Do you ever wonder if we’re in the last days as mentioned in the Bible? Some of you will probably say, “I definitely know we’re in the last days,” and some may say, “Nah, we’re still far off from it.” Maybe there are even those who wonder, “What are the last days? What are you talking about?”
Well, I’m one of those people that definitely believes we’re in the last days – the days before Jesus Christ returns. The Bible states that in the last days men will be lovers of themselves more than God. They will be covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, on and on. Here’s the scripture by Apostle Paul. He said,
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. {2 Timothy 3:1-5}
I had a dream this morning of talking to a young girl, about eight-nine years old, and I was telling her that in the 1980’s when I was still very young, people were nicer. They were kinder and more mindful of other people. Interestingly enough she just looked at me like “Really?” and she went back to her phone as if this did not concern her at all. I couldn’t help but think about that dream afterwards when I woke up and felt this pang in my heart, wishing so much it was the 80’s again, before cell phones. That was the 80’s and I thought people were nicer and kinder and more thoughtful of one another, how much more then 100 years ago? Remember how there was a time in America where people actually housed families in their homes and raised someone else’s child for a season just because there was a need? People were more giving. People visited more and stayed for weeks at a time, and no one thought anything strange about it. It seemed like they loved more freely and deeply. Now, think about being responsible for someone’s else child without pay, or trying to help a loved one who is temporarily down on his luck. We’d be having a communal party afterwards talking about how unlucky our neighbor is to end up with these kids that she has to take care of, or a family member that is staying in her place because they have no other place to stay. We would cringe for her. We can’t imagine doing that. And we’d justify ourselves too. We would say, “Oh my gosh, it’s so expensive to raise children now, and the bills I am paying, and the food. How can I take care of other people?” And if someone visited us for a few days more than what they said they would, we’d be like, “Ugh, when are they leaving? I’ve got stuff to do.”
This is just the beginning. There are many other signs that were mentioned in the Bible of the last days. The Bible states, that there will be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and famines in various places.
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: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. {Matthew 24:6-8}
Imagine, “…these are the beginning of sorrows…” Seriously, how worse is it going to get before He comes? And why does it have to be this way? Here are more signs. There will be people proclaiming themselves to be Jesus Christ. Hello? We know this to be true. It’s already been happening for years now. There are so many false prophets, some proclaiming to be Jesus Christ.
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? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {Matthew 24:3-5}
There is actually a Wikipedia list of people claiming themselves to be Jesus Christ, from the 18th century to the 21st century. It’s kind of funny to see the list that it actually exists. Women too, made that list. Can you imagine? I even know someone through my parents who is a pastor in the Philippines that claims himself to be the Son of God. I’ve heard of his name for years growing up because he was a friend of my parents. I believe they went to the same Bible school together, and yes, he made it in the Wikipedia list too and he has a lot of followers. Thousands of them.
Then of course, we see this everywhere, which the Bible has warned us about, that there will be people that will be speaking against Christ. They are called the Antichrists. John the Beloved tells us about them,
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. {1 John 2:18}
Talk about antichrists everywhere in our society today. You can talk about God, but not Jesus Christ. As soon as you start telling people that Jesus Christ is God and the only God, people start to cringe. Some even become very hateful and vocal about it. In some countries people will even kill you for believing it. There are famous people who tell us that Jesus Christ is not the only way to heaven. One talk show host who is very famous said in her program that there has got to be another way to God besides Jesus Christ. Yet, she claims to be a Christian and is influencing so many people in our culture today. Antichrists are everywhere today, you can feel it and see it everywhere.
By the way, for you who are wondering and are new to Jesus, He did say He is the only way to God:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. {John 14:6}
Apostle Peter preaching to the Jews about Jesus Christ told them that there is no other way to be saved but through Him:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. {Acts 4:12}
There are other signs in the Bible that also talked about the days before the coming back of the Lord. Even signs in the heavens and in nature:
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. {Luke 21:25-26}
“The sea and the waves roaring…” Boy we’ve been witnessing this one quite often now. Every time it’s hurricane season and we see the devastation afterwards you have to consider that it may be the last days. I remember not so long ago when a hurricane hit New York City. Whoever thought the subways would be flooded with so much water? Even in Staten Island where I lived, no one would believe that the water rose up so high that people were climbing up to their attic to try to escape. Tragic stories emerged later of how some people never made their escape. This was unheard of. No one has ever experienced this kind of flooding in their lifetime before. But now it’s becoming a common theme everywhere.
I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to the coming of the Lord. I want Him to come. I wish He would come already. I don’t know why we have to experience all these signs before He comes, and I sure wish that we didn’t have to experience them at all. But I think God is allowing all of these signs to take place so that we will actually want to see Him and want Him to come. If we have it all good on this earth and we’re not suffering all kinds of evil, will we really look forward to His coming? Will we even want to go to heaven at all? It also may be His way of drawing people to Him, so they can be saved. For many of us, it takes a calamity where we have nowhere else to turn to but to God for salvation.
Knowing that these signs are upon us, what are we to do? Where are we going to go? How are we going to escape all of the other signs that are yet to come? There really is no escaping it. Everyone in the whole world is going to be experiencing all of these things. If you don’t experience all of it, you’ll definitely hear about it. There is going to be a lot more sadness coming. But on the other hand, there is an escape for us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a hiding place for us in His presence. Jesus Christ actually said some beautiful words of comfort to His people in Luke 21:36. He shows us what we need to do to escape in the last days. He tells us to:
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. {Luke 21:36}
This is really the only escape I can think of: talking to Jesus Christ. Every time I talk to Him I get peace and comfort. He comforts me and assures me of His protection. I know He will take care of me. He said to, “Pray always.” When we belong to the Lord and we are talking to Him all the time, there is really nothing to worry about. God will keep us and provide for us and take care of us. He will not ever leave us nor forsake us, as He promised in His word. He even said that He will be with us even until the end of the world. {Matthew 28:20} As long as we are talking to Him, trusting in His salvation, and walking in the path He desires for us to walk, then there is nothing for us to worry about.
Jesus Christ is returning very soon. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He reigns over all powers and dominions and kingdoms. There is nothing that is out of His power. All things belong to Him. We should really look forward to that more than anything. Think of heaven, of being with Jesus, where there will be no more sorrows, no more tears, and no more death. I sure do. I want to be with Him so much and see His face. As John the Beloved beautifully stated in his writing in Revelation,
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. {Revelation 22:20}
Prayer
I love You, Lord. You are the greatest thing in this life for me. I could never, ever thank You enough for being my God and giving Yourself to me to be my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You, so much Father, for the wonderful knowledge of You.
Lord, signs of Your coming are everywhere and I sure wish they didn’t have to happen, especially with people everywhere turning away from You and wanting the things that are opposite of Your word. I wish that we were turning and running towards You instead of running away from You. But there is still hope for us Lord because You are a good and wonderful God, full of compassion and full of mercy and grace. You are not willing that any of us should perish but that all of us would come to repentance.
Please Jesus, help me turn my heart back towards You. Stir my heart with Your Holy Spirit and soften it to desire You more and more. Let me not harden my heart to You Jesus, but let me love You more and have faith in You more. Please Lord, save my father, my mother, my spouse, my brothers, my sisters, my neighbors, my friends, and everyone’s children. Save our country, Lord and save this world that is suffering today. Save us all. Please Jesus, bring our hearts back to You and help us to repent from all our wicked ways and our self-righteousness. Help us to repent today Lord and look forward to Your return I pray, Savior in Your most wonderful and precious name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
Repost from February 2018: The Signs of His Return
