Signs of the Last Days

The days in which we are living are indeed perilous times just as the Apostle Paul predicted in 2 Tim. 3:1-5 “...There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Does this not reflect accurately the world in which we live? All of the great civilizations of the past collapsed because of corruption. Whatever idealistic principles they might have had at their beginnings were soon abandoned and replaced with evil and selfishness. Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, are the most apparent historical examples. Due to the condition of moral degradation, corruption, atheism, and violence, a truly world-wide phenomenon today, what can we expect but the collapse of modern civilization?

Mankind today is living in a climate of uncertainty and insecurity. The world’s monetary system is precarious, to say the least. Famine, starvation and droughts prevail in many countries; AIDS is epidemic in the world; homosexuals live their lifestyle openly, demonstrating publicly to the end of making theirs an acceptable, alternate lifestyle. Global warming, brought about by man’s pollution of the atmosphere, is becoming a world-wide problem. Nuclear weapons are in the possession of many countries known for their instability which could suddenly cause untold disaster to those who get in the way of their selfish goals. Nuclear retaliation has the power to destroy the earth and all its inhabitants. Little countries that were harmless a few years ago now take on the huge world powers. The United Nations as a world peacekeeping force is almost powerless in its efforts to bring some kind of stability to mankind. Thus, the world seems to be tottering on the brink of destruction--a time-bomb just waiting to blow up. Coming to this point, it seems reasonable to ask: “Will God allow man to destroy himself and his environment as well?” “Will He allow the earth to become an uninhabitable place?” This is the dilemma that troubles today’s thinking minds. All the speculation in the world is not able to answer these questions. Only the Bible reveals clearly the answers to these questions, for God, and those to whom He has revealed His plans, alone know the future outcome. Coming to God’s Word, we find that He indeed has a definite plan for mankind, foreknown and set in motion at man’s creation some six thousand years ago.

Just what is this plan and wonderful hope our Creator holds out to us? Though there will still be more destruction on this earth due to man’s greed and selfishness, we have the promise that the earth abides forever and that God will accomplish the purpose for which it was created, as a place for man to inhabit. We read this in Isaiah 45:18: “For this is what the LORD says -- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited -- he says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” To verify this promise, God further tell us in Isaiah 55:11, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

But someone might ask, “If we are living in the last days, does this not mean the end of all things?” The Bible reveals that in God’s Plan there are many ages. Each one has its own last days, which are followed by the beginning of another age. The Apostle Peter tells us of three such ages or worlds. In 2 Peter 3:6-13 we read: “By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” Yes, the last days of this present world or age will be followed by another age in which the earth will be the home of peace and righteousness for all mankind who are obedient, under the rule of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ and His church.