Are we now in the time of the end as prophesied in the Bible? Critics are quick to point out that for thousands of years people have mistakenly believed that they were living in the last days. Throughout history, certain events have triggered anxious expectation for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Some have even sold homes, quit jobs, etc. being convinced that the time of Christ was then at hand.

With that said, the Bible does give us signs that would let us know when the time of the end would be. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 that there would be natural disasters, wars and famines during this time period.

As I mentioned earlier, men have always believed that they were living in the end-time, but notice carefully what Jesus foretold- " Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved." (Matt. 24:22)

The Devil has always been able to stir up the nations to war against one another, but only in the time of the end would mankind possess the weaponry capable of literally destroying ALL LIFE on our planet. The stockpile of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons the nations have amassed could destroy the earth many times over! We find ourselves living in a very special time, a time like there has never been before.

Although for thousands of years people have lived, worked and fought wars here on the earth, there has been dramatic changes in the last century. For thousands of years very little changed in the way people lived, traveled and fought their wars. But in the last 150 years KNOWLEDGE, TRANSPORTATION and TECHNOLOGY has increased at a breathtaking rate. And today, with science in the computer age, technology is escalating daily at a break-neck speed.

Still living today are people who have witnessed transportation go from horses to jet planes.

They have seen the day when they had no refrigerators, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, television and even electricity. And they have seen this day, a time when one can travel anywhere in the world in a matter hours. And also see a time when nuclear war could annihilate the inhabitants of the earth at any moment.

The technological advances that have taken place in the last century have changed the complexion of the world, and have changed it forever.

This was prophesied to happen in the last days by the Prophet Daniel, notice- "But Daniel keep this prophecy a secret; seal it so that it will not be understood until the end times, when TRAVEL and EDUCATION shall be VASTLY INCREASED." (Daniel 12:4 Living Bible)

So we find that these prophecies pertaining to the end-time would be sealed to ensure that they would not be understood until the last days. In those days travel and education would be vastly increased.

It is very clear that there has been momentous changes in travel and education just as Daniel foretold.

And again, we see that we are living in a very special time, a time like there has never been before. 
 

The Bible gives other signs that we are now living in the last days, Notice what Paul prophesied to Timothy,- "You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the LAST DAYS it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. For people will LOVE ONLY THEMSELVES and their MONEY; they will be proud and boastful, SNEERING AT GOD, thoroughly bad. They will be disobedient to their parents. They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of IMMORALITY. They will be rough and cruel, and SNEER AT THOSE WHO TRY TO BE GOOD. They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won't really believe anything they hear." (2 Timothy 3:1-5 Living Bible)

As Paul prophesied, in the last days people would become "lovers of themselves." Children would be "disobedient to their parents". Certainly, this is being fulfilled today. Paul said that people would be IMMORAL. Isn't it fashionable to have your own definition of morality today? People convince themselves that morality comes from their own minds rather than the Word of God. The belief that truth is absolute has been replaced by the belief that it is relative to circumstance and culture.

Again, we see that we are living in a special time, a time like no other since the beginning,- truly these are the last days of Satan's reign.

WHY ARE WE HERE,- NOW?

Throughout history, God predestined the birth of certain people for a specific appointed time. "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For THIS VERY PURPOSE I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the earth." (Romans 9:17)

"And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should BE BORN BLIND? Jesus answered, "It is neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but IT WAS IN ORDER THAT THE WORKS OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED IN HIM." (John 9:1-3) Obviously God had planned this man's birth and even planned his blindness and healing, and had predestined that he should come into the world at the time Jesus was fulfilling His ministry. 

In the case of Jeremiah God said, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) 

The Apostle Paul said,- "But when He who had SET ME APART, EVEN FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB, and called me through His grace, WAS PLEASED TO REVEAL HIS SON in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles." (Galatians 1:15-16) 
 

CHRISTIANS ARE VESSELS OF MERCY PREPARED BEFOREHAND TO RECEIVE JESUS, THE PROMISED SEED 
 

"What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience VESSELS OF WRATH prepared for destruction? And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon VESSELS OF MERCY, which HE PREPARED BEFOREHAND for glory, EVEN US, whom He also CALLED." (Romans 9:22-24) 

"He chose us in Him (Jesus) BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will." (Ephesians 1:4-5)

"We have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE who works all things after the counsel of His will." (Verse 11)

I believe we can conclude that every person whom God has used, or will use in this age, in order to fulfill His divine purpose, was foreknown of God and was born into this world at a specific appointed time. (This is not say however, that man does not possess his own free will.) 

I have concluded that if you are a Christian, having been called by the Father to receive Jesus, the Promised Seed through the agency of the holy spirit,- then your time of birth was not mere chance.

When the fulness of time had come, your heavenly Father sent you into the world. Then at an appointed time He made Himself knowable to you, offering to form Christ in you, the Seed of life through the power of the holy spirit.

