More Terrible Times

Murder Victim: A familiar scene in our violent times

One of the key biblical prophecies concerning the last days on earth directly preceding the return of Jesus Christ can be found in Paul's second letter to his fellow apostle Timothy. This is what Paul wrote: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days." (2Timothy 3:1)

What specifically will make the last days on earth so terrible? The people, according to Paul, who will turn completely away from God and become desperately wicked. Paul wrote: "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." (2Timothy 3:1-5)

There's a direct correlation between the decline of Christianity's influence throughout the world and the rise in moral depravity and violence. Since 1960, moral decadence and crime have exploded across the western world and crime statistics verify the western world's slide into violence, chaos and depravity. For example, with a population of 179,323,175 in 1960, the United States recorded 3,384,200 crimes for that calender year. In 2010, with a population of 308,745,538, the United States recorded 10,329,135 crimes for that calender year. While America's population increased by nearly 75 percent from 1960, crime increased over 200 percent.

Furthermore, when we break down crime statistics per 100,000 residents, violent crime rose to 404 incidents for every 100,000 Americans in 2010 from 161 incidents for every 100,000 residents in 1960. Clearly, the United States, which reflects the values of the western world, has become an immoral and wicked nation. And clearly, the apostle Paul's prophecy concerning terrible times in the last days is being fulfilled in our time.

Crime is a moral problem. Consider Paul's description of the people who inhabit the end-time world; selfish, greedy, immoral, impure, unholy, violent, lacking self-control, arrogant, narcissistic, nihilistic and addicts of pleasure. (sex, leisure, entertainment, sports etc.) But Paul also revealed this detestable contradiction of the end-time world--it will possess a form of godliness but without any power. 

That's religion and the end-time world has an abundance of it. Travel through any major American city and you'll see that contraction; numerous churches from simple storefronts to elegant stain-glassed buildings. And you'll see the assorted moral destitution that surrounds these churches from gangbangers to prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers, addicts and alcoholics. A weak and powerless church provides no influence to its surroundings. Rather, a weak and powerless church is usually influenced by the world as evidenced by the endless scandals involving clergy who are either accused of pedophilia or who get caught in sexual trysts with underage girls.

Many in the Christian Church claim that all we need is a good old fashioned revival and everything will get better. But the world needs to recognize the clear distinction between good and evil and realize that it is accountable to a Holy God for violating his laws by committing evil acts that the Bible calls sin. Recognizing evil brings recognition of one's sinfulness before a Holy God that leads to repentance that in turn leads to the cross where Jesus Christ died for all sinners to spare them eternal damnation in hell. Unless that happens--and the Christian Church needs to help make that happen by promoting the biblical gospel over dead, powerless Churchianity--then no revival is ever going to happen. 

Instead, we'll just continue to see crime, violence and moral decadence increase exponentially across the world. Another deadly shooting just took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin just weeks after the deadly shooting that took place in North Aurora, Colorado. Remember Paul's prophecy and remember what it will take to transform a wicked, violent world that has turned its back on God. It certainly won't be religion.