Things To Come - Part 1: The Present

                                  Things To Come - Part 1: The Present

It might be best to begin with a couple of verses from the source of ALL truth and information, the Bible.  Turn your Bible to Isaiah as we look at chapter 42 verse 9 and then chapter 46 verses 9 and 10:

    "⁹ Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them."
  
    "⁹ Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,¹⁰ 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:"

You see, friends, nothing is a surprise to God, and He gave us His Word so nothing would (or should) be a surprise to us, the believers, as well.

So, then, where do we begin?  2 Timothy 3:1 opens the discussion for us. 

     " 3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."

What are the characteristics of "perilous times"?  I will give you a picture right from the words of Scripture.   Men will love themselves and will seek after pleasures and self gratification.  Men will become exceedingly arrogant and prideful in their accomplishments and treasures. (2Tim3:2,4).  Men will be unthankful, ungreatful, unholy (2Tim3:2).  Children will be disobedient, lashing out in violence and disobedience toward parents (2Tim3:2; Mk13:12).  In fact, men as a whole will be wrathful, angry, violent. (2Tim3:4;Lk17:26;Matt24:37) Jesus said the Earth would be filled with violence as in Noah's day (Matt24:37;Ge6:5,11). Men would give in to such sinfulness, they would neither realize their degree of sinfulness nor would they care. The Bible says they would have their consciences seared (Matt24:12;1Tim4:2). Sexual immorality would be prevalent in these times, and homosexuality would be rampant in the cultures (Lk17:28-30;Ro1:26-27).  Men will be blasphemous toward God (2Tim3:2).  Men of "intelligence", scientists, scholars, etc. will reject the flood of Noah's time (2Pe3:5-6) as well as other great efforts to "debunk" the claims of Scripture (to no avail). It says men will be trucebreakers, a man's word once meant something, now lies and empty promises are the norm (2Tim3:4). 
The world will have its perils as well.  There will be strange and treacherous weather patterns and conditions (Matt24:7;Lk21:25-26).  There will be earthquakes in diverse places (Matt24:7).  There will be terrible famines (hunger and starvation) and widespread sickness (Matt24:7). 
Though men will cry abroad for global peace (1Thess5:3) there will be wars and rumors (threats) of wars (Matt24:6;Mk13:7)  The prophet Zechariah even speaks of such as would be the result of nuclear fallout (Zech14:12). People will hate the Jewish people and nations and Jerusalem would be trodden by them (Lk21:24) 
Other events of interest? The Bible says there would be a boom in technology, leading to a great increase in knowledge (Dan12:4).  Transportation will be so advanced that people will travel to and fro throughout the world (Dan12:4).
Even the faith, the Bible, the core values, [Biblical]Christianity will suffer greatly.  Jesus said false teachers and preachers would spread heresies (2Pe2:1-3;Matt24:11) causing people to leave the faith, or become apostates (2Thess2:3;2Tim4:3-4).  There would even be some claiming to be Christ (there are several in the Church today) (Matt24:5).   These "ministers" will deceive many through deceptive signs and wonders (2Thess2:9;Matt24:24).  What will result, however, is Christ's rejection of the apostate Christians and He will turn them and their leaders away (Matt7:22-23).  Through false teachings, doctrines, and church practices, the fallen angels will have worked their deception in these churches (1Tim4:1).  Men will hate you for your faith and your Bible.  They will hand you up to be afflicted and persecuted for your belief in and love of God and His Word (Lk21:17). 
Men will make absurd claims as, "These signs have ALWAYS been present at various points throughout human history" in their mocking of end time study and teaching (and believing for that matter) (2Pe3:3-4).  We need to slow down as we approach the Scriptures in daily reading and fellowship with God through them.  If one takes a closer look, you will note Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24,
    "³³ So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. ³⁴ Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
He made a point to state several times in this chapter the word "all".  All these things means the person living in these perilous times would see the evidence of all these things in his/her lifetime.  Jesus stated when we see all these things to "look up because our redemption draweth nigh".  He said man's heart will trouble him because of fear of all things happening at once (Lk21:16).   
Do you see that we are in fact that generation?  Are you ready and looking up? If you have been reborn (Jn3:3,5) and are trusting Jesus as your Saviour you can rest assured you are ready.  If you have not asked Him to forgive your sins, and to fill you with His Holy Spirit and guide you for the remainder of your days. It's too late once you leave this life.   - Rev. Aaron M Mathews, Th.M.  (and the KJV 1611 translation).