. Broken homes, immorality,
sexual perversion, and alcohol abuse were the rage of Noah's day. It was hard to find men and women with any
virtue or goodness. It doesn't take
much imagination to see that our present world is overrun with the very same
conditions that existed during Noah's day.
It is estimated that one out of every two marriages ends in divorce
today. By the year 2000 experts predict
that seventy-five percent of all children will be raised in a broken home. Moral corruption and violence covered the
earth in Noah's day. In our day violent
crime runs rampant in the streets of every major city in America, like never
before. The terrible wickedness of
Noah's day prompted the Lord to send a world wide flood that destroyed the
inhabitants of the earth. The terrible
wickedness of our day is going to prompt the Lord to send wrath and judgment upon the inhabitants of
the earth in a time period known as the seven-year Tribulation. Believers ought to praise God because Enoch
was translated to Heaven prior to the flood of Noah while he was yet
alive. He escaped the judgment and
wrath of God. Enoch is a type of all
believers who will be caught up in the Rapture prior to the Tribulation Period
when God shall pour out His wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth.
There
are several other signs that Jesus gave in Mark thirteen and Luke twenty one,
but the ones listed above will suffice for our present study. Our Lord gave us some clear signs of His
coming which should prompt us to take heed to Mark 13:29 which states: "So ye in like manner, when ye shall
see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors." Jesus is coming soon, let us be watching,
waiting, and eagerly anticipating that great day!
There
are several passages of Scripture where Paul gives clear details of the
conditions of the last days prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these will no doubt overlap with
some of what has already been written.
The last days according to Paul can be summarized by a moral and
doctrinal falling away from the truth as well as conditions described as
perilous times.
II Thessalonians 2:1-3 states: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that
ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for
that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man
of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." The Man of Sin in this text is the Antichrist who will
deceive the nations during the seven-year Tribulation period. He will not be revealed until the saints of
God are caught up to Heaven in the Rapture.
However, there will be an apostasy, or a falling away that will occur
among the masses of professing Christendom prior to the revealing of
Antichrist. This apostasy will prepare
the way for the Antichrist to deceive the nations with his Satanic wiles.
Anyone
who is casually acquainted with the precious truths of the Word of God knows
there has been a serious doctrinal and practical apostasy from the truth over
the last one hundred years. Higher
criticism, theological liberalism, theistic evolution, Charismatic
emotionalism, feminism, easy-believism, and Arminianism have all prepared the
way for the Antichrist. We are living
in an age of apostasy where the Lord's churches are backing off from the truth,
compromising with error, and embracing sin.
There has been a doctrinal departure from the grand old doctrines of the
faith which was once delivered to the saints.
This doctrinal departure has resulted in a moral falling away from
consecration, devotion, and holiness as well.
People no longer practice Christianity as they once did. Many profess to know Jesus as Saviour yet
they live their lives in such a way that you can't distinguish them from the
average worldling. There has been a
falling away of the true worship of the Lord that should be marked by reverence
and sincerity. Reverential worship has
been replaced with emotionalism and Charismatic foolishness. There has been a falling away of true
conversions marked by a changed life and a pursuit of holiness. Millions have been duped by easy-believism
which has spawned countless numbers of religious false professors who live like
the devil and bring reproach upon the name of Jesus Christ. Modern seminaries are cesspools of spiritual
corruption. Pulpits are being filled by
false prophets who refuse to preach the truth because they are afraid they will
offend some one. Many present-day
preachers fit the description given in II Peter 2:1-3 which states: "But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way
of truth shall be evil spoken of. And
through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:
whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth
not." If you ever watch the
television evangelists you will find that most are more concerned about money
than they are the souls of men. They
make merchandise of God's people through their fake healing, false teachings,
and dishonesty.
The
apostasy has infiltrated the churches in such a way that the people sitting in
the pew would rather hear fables than the truths of the Word of God. This was prophesied by Paul in II Timothy
4:3-4 which states: "For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall
turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." There are very few church members who can
endure the truths of total depravity, unconditional election, particular
redemption, effectual calling, perseverance and preservation of the saints,
local church, separation from the world, and holy living. Instead they clamor after preachers who will
make them feel good by raising their level of self-esteem and comfort. People would rather listen to a preacher who
tells jokes and exciting stories.
People have itching ears, they want to be entertained by professional
pulpiteers rather than have the precious truths of the Word of God preached to
them.
