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The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

The Bible has much to say about the end times, using terms like "the last days," "the end of time," and "the eternal kingdom." Entire books of Scripture focus on these future events, with most of Revelation describing things yet to come. But where are we in this timeline, and what should we understand about the times we're living in?

Where Are We in God's Timeline?

We are living in what could be called the most explosive time in human history regarding the advancement of civilization. The pace of change is unprecedented, and many biblical prophecies about the end times are becoming increasingly relevant.

Daniel, who lived about 550 years before Christ's first coming, received multiple visions that looked past Jesus' first coming all the way to His second coming and beyond. These visions revealed the rise and fall of empires across human history - from Babylon to Medo-Persia to Greece to Rome, and then to the nations that would follow.

What Did Daniel See About the End Times?

In Daniel 7:13-14, we read:

"I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed."

Daniel saw the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. He also saw the abomination of desolation, the rise of the Antichrist, and nations beyond Rome that would emerge in history.

What Can We Learn from Sodom's Judgment?

Ezekiel 16 provides important insights about God's judgment on Sodom. According to verses 48-50, Sodom's sins included:

 

  • Pride
  • Fullness of food (abundance without gratitude)
  • Abundance of idleness (leisure without purpose)
  • Failure to help the poor and needy
  • Haughtiness
  • Committing abominations before God

 

God says, "Therefore I took them away as I saw fit." This shows that even if you're God's chosen people, He can move with severity to restore righteousness.

Key Observations About the Last Days

1. We Are in the Last Days and Heading Toward the Last of the Last Days

The "last days" began after Jesus' ascension, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of the church. Paul, Peter, and Jesus all prophesied about the last days. While we don't know exactly how close we are to the final events, we are certainly 2,000 years closer than the early church was, and there are indicators suggesting things are accelerating.

2. Globalization is Shrinking the World and Technology is Changing it Like Never Before

The world is becoming smaller through rapid transportation and communication. Technology provides unprecedented access to labor-saving devices. While these advancements can be used for good, Satan and his followers will use them for evil purposes.

The enemy's plan includes using economics, technology, and political maneuvering to create a platform for the Antichrist. This will culminate in a covenant with Israel and the desecration of a rebuilt temple.

Several factors are creating the conditions for this:

 

  • Worker shortages (partly due to abortion eliminating millions of potential workers)
  • Increasing automation and robotics
  • Aging populations requiring more healthcare workers
  • Technological advancements creating a culture of dependency

 

All of this builds toward a world that can be ruled by one person, where everything you do will be at his bidding, and without his credentials, you won't be able to buy or sell.

3. There Will Be a Massive Global Deception and Delusion

2 Thessalonians 2 speaks of God sending a "strong delusion" that will cause people to believe the lie that the Antichrist is the true Messiah. We may already be seeing early signs of this delusion in our culture, where basic truths about human biology and gender are being rejected.

What Will Happen in the End Times?

Several key events will mark the end times:

 

  • A mass movement departing from true biblical Christianity
  • Increased persecution of believers
  • The rise of the Antichrist
  • The abomination of desolation (when the Antichrist enters the temple and claims to be God)
  • Lying signs and wonders performed by the false prophet
  • Prophesied judgment events
  • The fall of Babylon
  • The second coming of Christ

 

The Blessed Hope of Believers

Despite these troubling prophecies, believers have hope. The second coming of Christ is our "blessed hope" because:

 

  • We will see Him and be like Him
  • There will be resurrection and translation of the saints
  • We will be gathered together with the Lord
  • God's ultimate victory will be established

 

Life Application

In light of these truths about the end times, how should we live?

 

  • Be faithful witnesses for Christ. You have received power from the Holy Spirit to be a witness. Use that power to share the gospel with others.

 

  • Raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Teach them God's design for humanity, including His creation of male and female.

 

  • Pray for the leaders of our nation. Ask God to move in the halls of Congress and in executive offices across the land.

 

  • Exercise your right to vote as a citizen. Vote in ways that align with God's design for humanity and stand for righteousness.

 

  • Seek deliverance from the spirit of Antichrist in our nation, churches, and homes.

 

 

Questions to Consider:

 

  • Am I living with an awareness that we are in the last days?
  • How am I using technology and globalization for God's purposes rather than being used by them?
  • Am I discerning truth from deception in our increasingly confused culture?
  • What am I doing to prepare myself and others for the return of Christ?
  • How can I be a faithful witness for Jesus in these challenging times?

 

Remember, our ultimate hope isn't in avoiding trouble but in the person of Jesus Christ who promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age.