1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
ok... so these two verses give specific characteristics of what people will be like in the last days. We know the verse is referring to the last days because it specifically says "in the last days difficult times will come" So are we in difficult times? Are these times any more difficult than the times of the past? The answer in my estimation to both of these questions is YES. Yes, we are in the most difficult times in world history. You may be saying "How are these times more difficult that the Great Depression, World War II, the Black Plague, Communist Russia, Nazi persecution of the Jews, or any number of other difficult 'times'?" The simple answer is... these times only effected regions of the world and had specific beginnings and specific endings. However, these current times are progressively getting worse and have no end in sight. For example, the world is going through climate change. Whether this climate change is global warming or global cooling it is definitely global and the changes cannot be stopped by any effort of man. The effects of these global climate changes will effect all the earth and all who dwell on the earth. Some of these climatic changes have been cataclysmic... Hurricane Katrina, massive earthquakes, mudslides, tsunamis, and massive fires in areas not known to have fires in the past (ex. Florida). The loss of life and property in these events are staggering compared to times past.
Let's look at the world pandemic situation for a moment... We are currently undergoing a H1N1 virus (swine flu) alert that has the entire world panicked while it prepares for massive outbreaks of flu this season. The world has also been braced for H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) that has a 50% mortality rate. If these two super-flu virus' combined they would create a virus that would be devastating to the entire planet, and we haven't even looked at the HIV/AIDS virus that has plagued the world for the last 30 years.
How about the world financial situation...? The standard by which the world measures its currency is against the U.S. dollar. Currently the U.S. dollar is extremely weak. The American economy is the worst its been in decades and there is no short or long term solution to bring the U.S. out of its current depression. Unemployment is at a national all time high, and the government is now in the business of buying out corporations to bail them out of certain failure. This includes the banking system. As I write this I am still currently on unemployment after being laid off of my job in July 2008 and there are zero job prospects in my field, especially in the area in which I live. World leaders in Russia, France, and China have called on the United States to create a world currency in the same manner as the Euro was created. The mindset is that a one world currency would be stronger than the U.S. dollar currently is. Although the United States and Barack Obama in particular have said they would not entertain any ideas of a one world currency, it is being very carefully examined as a remedy to the current decline of the American dollar.
How about Islamo-fascist terrorism? Certainly this is felt on a global scale and effects every person on the planet. Since 9/11 the world has faced the possibility of radical Muslims attacking ruthlessly in the name of Allah. The U.S. military has been engaged on two fronts combating terrorism and the nations that support terrorist. Whether you agree or disagree with the U.S. policy is not the issue here, only that the lone world super-power is engaged militarily, and politically in a global issue.
So, we've looked at a few things that support the current time as the last days spoken of in the first verse. I will leave you with the words spoken by our Lord from Matthew 24:4-14...
"4And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
5"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
6"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8"But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
13"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
14"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."
We will look at verse 2 tomorrow...
No comments:
Post a Comment