I
agree with A.W. Pink concerning this time of apostasy:
"That
time has arrived! Church-goers today
will not endure 'sound doctrine.' Those
who preach the total depravity of man, who insist upon the imperative necessity
of the new birth, who set forth the inflexible righteousness and holiness of
God, and who warn against the Eternal and conscious torment awaiting every
rejecter of Christ, find it almost impossible to obtain a hearing. Such preachers are regarded as puritanical
pessimists, and are not wanted. In
these degenerate times, the masses demand that which will soothe them in their
sins and amuse them while they journey down the Broad Road. The multitude is affected with 'itching
ears' which crave novelty and that which is sensational. They have ears which wish to be 'tickled,'
ears which eagerly drink in the songs of professional and unsaved soloists and
choristers, ears which are well pleased with the vulgar slang of our modern
evangelists." (2)
I
Timothy 4:1-4 gives another description of the moral and doctrinal departure
that will be evident in the last days: "Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding
to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be
received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
There
has been an obvious departure from the faith once delivered to the saints in
our present day. Hypocrisy is on the
rise. People's consciences have been so
seared by sin they no longer know or care about the difference between good and
evil, holiness and sin, or light from darkness. Many are seduced by unholy spirits and devilish doctrines. The cults are preaching Gnosticism. Mainline denominations are preaching the
heresies of Pelagius and James Arminius who taught that man is his own
Savior. Many of the "United
Churches" have succumbed to the devilish heresies of secular humanism
which teaches that man is his own God.
New Age mysticism, reincarnation, and the occult are becoming
increasingly popular falsehoods that are believed by a great mass of religious
people.
One
of the doctrines of devils mentioned in I Timothy four is the doctrine of
forbidding to marry. The Roman Catholic
Church has long held to the false idea that her priests and nuns are to remain
unmarried. This teaching has caused
widespread sexual immorality and homosexuality among her clergy through the
years. However, the "forbidding to marry" is only
confined to the clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. We are seeing this devilish doctrine of "forbidding to marry" become much more widespread in our
day. The devilish teachings of Feminism
have all but destroyed the sacred union of holy matrimony. The reprobate lifestyles of homosexuals and
lesbians are in direct opposition to the institution of marriage described in
the Bible. There has been an increasing
number of people who substitute marriage with living in sin. These are all present day outgrowths of the
doctrine of "forbidding to
marry."
The
prohibition of meat eating prophesied in our text is also a doctrine that has
been on the rise in recent years. The
New Age religions, Islam, and many others have some sort of prohibition of
meats in their religious systems. It is
clear to see that the doctrinal and moral departures described in the above
passages of Scripture are a reality in our present day. These characteristics may have been seen in
years gone by, but not with the intensity of our present day. Surely we are living in the last of the last
days if Scripture means anything.
PERILOUS TIMES
"This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come. For men
shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away...But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived" (II Tim. 3:1-5 & 13).
It is
interesting that the same Greek word for perilous (chalepos) is translated "exceeding fierce" to describe
the demoniac of Gadera in Matthew 8:28.
The idea expressed is that the last days will be hard to bear, marked by
fierceness, and demonic immorality.
This passage describes in detail the self-centered humanistic behavior
that will characterize the last days.
Professing Christendom will not only capitulate to humanistic doctrine,
but also to an immoral, pagan lifestyle.
There are no less than twenty phrases used to describe the perilous
times of the last days in this passage of Scripture.
1. "Men
shall be lovers of their own selves."
In recent years we have seen the promotion of a me-first attitude among
professing Christians. The doctrines of
self-help, self-image and self-esteem are becoming more and more popular. Our present age is characterized by a
general attitude of selfishness among the masses.
2. "Covetous." Accumulating material goods and money has
become one of the most important things to people in our day, even among
professing Christians. The
"prosperity gospel" is becoming more and more popular. People want to have it all. As a consequence of idolatrous covetousness
many are in debt like never before.
Both parents normally work and spend little time in raising their
children in order to accumulate more material goods. A spirit of covetousness abounds in our present world.
3. "Boasters." Men are bragging and boasting about their own
accomplishments like never before.
Sinful man is taking credit for advances in technology, health care, and
science. Those who accumulate wealth
pat themselves on the back and tell others how they have pulled themselves up
by the bootstraps. The elite of society
boast of superior intellectual prowess.
Preachers are boasting of churches and kingdoms they have built through
various ingenious methods. Yet few
refrain from their boasting long enough to give God the glory that is due His
name.