Since God knew you before the foundation of the earth, He also let many of you endure difficult and painful times before He made your calling known to you. For reasons only God can answer, he chose to let some of you suffer before conversion, as He let the man born blind endure his affliction for many years before He healed him.

In this sense, perhaps you were called to be living martyrs for a period of time that God may receive much glory upon your conversion. Also, there is great power in the testimony of those whom God has delivered of much sin. Concerning a repentant prostitute crying at His feet, Jesus once told a Pharisee that "one who is forgiven much, loves much." So in blessings and sufferings we rejoice and praise our Father and our Savior, knowing that all things work to the good of those who love God. 

Now, we Christians find ourselves living during a time like no other, the time the Bible calls the "last days." Again, it was no accident that we were brought into the world for such time as this. A time when the Devil knows he has little time left. A time when Satan will attempt to wear down the patience of the saints. A time when the spiritual forces of darkness are quickly mobilizing their armies for the final attack. A time when the beast will be revealed,- surely he is now alive and preparing for his reign. And a time when even the saints will be given into his hand.

Notice,- "I kept looking and that horn (beast) was waging war with the saints and overpowering them." (Daniel 7:21)

Notice also- "And it was given to him (beast) to make war with the saints and to overcome them." (Rev. 13:7) 

Daniel Chapter 11 says that during this time the people who "know their God will perform mighty exploits!" Perhaps God has saved the best for last, Jesus said "many who are last shall be first."

What is sure is that God will have a committed people, mighty in spirit and in works who will have the "right stuff" to face-off with the Devil and his forces at the height of their power. And though many of us will be given into his hand and martyred, we are comforted with the understanding that our true life is safely hidden in Christ and we are ultimately victorious! Notice,- "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4) 
 

CHRISTIANS ARE SOLDIERS IN GOD'S ARMY

During the recent Vice-Presidential debate Republican nominee Dick Cheney was asked,- "Should U.S. soldiers be used as peacekeepers or warriors?" Cheney quickly answered and said, "warriors!"He went on to say that the purpose of an army,- what it is trained for, is to fight and win wars, not as a peacekeeping force.

As Christians, we are in a fight to the death! Paul told the Ephesian church that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness. Paul urged the church to be strong in the Lord, notice- "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Chpt. 6:10-11)

Paul urged young Timothy to "fight the good fight!" We must understand that we are in a fight, and sometimes we get hit. There has never been a Champion fighter who did not get hit. Likewise in warfare there are casualties. Even the victors suffer casualties. As Christians, we cannot expect to never have problems or experience sufferings. But we are still victorious in Jesus because those things which we suffer for Christ's sake perfects us. And we know also that we shall receive an eternal weight of glory for the things which we endure for Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Notice,- "Suffer hardship with me, as a GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST. No soldier in ACTIVE SERVICE entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

As a Christian, are you certain that you are in "active service?" Sadly, many whom God has called into service act as though they are in the "reserve."

As soldiers of Christ, let us put aside all which encumbers us, that we might move freely in the spirit.

We must feel a sense of duty, and our mission clear in our minds.

Jesus said to go into all nations and preach the gospel of Christ to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the holy spirit, and teach them all that I taught you.

Jesus commissioned us with the Ministry of Reconciliation, Notice,- "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them , and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore WE ARE AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Let each one of us carefully examine ourselves to see what encumbers us in fulfilling this ministry. And let us set our minds on the things of God. 
 

WE WILL MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR MOST DOMINATE THOUGHT

We are presently behind enemy lines and our foe is awesomely powerful, we must allow Jesus, the Captain of our salvation to direct us through the holy spirit. And let our mission be constantly in the forefront of our minds and let our focus and directive be clear.

Notice what Paul told the Lord's soldiers in Corinth,- "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10:3-5) 
 

Notice that Paul assures us that our spiritual weapons are "divinely strong." They are designed for the purpose of "destroying fortresses." WE ARE ABLE! The Devil seeks to engender doubt and anxiety, but he is a liar.

Remember, the End-Time beast will worship a God of "Fortresses." (Daniel 11:38) The devil constantly seeks to build fortresses or strongholds in the lives of people. But we have been given the weaponry to destroy those strongholds. Notice that Paul said that we are to take captive every thought in order to bring it into obedience to Christ. Sin is often a result of not taking a unlawful thought captive.

Notice,- "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived my beloved brethren." (James 1:14-16)

My friends and brethren, the battle begins at the thresh-hold of our minds, let us always resist Satan's temptations early on. Stop him BEFORE he can lay the foundation for the strongholds of COMPLACENCY, DOUBT, DISCOURAGEMENT, GUILT, TIMIDITY, BITTERNESS, GOSSIP AND SLANDER, HATRED, ENVY, REBELLION, LUST, DISCONTENT, ETC.