"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." —Revelation 19:13
The Last Days and Mockers
The Word of God has much to say
concerning the Last Days. 2nd Peter 3:3-4 states, "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?..."
Never before have we seen so many people attacking and discrediting the Word of God. By the way, I make it a point to often refer to the Bible as the "Word of God." Many people don't recognize the Bible as God's Word. I think it's something that Christians should get into the habit of doing. The Bible is God's Word!
The Bible and God are increasingly mocked on TV. For comedians, crossing the line by attacking God has become a standard practice. It's evil. But just as Noah was laughed to scorn while building the ark, it wasn't funny anymore when the floods came upon the wicked.
The Word of God even tells us that the last days will be just like Noah's days ...
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all." -Luke 17:26,27
We also read that the last days shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah...
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." -Luke 17:28,29
The Biblical teaching is clear ... the Lord's return will be a surprise, without warning. It is clear to me that these Scripture references are speaking about the time of the Pretribulation Rapture (i.e., the return of the Lord BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation Period). A Posttribulation Rapture would not permit time for the Judgment Seat of Christ, nor the marriage supper of the Lamb. For this, and several other reasons, I believe that the Bible does not support a posttribulation Rapture. This will be covered much more in Chapter 3.
As the Lord's return grows ever nearer, we will increasingly see fools mocking His return, and blaspheming God. World renowned magician, David Blaine, actually tried to disprove Jesus' miracles by attempting to recreate them. Then there's Conan O'Brien, who jokingly boasted in a song, that he's going to Hell when he dies. It won't be a joke then. These are the mockers and scoffers of the last days, and we will see many more.
The Last Days and 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." -2nd Timothy 3:1-5
This passage of Scripture very accurately describes mainstream society today. America, as an example, is a cesspool of iniquity. More pornography and smut flow out of the United States than anywhere else in the world. Over a million babies are murdered ever year. Prostitution is legal in Nevada. Las Vegas is so evil that they even renamed their cities' official motto to "SIN CITY"! How contemptible! American's account for 25% of the world's child-sex tourism. God bless America? I don't think so! In God we trust? You're joking right? We may trust in goods and greed; but, we don't trust in God. These are the perilous times which the Apostle Paul spake of, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Notice the phrase, "without natural affection." So many people today, even many professed Christians, are as phony as can be. It's hard to find true love and compassion anymore. Everything nowadays is weighed in terms of dollars and sense, and in security. People only do good works to be seen of men. What can I get out of it? What's in it for me? Jesus said in Matthew 24:12, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." The Greek word for iniquity means, "injustice." Thus, people's hearts will grow cold because criminals will be getting away with crime. Every day, as we watch the news, we see how executive criminals go unpunished.
Enron is a classic example. Look at all the evil and wickedness in Washington D.C. ... trillions of dollars in tax-payer's money have been stolen (and unaccounted for) ... over 100,000 innocent people have been murdered in Iraq (for a crime they didn't commit) ... our U.S. borders have deliberately been left open for many years ... our manufacturing jobs have deliberately been sent overseas to exploit slave labor, avoid paying taxes, and stab American workers in the back ... and the crime continues. We are living in perilous times!!!
Notice the phrase, "lovers of pleasure." America is a land of sexual perversion. Few women dress modestly anymore, and properly clothed women are often scorned. Everybody seems to be living by the saying T.G.I.F. (Thank God it's Friday). But, where does God fit into our lives? While most American's are so busy partying, fishing, watching sports, etc, etc, etc ... that God is forgotten completely.
Deuteronomy 6:12 WARNS us all, "Beware lest thou forget the LORD..." I am not saying that sports or fishing are wrong, of course they aren't. But what is wrong is when we place everything ahead of God. Where does soulwinning fit into your life (i.e., telling others how to go to Heaven? Telling them about Jesus Christ?). Or perhaps you are not saved, and Christ has no place in your life at all. You should get saved now.