4. "Proud." This Satanic attitude is prevalent in most
people today. More emphasis is placed
upon the accomplishments of men than ever before. Even though God condemns the attitude of pride, secular humanism
teaches man to be proud of himself, his accomplishments, his wealth, his skin
color, his immorality, and his social standing.
5. "Blasphemers." There is a new openness about sin in our
society and even in professing Christianity.
There is little shame associated with immorality. Men blaspheme God and His Word with little
thought. People use God's name in vain
quite frequently with little guilt or remorse.
Blasphemy is common fare in music and television.
6. "Disobedient
to parents." We are living in
an age where many young people are openly rebellious and have little or no
respect for authority. Many children
have been raised with little or no Biblical discipline so they behave like disobedient brats. Children who argue, back talk, and fuss with
their parents are common in our present day.
In many homes the children rule the parents rather than the parents
ruling the children. Many teenagers pay
little attention to the instruction and advice of parents, but rather choose to
fit in with their peers. Drug abuse,
sexual immorality, addiction to Satanic Rock and Roll music, and vandalism are
all prevalent in our modern world because children have become increasingly
disobedient
7. "Unthankful." I would estimate that an overwhelming
majority of people in America never bow their head and give thanks to God for
the blessings of food, clothing, and shelter.
Even professing Christians rarely show their gratitude to God by being
good stewards of their time, money, and possessions.
8. "Unholy." Most people, even professing Christians,
openly ridicule a life of separation from the world and holy living. Most Christians in our day resemble the
world in their speech, appearance, and behavior. Godlessness and worldliness abounds like never before. Few churches are pure, and few preachers
ever speak on the necessity of holiness.
Many churches allow their members to live in sin, abuse alcohol, and
commit adultery without any correction.
9. "Without
natural affection."
Homosexuality and lesbianism are portrayed as acceptable and normal
lifestyles in our perverted age.
Abortion is legal. Child abuse
and molestation is on the increase like never before. Parents are murdering their children and children are murdering
their parents. Things that are being
done today would have been unheard of only forty years ago. These are all evidences of the absence of
natural affection.
10. "Trucebreakers." A man's word can no longer be believed in
our present age. Contracts, marriage
vows, promises, and treaties are constantly being broken with little or no remorse
or shame. In days gone by a man's word
meant something, but not in our day.
11. "False accusers." Defamation of character, slander, and
malicious gossip are all common in our day.
People are buying the tabloids to read the most up to date gossip. People will openly lie about others to
further their own interests.
12. "Incontinent." The Greek word for "incontinent" is akrates
which means powerless, impotent in a moral sense, unrestrained, and without
self control. If there was ever a day when
immorality was unrestrained it is our day.
People no longer possess self control.
Rather they are controlled by their fleshly passions and lustful
desires. That is why divorce,
premarital sex, and marital infidelity are on the rise like never before. Another aspect of incontinence is the
widespread abuse of drugs and alcohol.
13. "Fierce." The word carries with it the idea of
physical brutality and violence. Our
society is saturated with crime and violence like never before. News reports are filled with brutal murders
of innocent people. Random acts of
senseless violence are rampant in our sin plagued society.
14. "Despisers
of those that are good." Those
with any moral values are continually blasted by the liberal media. Christians with any moral convictions are
generally mocked and jeered and portrayed as "right-wing, fundamentalist
fanatics.” Sin has become so popular in
our society that people generally despise anyone who stands for righteousness.
15. "Traitors." Betrayal in many forms is common in our
present-day world. Those who we elect
to office often betray the trust we put in them by espousing and promoting
liberal ideologies once they are in office.
Loyalty, patriotism, and friendship are almost looked upon as relics of
a bygone age in our traitorous society.
16. "Heady." The idea expressed here is a growing
carelessness with reference to the rights and feelings of others. People do whatever they please without
thinking of the impact and influence it will have on others. There is little or no regard for the feelings
of others.
17. "Highminded."
People today are characterized as
being puffed-up, conceited, and vain.
There is very little humility prevailing in our society today. People think more highly of themselves than
they ought to think. Whether it be in
the social, educational, religious, or political arena people are increasingly
becoming more vain and conceited. There
is more self-promotion and self-exaltation of individuals in our day than ever
before.
18. "Lovers
of pleasure more than lovers of God."
On any given Sunday you will find professing Christians who forsake the
house of God and public worship for personal pleasure. Ballgames take precedence over the worship
of God. Television has replaced personal
devotion. Relaxation (laziness) has
replaced attendance on prayer meeting night.
