by David J. Stewart | January 2009 | Click for background music in a new window
“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. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” —2nd Timothy 3:1-7
There has never been a time in human history, since before the flood of Noah's time, when 2nd Timothy 3:1-7 was more relevant than it is today. The world has become a large cesspool of iniquity. People nowadays have become selfish, self-centered, self-conscious and self-righteous. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:12 that the love of MANY people would “wax cold” during the Tribulation Period because of injustice. We certainly appear to be nearing those times.
The Bible tells us in Genesis 6:5, “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.” This describes the woeful moral condition of the world prior to the flood. The “Days of Noah,” as the Bible calls them, were a time of horrible wickedness and indifference. In Matthew 24:37-38, Jesus gives us an important truth concerning His return for the Saints ...
“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.”
In Luke 18:8 Jesus makes a startling statement ...
“...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Jesus wasn't asking a question, He was making a rhetorical statement. The implied answer is “No!” By comparing Luke 18:8 with Matthew 24:37-38, 2nd Timothy 3:1-7 and Genesis 6:5, and a host of other applicable Scriptures, it is evident to me that the Lord's return in ever so near. The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah cannot be compared to the evils in the world today due to advances in modern technology, enabling mankind to commit sin on an unprecedented scale.
I believe with all my heart that the Lord's return, i.e., the Pretribulation Rapture, is very near. Biblically, it would be heresy to set a date or to be dogmatic concerning the return of Jesus Christ; however, the Word of God does mention the “Last Days,” which is significant to the Christian believer who eagerly awaits the Lord's return.
Here are a couple Biblical references to the "Last Days" ...
2nd Timothy 3:1 — “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
2nd Peter 3:3 — “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.”
Hebrews 1:1,2 — “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.”
The writer of Hebrews referred to his time as “these last days.” So we see that the term “Last Days” refers to the Church Age, i.e., from the time of Christ until present. Although it is disinheriting to realize that believers have been waiting for the Rapture for 2,000 years, one ought to feel a sense of joy and relief in knowing that the New World Order is upon us today. I think this is clear evidence of the imminent return of Jesus Christ to remove the Church from the world. After that event, the 7-year Tribulation Period will occur, and then The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth to put down the Antichrist, judge the nations and establish His earthly kingdom from Jerusalem to reign for 1000 years. Bible Prophecy Page
The Bible states in 1st Corinthians 15:51-58 ...
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." —1st Corinthians 15:51-58
The Rapture was a mystery up until the writing of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, informs us that our frail and broken human bodies will be CHANGED at the Rapture, in the TWINKLING OF AN EYE (less than a second), and we will receive NEW bodies which are incorruptible. What a day that will be!
Although difficult to do for many believers, including myself, we must wait patiently for the Lord's return and make each day count for the cause of Christ. I agree with the Apostle Paul, who said in Philippians 1:21... “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I'm ready to go home to be with the Lord whenever He decides it is time; but until that moment I want to spend the remainder of my life preaching the Gospel and reaching others for Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us “why” the Lord hasn't returned yet...
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." —2nd Peter 3:9
Nevertheless, with all the false bibles on the market today (effectively perverting the gospel message), and with all the false prophets teaching a false gospel, and with the masses of this world showing their allegiance to Satan with hand signs and occult company icons—I am fully convinced that the Lord will return very soon. I am NOT making any predictions, I am just expressing my heartfelt opinion. The important thing is for us to keep in mind and heart the Words of Jesus in Mark 13:35-37 ...
"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." —Mark 13:35-37
