Seven End-Time Signs Taking Place Right Now
INTRO. Notice that Paul is writing about "the last days." He speaks of those days as a time of peril. He mentions 21 different things that I can count that will characterize people of that time. I will group them into SEVEN END-TIME SIGNS THAT ARE NOW TAKING PLACE. Despite all the talk about things getting better and better, the contrary is true…things are getting worse and worse. As I see it, it is only the mercy of God that He has not send His Son to rapture us out of this world before now. If I were you, and was not prepared for eternity, believe me, I would run down this aisle right now and get ready to meet the Lord. Let's look at these 7 signs of the times.
I. LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELF - (2 Tim 3:1-2) "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers…
- Is this not the root cause of most sin? Isn't it because men are covetous that they murder, cheat, lie, deceive, rob, rape, and fight?
- When men love themselves, they don't care who they hurt as they seek self-gratification.
- Is this not the crowd who are the boasters, proud and who blaspheme the Name of Almighty God? Has there ever been a time when men took God's name in vain more than today? You hear it even on TV.
II. DISOBEDIENCE TO PARENTS - (2 Tim 3:2) "… disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
- The age of crime has come down drastically during these (last) days. You hear of children dashing little babies to death by throwing them on the side walk. You hear of children taking guns to school and shooting their fellow students. You hear of children killing their parents. ILLUS. My mother told me back in the 30's, "Things can't get worse than they are now."
- How many young people have left home to gain freedom only to return because the grass was not so green out in the cold, heartless world.
- And now children are being taken out of homes simply because the parents believe in scriptural spanking. And the various official child abuse agencies are quick to pounce on children who even joke about child-molestation. I know a family whose child was taken from school because of that. And all for money!!!
III. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION - (2 Tim 3:3) "Without natural affection, …"
- How many times have we read of parents killing their children? That's certainly not natural affection. It's not natural and it's not affection.
- But also, America has sanctioned the murder of millions of babies and some of them just before birth. That's not natural and it's not affection. I love America, but I'm scared for America today.
- And now our society has got so sick that men are marrying men and women are marrying women. What does Rom. 1 tell us about this? (Rom 1:26-28) "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (without natural affection): {27} And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (without natural affection), and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. {28} And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
- If what is going on today is what will go on during the last days, then we are there now! These are the last days! And we even hear of priests or pastors taking part in these "unseemly," "against nature," "without natural affection" acts.
- Sodom and Gomorrah have nothing on the U.S.A. Just as God's patience ran out on these cities, so will His patience run out on this old world today! I would advise to get saved NOW! Don't wait a single minute!
IV. TRUCEBREAKERS - (2 Tim 3:3) "Without natural affection, trucebreakers, …"
- On the international level, this certainly is true today. How many times has Israel and the Arab nations signed a truce agreement? How many times has it been broken? You know the answer…EVERY TIME!
- What about on the personal level? This is at the bottom of broken homes. Men and women stood at the altar and solemnly pledged their vows to each other. Then after the exchanging of rings, joining of hands and the kiss to seal the marriage…only a couple years later they threw those vows to the winds as they separated and divorced. What a tragedy!
- The Bible says concerning the last days, (Mat 24:6) "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." We are at war right now. There will always be trucebreakers and wars will always take place…until the Prince of Peace comes to usher in the Thousand Year Millennial Reign of Christ.
- And what about the homosexual issue. See Rom. 1 for God's view of this issue. And America has sanctioned it. How can God keep blessing America when laws are made against the will of God?
V. DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD - (2 Tim 3:3) "… despisers of those that are good,"
- Is it not true that a person can get more contempt today for holding to a high moral standard than for going the ways of the world"? I have been laughed at for not going out on the town and for not cursing and for not dressing like the rest of the world. I use to think that was strange…but now I know it's a sign of the last days.
- The schools in Springfield decided to have a dress code this year and will not permit inappropriate, revealing clothes. And would you know it? …The kids (and some parents) are rebelling. It's a fad these days to show one's fashionable underwear.
- What about telling the truth? Be a stickler for telling the truth and you get ridiculed.
- People who read the Bible every day and who pray before meals are called "Goody-goodies."
- Even the Ten Commandments are considered "unconstitutional" by the ACLU. What's wrong with the Ten Commandments? Nothing! They are good laws to follow, but "good" is the enemy of "evil."
- Where has replacing the Bible and prayer with sex-education and condoms gotten us? Certainly not a better community! To the contrary, evil is prevalent now more than ever.
- To me, living a separated life that honors the Lord is a good thing, but that too is despised.
- To me, TV without any cursing or immoral licentious acts is good, but that too is despised. Today lesbians and homosexuals are recognized on TV. Why? Because people today despise that which is good.
- Young people, let's stand up and fight against all immorality and sin! I may be 72, but I'm a fighter and I'll stand up against all odds for the Lord. Who is on the Lord's side? Let's stand up and fight the good fight of faith!
VI. LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD - (2 Tim 3:4) "Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
- If ever there was a time when people revealed themselves as pleasure crazy, that time is now!
- Now, for the life of me, I don't see where people get pleasure in drinking and getting drunk. On the airplanes they use to ask you if you wanted a "Hail Mary" or "Bloody Mary" or something on the rocks, but I always said "No, but I'll have a Root Beer." I've watched the person sitting next to me as he got his "Bloody something" and make a sour face as he took a sip. I've leaned over and said, "If it's that bad, why do you drink it?" They look at me funny. Drink and drunken drivers are a major problem these days. Every single day hundreds of people are killed by drunken drivers. Where's the pleasure in all this?
- Then there's the gambling crowd. The lose and lose and lose, but still gamble away their money. Where on earth is the pleasure in all that?
- The Bible speaks of the pleasure of sin for a season. (Heb 11:25) "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" So since God's Word does say "PLEASURES of sin", I suppose they get pleasure in doing so…but remember the last part of that verse, "FOR A SEASON." It doesn't last long.
- I would rather live a good moral clean life and not take part in the so-called "pleasures of sin" and enjoy an eternity in Heaven with the Lord. I would rather spend my time doing something that will last forever than to "enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
VII. HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF - (2 Tim 3:5) "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
- Even many churches today have more form and outward show than true godliness.
- Christians ought to be out and out Christians. I never do anything half-heartedly. I'm going to do my best to be a Christian where ever I am. I'm not going to compromise my position for anyone. During my military days, I was criticized and made fun of for not joining the NCO Club. They said they would take my stripes and ship me overseas. I said, "Here they are, take them," but I'm not joining the NCO Club! I was called everything in the books, but I would not compromise. And if I had it to do over, I would do the same thing today.
- Yes, it cost something to live a true Christian life, but it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
CONCLUSION: God tells us what to do about those who live such ungodly lives. He says in verse 5, "from such turn away!" Take a stand! Live for the Lord! Speak up for the Lord! Don't let anyone get by with cursing in front of you! Live that kind of life and God will reward you with souls. INVITATION!