There is little or no spirit of self-denial or desire to serve God in
professing Christendom. People have
allowed entertainment and pleasure to have preeminence in their lives.
19. "Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof." It
is interesting that people today still profess to be religious and believe in
God when so very few actually practice the principles of genuine
Christianity. People profess to know
God but deny Him by the way in which they live their lives. People will come to church dressed in their
Sunday best, put on a smile and tuck their Bible under their arm, sing the
hymns, and agree with what the preacher says, but then live the rest of the
week like a heathen devil. There is
little or no spiritual power among professing
Christians. I am afraid that
much of religion has devolved into mere form and ritual without the power of
the Holy Spirit.
20. "But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived." In the last days
things are not getting better. Evil men
and wicked behavior are on the rise.
The morality of men is getting worse.
Seduction and deceit abound in our world today. Immorality and uncleanness are running
through our streets like an overwhelming flood.
The
picture of the last days painted by Paul is bleak indeed. Anyone who honestly looks at the moral
condition of professing Christendom and the world at large must agree that we are
living in the last days in light of Paul's graphic description.
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and
howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the
rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it
were fire. Ye have heaped treasure
together for the last days. Behold, the
hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept
back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into
the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye
have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your
hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye
have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the
coming of the Lord. Behold, the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience
for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the
Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:1-8).
James
gives a graphic picture of the conflict between capital and labor, the rich and
the poor. This conflict has always
raged among the masses but it intensifies in the last days. Most of the wealth of the world is held by
relatively few. Those who hold the
wealth not only live luxurious and wanton lifestyles, they oppress the working
class. Those with wealth have become
increasingly more bloodthirsty and cruel in their oppression of the common
worker. Fraud, deceit, and dishonesty
are common practices among the wealthy in order to accumulate more. Employers know they can pay low wages
because it is so difficult for workers to find decent jobs. In spite of the deplorable conditions
described by James, believers are exhorted to stablish their hearts because the
coming of the Lord is drawing near.
THE
LAST DAYS ACCORDING TO PETER AND JUDE
"Knowing this first, that there
shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And
saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep,
all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Pet. 3:3-4).
"How that they told you there should
be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly
lusts. These be they who separate
themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 18-19).
The
last days will be filled with mockers and scoffers who don't take the warnings
and threatenings of the Word of God seriously.
There has been a remarkable increase in people who scoff at the promises
and prophecies contained in the Bible.
Much of our society is bent on ridiculing those who take the Bible
literally and seek to apply its principles in their daily lives. The doctrines of secular humanism have so
infiltrated and poisoned our society that there is a growing hostility and
hatred for genuine Christianity. There
is a growing intolerance for those who believe the Bible and live by it.
The
educational elite mock the truths of creationism while promoting their own
false theories of evolution. Higher
critics mock the faith of those who declare that the Bible is the
authoritative, infallible, Divinely inspired Word of God. Many regard the prophecies and judgments of
the Bible as idle threats. Secular
humanists mock and scoff at those who are committed to the moral principles set
forth in the Holy Book. All these groups
walk after their own lusts, choosing to live in sin, rather than submitting to
the claims of Christianity. They have
not the Spirit, so they walk in the light of their own carnal reasonings and
ridicule those who stand for God's precious truth.
I
have tried to briefly cover a majority of the references in the Holy Scripture
that deal directly with the last days.
Social, political, educational, and religious conditions are bleak. Immorality is on the rise and righteousness
has seen a steady decline. Moral
conditions are growing worse and worse.
Because conditions are so corrupt are true Christians just to give up
and go with the flow of immorality? Do
we just assume that our world is so far gone that we can no longer make any
difference? No! John 9:4 declares: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the
night cometh when no man can work."
Like never before there should be an attitude of urgency in our service
to the Lord. The Lord is coming back
soon. The Rapture is imminent. Therefore we ought to do everything within
our power to spread the message of the Gospel and lift up a standard of
righteousness and light as we anticipate the coming of the Lord. Jesus said in Luke 19:13: "Occupy till I come." May God grant us the grace and holy boldness
to defend the precious truths of the Word of God and tirelessly spread them
until Jesus comes! Now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed. We will
soon stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give account for the deeds
done in our bodies. May we be found
faithfully obeying the admonition of Philippians 2:14-16 until Jesus comes: "Do all things without murmurings and
disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life..."