The Return of Christ: Part III

Concerning the prophetic signs of the end times, Jesus Christ said this: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13)

When we think of wickedness, we think of popular forms such as crime and violence. And only a fool would deny that crime hasn't become more prevalent in the world over the past 60 years.

However, Christ defined wickedness in much broader terms than merely crime statistics. When he revealed that the love of most would grow cold in the end times, what did He mean? He meant that the love of God will wane and die in the last days preceding His return.

Thus, according to Christ, many will not only turn away from the faith; i.e. drop out of the church, but they will lose their salvation as well by renouncing their faith. That's why Christ stated that those who stand firm to the end will be saved. He meant that those who resist the temptation to trade their faith for the temporal pleasures of the world will be rewarded with eternal life.

But clearly, things are getting much worse across the world. The apostle Paul revealed this prophecy concerning the increase in evil in the end times: "But mark this: 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." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Since 1960, crime has skyrocketed in the United States. While statistics can be manipulated to convey unintended meanings, the crime statistics for the U.S. over the past 55 years speak for themselves. They can't be manipulated. 

Since everything has a cause and effect relationship, then what's caused the uptick in crime and violence across the world? Paul provides the answer: "Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:28-32)

Paul revealed that evil is commensurate with man's ignorance and rejection of God and His transcendent moral laws. The more people turn away from God, the more wicked they become. There's your cause and effect relationship. Ironically, Paul stated that despite the prevalence of evil in the last days, people would embrace a form of godliness, but without any power. (2 Timothy 3:5)

What was Paul referring to? He was referring to dead religion that gave the appearance of honor and recognition of God, but without power. What power? The power of God's Holy Spirit that helped the early churches spread the gospel through miracles such as healing, deliverance of demonic spirits, and even raising the dead. 

Without that power, the Christian church is dead. Why has the church lost that power? Because it has no love for God. If the church did, it wouldn't have opened its doors to all the world's false religions and their assorted idols. 

To that, Paul warned: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

Is Christ coming back soon? Based upon the signs, His return is getting near. How near? We don't know. We don't have an exact date. However, we have the prophetic signs. And the signs tell us that Christ's return is getting close. That could mean tomorrow or it could mean several years. 

But whenever it is, we have to be ready. For Christ Himself warned: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:42-44)

Judgment and The Last Days

Get ready for some nasty weather

I'm occasionally asked this question: If your blog's about prophecy, then where is it? All you seem to do is focus on what's in the Bible.

Well, that's where it is concerning the unique time in history that we're living in. And I focus on that because it's time for many folks--and this includes professing Christians--to wake up and pay attention because all of the signs the Bible reveals concerning the end times are now happening.

For example, we're seeing an increase in earthquakes and famines (Matthew 24:7),  an explosion of crime, violence and moral decadence (Matthew 24:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-5), the collapse of the church (Matthew 24:10) and the increase in wars and rumors of war (Matthew 24:6).

While all of these events have existed since the dawn of history, they're rapidly increasing in our time. That clearly indicates that we're living in the prophetic last days. Furthermore, we're living in a global society. You couldn't say that 100 years ago. You can now communicate with people anywhere on earth in an instant. 

And we're moving rapidly toward a fully electronic economic system that will do away with cash, coins, checks, credit and debit cards. This was first revealed by the apostle John in about 90 A.D. when he recorded the Bible's final book, the Revelation. (Revelation 13:16-17) 

We're also moving toward a global government that will possess tyrannical power. Concerning a global government, John described the metaphorical vision he received from God that detailed this government: "And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion." (Revelation 13:1-2)

The allegorical beast that John saw in his vision represents the coming world government that will feature 10 regions ruled by seven kings who will eventually be under the authority of a diabolical ruler the Bible identifies as the Antichrist.

Furthermore, the Antichrist will also be a religious figure as well as a political ruler. And he will be worshiped as Jesus Christ when he appears. What religion will he identify with? John saw this: "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries." (Revelation 17:3-4)

The woman represents the coming global religion. And John revealed her earthly location; a city surrounded by seven hills. (Revelation 17:9) There are only two cities in the world surrounded by seven hills; Rio de Janeiro that's located in Brazil and Rome that's located in Italy.

The Vatican is located in Rome and is the world headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. When John recorded the Revelation, the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence for another 250 years. And so, the coming global religion will be headed by the Catholic Church. And not surprisingly, Pope Francis, who's become the most liberal pontiff in history, is actively promoting a world government. Is that a coincidence? That's extremely unlikely.

But before that happens many things are going to take place. There'll be harsh judgment upon the earth. Destructive earthquakes are going to increase across the world, and some are going to strike the United States. Those who live on the west coast should be particularly concerned because something big is going to happen there. When? I don't know when. But it will be significant.

Parts of Europe are going to be flooded with torrential rains, and significant blizzards and extreme cold weather are going to strike in Eastern Europe. In the United States, the Mid-Atlantic states along the upper east coast are going to be slammed with flooding rains, heavy snowstorms and nor'easters. The plain states and the central U.S. are going experience violent cyclones and damaging tornadoes.

Concerning Africa, extreme heatwaves and droughts are going to plague much of the northern and central portions of that continent. And portions of Asia are going to be inundated with heavy floods brought on by torrential rains. And concerning Japan, that nation's going to experience a devastating earthquake that will do significant damage to the northern part of that nation.

But why is all of this going to happen? Consider abortion and the millions of babies that are being butchered in the name of "choice." Consider the persecution of Christians that has now reached into North America. Consider anti-Semitism that is spreading around the world again like a deadly malignancy. Consider the codification of same-sex marriage. And consider the worship of demons, false gods and idols that has even spread into the Christian church.

Consider all of that. And consider what's coming. You asked for prophecy? You've been answered.