ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS?

HAVE you watched the news on television and wondered, ‘What is this world coming to?’ Tragic things happen so suddenly and unexpectedly that no human can predict what tomorrow will bring. (James 4:14) However, Jehovah knows what the future holds. (Isaiah 46:10) Long ago his Word, the Bible, foretold not only the bad things happening in our day but also the wonderful things that will occur in the near future.

2, 3. What question did the disciples ask Jesus, and how did he reply?

2 Jesus Christ spoke about the Kingdom of God, which will bring an end to wickedness and make the earth a paradise. (^{Luke 4:43) People wanted to know when the Kingdom would come. In fact, Jesus’ disciples asked him: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" (Matthew 24:3) In reply Jesus told them that only God knew exactly when the end of this system of things would come. (Matthew 24:36) But Jesus did foretell things that would take place on earth just before the Kingdom would bring true peace and security to mankind. What he foretold is now taking place!}

3 Before we examine the evidence that we are living in "the conclusion of the system of things," let us briefly consider a war that no human could possibly have observed. It took place in the invisible spirit realm, and its outcome affects us.

A WAR IN HEAVEN
4, 5. (a) What took place in heaven soon after Jesus was enthroned as King? (b) According to ^{Revelation 12:12, what was to be the result of the war in heaven?}

4 The preceding chapter in this book explained that ^{Jesus Christ became King in heaven in the year 1914. (Read Daniel 7:13, 14.) Soon after he received Kingdom power, Jesus took action. "War broke out in heaven," says the Bible. "Michael [another name for Jesus] and his angels battled with the dragon [Satan the Devil], and the dragon and its angels battled." * Satan and his wicked angels, the demons, lost that war and were cast out of heaven to the earth. God’s faithful spirit sons rejoiced that Satan and his demons were gone. Humans, however, would experience no such joy. Instead, the Bible foretold: "Woe for the earth . . . because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time."—Revelation 12:7,}

5 Please notice what would result from the war in heaven. In his fury, Satan would bring woe, or trouble, upon those on earth. As you will see, we are now living in that time of woe. But it will be relatively brief—only "a short period of time." Even Satan realizes that. The Bible refers to this period as "the last days." (^{2 Timothy 3:1) How glad we can be that God will soon do away with the Devil’s influence over the earth! Let us consider some of the things foretold in the Bible that are happening right now. These prove that we are living in the last days and that God’s Kingdom will soon bring everlasting blessings to those who love God. First, let us examine four features of the sign that Jesus said would mark the time in which we live.}



Signs of the End of the World
The year is 2016 and many people around the globe are wondering if the end of the world is near. I don't think there has ever been such a widespread interest in this topic like there is today. And who can blame people for wondering, when you see what is happening to our world. The signs of the end are prevalent. War, famine, natural disasters, incredible and rapid increase in knowledge. Poisoning of the air and water. Birds of the air and the Fish of the seas dying in huge numbers.




The signs are so strong now and the evidence is so clear that any person willing to accept the truth can see that the end of the world, as we know it, is near.
Now the signs of the end that we are dealing with on this page are the signs we find within 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ...'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.'

These verses predicted a great moral degeneration in our society.

But before we get into these last day signs, take a look at this Bible verse also ... 2 Peter 3:3-4 ...'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? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.' ... Do we live in a day of scoffers? Most certainly! Talk about the end times and the majority of people, including many Christians will just laugh it off saying that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

So lets look at just some of the signs from the above Bible verse in Timothy and apply it to our time and see if it tells us that we are living at the end of the world, just before the second coming of Jesus.

PERILOUS TIMES

End of World Sign - PERILOUS TIMES
Are we living in perilous times? There is no doubt about that. Let's just take one example of what is happening today. There are uprisings all around the world, with people protesting and rioting and governments toppling. The people are starting to see the power they have if they get together. And this is a very dangerous situation and one that will lead to the image of the beast being formed, which will bring on the enforcement of the beast's mark. And with the economy melting all around the world, with countries nearing bankruptcy, the world is becoming ripe for a one world currency, which will aid with enforcing the mark and stop those who refuse the mark from "buying and selling" (Rev.13).



