THE END-TIME TREND

Matthew 24:3-14, 32-42; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-11.

MEMORY VERSE: “Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

INTRODUCTION
In many places in the bible the “last days” are mentioned, meaning the days just before Jesus comes. In God’s word we read: “this knows also, that in the last days perilous time shall comes. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers”. Lover of their own selves! Not lovers of God, mot lovers of their neighbor, not lovers of the beauties of God’s great salvation, but lovers of their own selves! Look the world over today and what do you find? A literal fulfillment of those very words of scripture. Men are demanding, selfish, covetous and boastful.

The end-time trend is a phenomenon that looms large at the dawn of our generation. It’s the “last days” with its attendant grave perils, in a fast changing world occasioned by disturbing trends in our social fabric, cultural tradition, religion, education and very recently, technology that has transformed our world into a fear laden global village. Apparently, this age is experiencing the end-time.

God’s time table for the ages is as follows: creation-Antediluvian; the flood-patriarchal; exodus from Egypt-dispensation of the law and the prophets; first coming of Christ-church/gentile dispensation; rapture of the saint-marriage super of the lamb/ the great tribulation; revelation of Christ-battle of Armageddon/millennial reign of Christ; final battle gog and magog/ the great white throne judgment-new heaven and new earth; eternity.
Convincingly, the scripture furnishes us with enough information (signposts) for a clear understanding of the times we are in day. Indications are that the peak God’s dealing with the people of this earth will soon occur. When jesus “disciples asked him what signs would precede his coming and the end of the age, he responded with a comprehensive list. (see Matthew 24:3-14).

Perilous times. we live in a day of inexplicable outbreaks of violent-random shootings, murders and mass killings, abortion is a wildly accepted option for terminating unwanted pregnancy. The medias blatant portrayal of homosexuality and immorality as resulted in an increasingly wicked society.

The love of may growing cold. Many churches which at one time preached the fundamentals of Christianity-the birth and a life without sin, have changed their doctrines, “having a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5)

Automobile traffic. Automobiles by the millions throngs our six and eight-lane free ways. Dirt and injuries resulting from auto crashes are leading cause of dirt for thousands of young people all over the world. (Nahum 2:3).
wars and rumors of wars. Warfare has long be part of human existence, but the sheer annihilative potential of current weaponry, and the possibility of conflict on a global scale, has made our day a unique and dangerous time unprecedented in history. Military engagements and rumors of war are rampant; ethnic conflicts abound worldwide.

persecution and killing of followers of Jesus. More Christians have been martyred for their in the 21st century than in the previous twenty centuries combined.

knowledge increased. Today, universities in our land are crowded to capacity. Internet allows instant access to unlimited information. Engineering feats are performed today that stagger the imagination. Scientific knowledge seems to have conquered everything but the greatest mystery of all-the source of life.

Famines. Drought has come to lands that had never before suffered from a lack of rain. The world Health Organization reports that over 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night.

pestilences. The past few decades have witnessed the emergence of numerous “new” infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola and Legionnaires’ disease; the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant strains of “old” diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria; and the epidemic of tobacco-related diseases.

Earthquakes. Serious earthquakes have recently shaken parts of the world that have never felt an earthquake. The new millennium has witnessed about 450 earthquakes.
The gospel preached worldwide. In recent years, several groups have purpose to each every part of the world with the gospel message. Bible translators are currently putting the scriptures into more than 2,287 languages and dialects which have never had a translation of God’s word.

The time of latter Rain. Another indication that the last days are upon us is the fact that we are living in the time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the latter rain foretold by Joel the prophet ( Joel 2:23) and by the Apostles James (James 5:7). Beginning in the early 1900s, God gave a sign to an unbelieving world by restoring the baptism of the Holy Ghost as was given in the “early rain” on the Day of Pentecost.
Without a doubt, the stage has been set. We are seeing the fulfillment of the prophesied events which were to herald the rapture of the church. Jesus could come back for His Bride, the church, at any moment!

CONCLUTION:
Where are we in God’s time-table for the ages?
We are living tremendous days, the time of the end of the age and the end of the world. The minutes on God’s clock are ticking by, and the evidence is conclusive: the climax of the ages cannot be far in the future. There is ample instruction in the Bible about what the lord expects His followers to be. He shed His blood to wash away our sins and to make us pure in heart, so there will be no excuse for those who do not prepare themselves for His coming. Have you made the proper spiritual preparation? Your answer could have awesome and irrevocable consequences. Realize that if you neglect those preparations or speculate that perhaps the lord will delay His coming a few years longer, you are gambling with the eternal destiny of your never-dying soul!

CHALLENGE: Have you made the prepation for the next event in God’s time-table-Rapture?