“THE   LAST   DAYS”   (2 Tim 3:1)

Feb 16th,  2003

 

Int.     It will not be my intention today to major on the subject of Prophesy, but rather to simply show you some of the things that the Bible clearly teaches that we can look for in the last days.

 

1.       The phrase “last days” is found eight times in the Scriptures.

 

2.       (Gen 49:1)  "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days."

 

        a.        Now common sense will tell you that this was not a reference to our particular time in which we live today.

 

3.       (Acts 2:17)  "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young  men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"

 

        a.        (Joel 2:28-29)  "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: {29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

 

4.       (Heb. 1:2) “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;..”

 

        a.        This expression is not to be taken absolutely, but is a contrast from   “in time past.”

 

        b.        The ministry of Christ marked “the last days.”

 

5.       (James 5:3) “Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”

 

        Ill.       My father said he heard one time that there were only three millionaires in America. Today, there’s that many in each little town and village. There’s nothing wrong with wealth, provided we put God first and our wealth last.

 

6.       (2 Pet 3:3) “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,..”

                  

        a.        Gill says:  "or "mockers";  such as would make a mock at sin, make light of it, plead for it, openly commit it, and glory in it; and scoff at all religion.

 

        b.        We have been in the last days since the time of the Apostles.

 

                  1.        (1 Jn 2:18) “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

 

I.       THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   DAYS   OF     GREAT   WICKEDNESS.

 

        A.       WICKEDNESS   HAS   PREVAILED   SINCE   THE   FALL   IN   EDEN.

 

                  1.        It has been said: Blessed is the land that has no history because history is a record of war and blood-shed.

 

                  2.        In the 400 years of O. T. history, only a small hand full had any reverence for God.

 

                  3.        (Gen 6:5) “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

 

                            a.        Thomas Boston in his “Four-fold State” of man explains this throughly.

 

                  4.        (Gen 6:12)  "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."

 

        B.       THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   MUCH   LIKE   THE   DAYS   JUST BEFORE   THE   FLOOD.

 

                  1.        Perilous times shall come: (2 Tim 3:1) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

 

                            a.        Founder's Journal..Spring 97 pg. 1calls this verse  "A neglected Topic for Needy Times"

 

                            b.        In recent years,  we have come to  see the ordination of women.

 

                            c.        Then the refusal of ministers to condemn homosexuality from the pulpit.

 

                            d.        Then immorality from the Pulpit to the Pew.

 

                  2.        Deceivers shall become commonplace.  (2 Tim 3:13) "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

 

                            a.        (Mark 13:22-23)  "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

 

                  3.        Love shall grow cold.  (Mt 24:12) “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

 

                            a.        Thomas Brooks of the great London fire:  "God destroyed the old world by water for the heat of their lusts, and God has destroyed the city of London by fire for the coldness of their love that dwelt therein."

 

Jesus, with sorrow and with .shame,

My weakness I would own,

 The treachery of this evil heart,

 to evil sadly prone,

 

The worldliness I often feel,

 The coldness of my love,

Affections too much. fixed below,

Too little rest above.

 

         

                  4.        Churches will become lukewarm. (Rev 3:16) “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

 

                            a.        This is the only time the word   “lukewarm”   is found in Scripture.

 

        F.       THERE WILL BE A GENERAL DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH.

 

1.       (1 Tim 4:1)  "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;"

         

                  2.        (1 Tim 5:8)  "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

 

                  3.        (1 Tim 5:12)  "Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith."

 

                  4.        (1 Tim 6:10)  "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

 

                            a.        "Money is not the root of all evil--not having money is" --An advertisming claim from inforcial pitchman WILLIAM J. MC’ CORKLE. It turns out the Bible had it right, however.  On the week of Sept 1, 1998) Mr. Mc corkle went on trial for defrauding customers of $28 million through bogus get-rich-quick schemes. He could spend up to 20 years in jail. 

 

                  5.        (2 Tim 2:18)  "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

 

                  6.        (2 Tim 3:8)  "Now  as  Jannes  and  Jambres  withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

 

                            a.        Stephen Charnock, 1680: "The wicked man's reason tells him, God is present with him, his lust presseth him to embrace the season of sensual pleasure, that he may be an undisturbed sinner; and sins doubly, both in the error of his mind, and in the vileness of his practice."

 

                  7.        (Jude 1:3)  "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

 

II.      THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   DAYS   OF   GREAT   WEALTH.

 

        A.       SUCH   WERE   THE   DAYS   JUST   BEFORE   THE   FLOOD.

 

                  1.        (Mat 24:38)  "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,"

 

                  2.        Benjamin Franklin said: "He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner.”

 

                  3.        MATTHEW  HENRY  (1662–1714)  “There is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing them; and a burden of account at last to be given concerning them.”

 

        B.       SUCH   WERE   THE   DAYS   OF   BELSHAZZAR     (Dan 5:3-4)  "Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. {4} They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone."

 

                  1.        Ivern Bell said:   “Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else.”

 

        C.       SUCH   WAS   THE   CASE   WITH   ISRAEL   OF   OLD.    (Deu 32:18)  "Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee."

 

                  1.        Patrick Henry said: "Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is impossible that a nation of infidels or idolaters should be a nation of free men. It is when a people forget God that tryants forge their chains."

 

III.     THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   DAYS   OF  WORLDLINESS.

 

        A.       LIKE   NOAH’S   GENERATION,   WE   HAVE   NO   TIME   FOR   GOD.

 

                  1.             (Job 22:15-18)  "Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? {16} Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: {17} Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {18} Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me."