"2014 was a catastrophic year for millions caught up in violence."

LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN GOD

End of World Sign - LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN GOD
This sign of the end is powerful just on its own! Do we live in a world full of pleasure seekers? Most certainly. Again, to fulfill this end of world sign, we only need look at the professing Christian churches. A great majority of professing Christians are lovers of pleasure more than they love God. They fill their lives with television, partying, socializing, reading novels, playing games, wasting time on social networks like facebook, and God gets little of their time.

The films, tv programs and music that professing Christians are happy to listen to today is just shocking! There is no distinction between your average Christian and a worldly person today. Should Christians listen to secular music and watch all the garbage that they do? No, not at all.


The programs and films that are watched by professed Christians today are an abomination to God
Now, go back 50 years or more and this would not be the problem it is today, because life was much simpler back then, without all the worldly entertainment. How many Christian homes give time to worship God as a family everyday? Not too many I guess, because they are too busy watching their favorite tv program, or reading their favorite novel, or playing their favorite games. We certainly live in a pleasure seeking world. This sign of the last days is fulfilled in our generation.

Men are still living as if nothing is going to happen. Pleasure lovers are still crowding into bars, theatres, gambling halls and sports arenas. The highest excitement prevails, and yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short, and he's always at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.

PEOPLE WILL BE COVETOUS

End of World Sign - PEOPLE WILL BE COVETOUS
Well, we certainly live in a covetous age, where people clamour after the latest and best things. And not only do we covet possessions, we also covet after other men and women, whether married or not. The majority of people today are seeking after worldly riches, rather than eternal heavenly riches.

Again, this end of the world sign also applies to the churches of today. Just look at what the prosperity gospel is producing! Professing Christians just in it for earthly riches.

Also, think about how many women are coveted and lusted after everyday, because of the tight, revealing clothing they wear these days. And not just on the streets, but in the churches also! And again, the television, internet, magazines, billboards, etc, causes us to covet and clamour after the latest things this world has to offer. No doubt we live in a covetous time like no other.

PEOPLE WILL BE BOASTERS AND PROUD

End of World Sign - PEOPLE WILL BE BOASTERS AND PROUD
Pride was the original sin that caused Satan to fall from his exalted position in Heaven, and pride is the sin that the majority of people cherish in this world today. LOOK AT ME is the way people are today. Too proud to be humble before God and turn the other cheek to their fellow neighbour. Too proud to stop and help someone in need just in case others see them.

And as mentioned above, the way people dress these days compared to times past is amazing! Tight, trendy, revealing clothes to make people look at them and like them. Driving the latest cars and wanting to live in the nicest homes. LOOK AT ME, I've made it in this world!

CHILDREN DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS

End of World Sign - CHILDREN DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS
Let me give you a quote from a newspaper in the UK after the riots there in August 2011 ...

"You have a generation of kids now that don't respect their parents or the police ... When we were youngsters we were made to have respect for the olders. Now if an older was to slap a youth that kid is going to pick up a hammer."

This is one of the many signs of the end of the world, and it is pointing clearly to our generation. The youths of today go about in gangs having little respect for their elders and parents, and pretty much little respect for anything, which this business man in Detroit will tell you. And why is that? Because society today teaches them that there is no God. They have no idea what Christ Jesus has done for them, and therefore they do not have any future. So really, it's not surprising that they rebel!

PEOPLE WILL BE UNTHANKFUL

End of World Sign - PEOPLE WILL BE UNTHANKFUL
Many of us are unthankful today because we have been so conditioned by the world to just take things for granted. Just have a think about your daily life. Are you really thankful to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon you? Do you thank Him for waking you up in the morning? For feeding you? For providing you with a job and income? Do you thank Him for His wonderful creation? And most of all, do you thank God everyday for giving us His Son Christ Jesus? Do you contemplate that amazing sacrifice He made? Now if Christians are unthankful, then what are those outside the faith like? We certainly live in a time of ungreatfulness. Spare a thought for those who DON'T have today!

There will be some people reading this that have great troubles and difficulties in their lives. But you CAN be thankful. Thankful that God has promised us a future, if we believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and follow Him.