I will not comment on all the items mentioned in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5; but I would like to comment on one more ... "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." This is an incredible statement, and very important for you to understand in these last days! Many professed Christian people, or religious people who seem to have their act together, are deadly vipers bound for Hell. They know enough religious lingo to fool the ignorant. They may or may not regularly attend church. They are usually worldly.
They seem to know God, and speak often about spiritual matters; BUT, they deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the POWER of God unto salvation. We read in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." All the religion, good works, charitable contributions, and commitment to God will send you straight to Hell if you die in your sins!!! You are a sinner, deserving of Hell. You need Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, as your personal Savior. You need to be born again.
We are living in perilous times, so perilous, that even some of the rottenest and openly immoral people profess to be "Christian." Don't be fooled. Remember that Satan comes to us as an angel of light (2nd Corinthians 11:14).
The Last Days and the Holy Spirit
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." -Acts 2:17
Quick note: "Prophecy," spelled with a "c" in the Bible, refers to predictions about the future; BUT, "prophesy" spelled with an "s" simply means preaching. Hence, we prophesy today; but, NO one prophecies anymore. This is an important fact to understand when studying God's Word. The Bible is a complete Book--God's Final Authority to mankind!
Acts 2:17 (quoted from Joel 2:28,29) is often misinterpreted. We clearly read in 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..." God does not speak to us today through dreams and visions as He did to some people in the Old Testament. God's Holy Spirit speaks to us today through the Word of God, the Written Word.
In Revelation 19:13 Jesus is named the Word of God, "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." Many demonic psychics; such as, Char Margolis, John Edward, and Sylvia Browne--have fooled the masses into believing that they are receiving messages from "the other side." The only messages they are receiving are familiar spirits (demons). Don't be fooled, God speaks to us through His Word, and not through clairvoyance or necromancy.
In fact, God NEVER spoke to anyone through such demonic practices. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 WARNS, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." A "familiar spirit" is any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. Please don't confuse God's Holy Spirit, with a familiar spirit. Let the Word of God be your guide!
So what does Acts 2:17 mean? It means that God promised back in the Old Testament, to one day pour out His Holy Spirit upon all believers. This first happened on the Day of Pentecost ("Pent" meaning 50, which was exactly 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead). This outpouring of the Holy Spirit has continued until this day. The Holy Spirit is God with us. Today, every born again believer has the Holy Spirit indwelling their body. The Holy Spirit is also called, the Spirit of Christ, "...Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
Understanding this truth will help us to rightly divide (accurately interpret) the truth of 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-8, "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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God ... And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."
This Scripture would sound confusing to someone who didn't know, that every believer has the Holy Spirit of God living within them. The antichrist can't be revealed until the Body of Christ (all believers) are removed from the world. If the antichrist appeared today, we Christians would expose him immediately.
Therefore, God will remove the Church from this sin-cursed world at the Rapture, which is the "falling away" which we just read about. The Greek word for "falling" is "departure." Some scholars believe that this "departure" will be anarchy, rather than a Rapture. However, there has been anarchy since the beginning of mankind. The Church MUST be removed from the world, if the antichrist is to reign in full power and influence.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-10 continues ... "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 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." Carefully notice the phrase, "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." So many people today don't love the truth. I witness to people all the time concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but they just won't get saved.
They could care less about the truth. Most people today are comfortable in their lies, complacent and indifferent towards the truth. The Word of God WARNS, that those who don't love the truth, will become victim of the lies they have believed. Do you love the truth, or do you despise it?
One final comment on the Holy Spirit and the last days ... we cannot do anything for God without the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 proclaims, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
It's not our human efforts, nor our well-thought-out presentations, nor our hours of prayer, nor our sacrifices, which accomplish things for God--it's the Holy Spirit alone! Now, we should pray for the Holy Spirit to bless our efforts, and to speak to people's hearts; BUT, we are not earning an answer to prayer. Many Christians think that God owes them something because they prayed. Keep in mind that prayer is begging God for His power, not bending His arm to do what we demand.
We must realize that prayer is not preparation for the greater work, prayer is the greater work! But let us pray, in full understanding, that we are begging the Holy Spirit to help us, because we are completely destitute without God.
