The Bible refers many times to the last days or the end times, so here’s how the Bible describes the last days or the end times.
Business as Usual
The Bible refers many times to the last days or the end times, so here’s how the Bible describes the last days or the end times. The Genesis’ account of the great flood in Noah’s day actually tells us a lot about what the world is like today. In fact, Jesus said “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark” (Matt 24:37-38). What He meant was that it would be business as usual just prior to God’s judgment.
As they did at Noah, most scoff today at us about any notion of a “second coming” of Jesus. This shouldn’t surprise us though because the Apostle Peter said “that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” (2 Pet 3:3). And Just like in the days of Noah, the lost will be unprepared for God’s judgment just as they will be at seeing Jesus coming in the clouds (Rev 1:7). The lost believe nothing ever drastic will happen to them (1 Thess 5:2-3), just as they believed in Noah’s day, but of course, “they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:39).
Filled With Violence
Jesus often referred to Noah’s day in prophesying about the sudden judgment of God that is to come; coming when no one expects it. Today, it’s almost the very same situation. Christians have been warning lost sinners of God’s coming judgment, but most still ignore that warning just as they did Noah’s warning. Today, violence is escalating rapidly, just as it was in Noah’s day when “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). It is strikingly similar to the world-wide violence we see today. In Noah’s day, “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence” (Gen 6:11), and today, it is no different around the world. Growing violence is a sign of the last days too, just as it was in Noah’s day leading up to the flood. The Lord still sees all the violence on the earth today as being not much different than it was in Noah’s day. As it was then, so it is today, when “it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Gen 6:12). Someday soon, the judgment of God will come crashing down upon all the unrepentant, but tragically, at a time when it will be too late for most and most don’t expect it (Rev 1:7).
Difficult Days
Second Timothy 3:1-5 states “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” If ever there was the evening news for you (“proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable,” etc.), these are it. The Apostle Paul described a time when nothing much good will be around in society and it’s just that way today!
Thief in the Night
The children of God should not be caught off guard at Jesus’ sudden appearance. Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us today, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thess 5:2-3). Here Jesus is speaking directly to the disciples, but it appears that even the disciples in the end times may not be ready for His sudden appearance. The lost world doesn’t lose sleep over this because they continue living in peaceful conditions. The very last thing they’d expect is sudden destruction when it comes, and that it comes unpredictably; at a time when no one expects. Even many of the saved will be surprised I believe.
Demonic Doctrines
The Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible tell us much about the end times so that we can be prepared. In the Apostle Paul’s day, the Spirit was warning them that many will fall away and fall into and teach doctrinal error. Some call it “doctrines of demons,” which is very accurate. Paul says that, in His day, “the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Tim 4:1). Surely we can tell that satanic teachings have emerged from churches today more than ever as Satan has his own ministers (2 Cor 11:14-15). Since Satan can appear as an angel of light or preacher of righteousness, then we must recognize the fact that Satan has his own churches and denominations too.
Satanic Churches
Today, Satan is trying to change and manipulate denominations and churches to make them compromise on the truth. One such change had been for who can and who cannot be a pastor or minister. Clearly, the numbers of women pastors have grown over 1,000% over the last decade. Even though for thousands of years in church history this was not so, more churches are being unbiblical today (departing from the truth) by ordaining women and giving them authority over and teaching men. That false teaching is now widespread among denominations worldwide. Satan has surely done a fine job at cranking out his own churches today and in greater numbers than biblically sound churches are. The good churches are becoming a minority, particularly since churches have adjusted to the culture and ignored the fact that the culture should change to what the Bible teaches.
Conclusion
If ever there was a time to have God send revival by His Spirit, it is today. We are slipping faster and faster from the truth of the Bible and changing what should never be changed in churches. God’s Word is without error, yet the sinister ministers of this world keep changing the Word to accommodate what they believe and teaching heretical views that are not scriptural just to make new “converts of hell.” It’s almost as if they mimic the serpent in the Garden, saying “Has God really said” (Gen 3:1)?
Here is some related reading for you: End Times. Are We in the Last Days?
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.