 

                            a.        Depart from our homes, schools, morals, etc.

                            b.        C. H. S. said: “The   wicked   wrap their  miserable rags about them, and claim that  they are well clad.  Being fascinated by self  deceit, they imagine that they are rich and  increased in goods when they are naked, and poor, and miserable.  They will not lie at the feet of Jesus, and receive salvation as a gift of mercy, pure mercy!

 

                  2.        (2 Pet 2:5)  "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;"

 

                            a.        Noah  preached for 120 years. Every nail peg that he put into that Ark was a sermon against the Antideluvians.

 

                            b.        Mt. Henry says:   "Better to follow the eight in the ark than the eight millions drowned by the flood and damned to hell."

 

        B.       LIKE  NOAH’S  GENERATION,  WE   SCOFF   AT   THE   GOSPEL   OF CHRIST.

                                               

                  1.        (2 Pet 3:3)  "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,"

 

                            a.        They scoff at Bible preaching today just as they did in Noah’s day.

 

                  2.        To scoff at the truth is to make fun of the truth.

 

IV.     THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   DAYS   OF   WORRY

 

        A.         NATIONS   ARE   IN   DISTRESS   TODAY.

 

                  1.        (Luke 21:25)  "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;"

 

                            a.        The word   “Perplexity” here   means   “no way out.”

 

        B.       WORLD   LEADERS   ARE   IN   DISTRESS   TODAY

 

                  1.        All of them are talking peace and at the preparing for war at the same time.

 

                  2.        All of them have joined the United Nations and they see “no way out”.

 

                  3.        The ideal Government will not come until our Lord comes to reign.

 

                  4.        (Psa 18:6)  "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."

 

                            a.        Our country called in a Muslim Priest and all the rest of the enemies of the cross to pray.

 

V.      THESE   LAST   DAYS   SHALL   BE   DAYS   OF   WARS.

 

        A.       TODAY   WE   FACE   WARS   AND   RUMORS   OF   WARS.

 

                  1.        (Mt 24:7) “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”

 

                            a.        Pestilences= Plagues, aids is a good example (Note: Africa)

 

                  2.        Aesop said:  "Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."

 

                  3.        Will Rogers said:  "Ammunition beats persuasion when you are looking for freedom."

 

                  4.        (Eccl 3:8)  "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

 

                  5.        (Dan 7:21)  "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;"

 

                  6.        In the over 3100 years of recorded world history, the world has only been at peace 8% of the time or a total of 286 years and 8000 treaties have been made and broken.  Even now we seem headed for a nuclear showdown.

 

                  7.         President Eisenhower said 40 some years ago: "People want peace so much that governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."

 

                            a.        People, and countless  civil  wars and  coups, have  proved  him  wrong:

 

                  8.        The first great communications revolution followed the invention of the printing press. The first thing they printed was the Bible.

 

                            a.        The second communications revolution was due to the computer, and the first things computed were missile trajectories. You call that progress?

 

                  9.        People are starving because of civil wars raging in two African nations. Sudan's war has been going on since 1983.  In one area, 50% of the children are orphans, 50% are malnourished and 50% die before the age of 5.  One hospital must serve 1.5 million people.

  

                            a.        Mozambique has been a battlefield since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975. 

                            b.        In the past few years, more than 100,000 Mozambicans have died due to war. 

 

                            c.        About 1.6 million people have been displaced form their homes due to warfare. Another 900,000 have fled to other countries.

 

        B.       TODAY   WE   ARE   FACING   RELIGIOUS   PERSECUTION   AGAIN.

 

                  1.        For a thousand years, it was Roman Catholicism; now it is Islam.

 

                  2.        2001 World Net Daily.com:    “Christian sources in the kingdom said at least 15 Christians from Africa have been arrested in Jedda over the last few months for conducting non-Islamic services in private homes. Three of them are said to have been tortured in prison," said the defense news service. “

 

                  3.        In Egypt, we read of:   kidnaping,  rape, and forced conversions to Islam, while in America, we allow an Islamic woman to get her driver’s license with her face covered.

 

VI.     THESE   LAST   DAYS   ARE   DAYS   OF   WARNING.

 

        A.       GOD   WAS   LONGSUFFERING   IN   NOAH’S   DAY. (120 years)

 

                  1.        (1 Pet 3:20)  "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."

 

                            a.        There  were  ten  generations  from  Adam  to  Noah  that  “The longsuffering  of God” might  be  manifested.       

 

                  2.        (Ezek 33:4)  "Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head."

 

                  3.        (Col 1:28) “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

 

                  4.        (Acts 20:31) “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

 

                  5.        Matthew Henry: " It is the great concern of every one of us to take heed to our ways, that is, to walk circumspectly, while others walk at all adventures."

 

                  6.        Thomas Watson said: "How  far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing, who come to the word in a dull, drowsy manner, as if they came to church to take a receipt to make them sleep. The word is to feed; it is strange to sleep at meat. The word judgeth men: it is strange for a prisoner to fall asleep at the bar."

 

Conclusion:     There was once a Judge in England  whom they called “the sleeping Judge,” because of his appearance on the bench.

          He had a drowsy look as if he were asleep and not listening to the case in court. But he was not asleep as his decisions clearly proved.

          Many seem to think that God is asleep today and taking no notice of what is going on, but one of these days their notion will be changed.