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SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Jesus Christ
clearly taught
that no man knows the date of His return. He said,
“But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” (Matthew
24:36). So we do sin by setting dates. However, the Lord has revealed in His
Word certain conditions that shall exist in the last days.
Paul wrote in detail about the last days saying,
“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,” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
In these verses Paul lists nineteen sins that shall characterize humanity
in the last days. As we look around us we certainly can see those traits in
abundance throughout humanity. These people will at the same time be religious.
Paul wrote they will have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
They will profess to worship God, but the god they worship is not the God of the
Bible. The Bible-revealed God is in complete control of all things, but the
man-imagined god of today is a weakling: powerless. All kinds of excuses are
made for this false god, but it all boils down to this: the god of the modern
religionist is a weakling and a failure. He is trying to save everybody, but
cannot because they will not “let him.”
The following statements prove that God needs no one to “let him” do
anything. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all
my pleasure,” (Isaiah 46:10). Daniel 4:35 says:
“And all the inhabitants
of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the
army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his
hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
These religionists are said to be “ever learning and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth.” They sin as did
ancient Jews of whom it is said:
“...thou thoughtest that I was
altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee...” (Psalm
50:21). The religious people of these last days need God to “reprove” them. And
He shall. But it seems clear that God's reproving of these people shall be
judgment without mercy. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray
God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee,” (Acts
8:22).
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