In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul warned us, “But understand this that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 record our Savior’s message about what will be happening at the end of this age. He tells about nations and kingdoms rising against each other, great earthquakes, famines and pestilences, increased lawlessness and false prophets leading many astray, and hatred toward anything to do with Jesus happening more and more. Just watching today’s newscasts reveals all this is here now.
In 1 John 2:15-16, we’re told, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
John goes on to give us what is behind all the negativity in 1 John 2: 22-23: “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
The changing worldly attitude against anything that has to do with Jesus is no surprise to our triune Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus told us of the two pathways to eternity in Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The hard part of this is truly believing there is only one pathway to eternal life, and that is through Jesus (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). We hear of revivals with many people saying they are now followers of our Lord and Savior, but soon a lot will return to their old ways of life.
In the parable of the sower of seeds, Jesus explains why there are few who truly receive and accept Him. In Matthew 13:20-22, He states, “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
From the very beginning, Satan has relied on deception to tempt people and draw souls away from the Lord. Sadly, he was an archangel who had been in the presence of our Heavenly Father, but destructive pride caused his downfall.
In Revelation 12, we’re told there was a war in Heaven between Satan and angels who followed him, against Michael, another archangel, and the pure holy angels. Satan and his angels, also called demons, were thrown to Earth until the final judgment takes place. They have no pathway to forgiveness as we humans do.
In 1 John 4:1-3, we are told of forces that are already in the world and working on welcoming the ultimate antichrist of the 7-year tribulation. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already.”
For anyone to believe that the tribulation has already begun, this cannot actually start until all true believers are removed from this earth to keep God’s promise to us (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10).
The ultimate antichrist is being held back by the “Restrainer,” or Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2). When that restraint is removed to unleash the actual Satan-indwelt antichrist, all who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit must be removed to meet Jesus in the air and forever be with Him (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). We will receive our new forever immortal bodies and a mindset that will be immune from Satan’s temptations.
Our Heavenly Father is aware of the condition of the present world, and we need to talk (pray) to Him every day for strength and courage to carry on. We don’t know exactly when the Trumpet of God will sound, and there’s a shout from an archangel, but we can make sure we aren’t left behind.
God wants no one to fail (2 Peter 3:9) and has provided a pathway to our eternal life in Heaven. We cannot earn or buy our way into Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we confess we are sinners, as all of us are, and call out to our Savior for forgiveness and ask to become a part of His flock and truly believe He did come to this earth to be the perfect, sinless blood sacrifice that will cover all our sins, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
False prophets today are proclaiming there are many ways to Heaven and no one really needs Jesus to be their Savior. Sadly, there are a lot of people who are accepting this and are scheduling themselves for the line at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. Some believe they can wait for the Rapture to start to call out to be saved. Paul’s comment about “in the twinkling of an eye” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 means it will be over before anyone can take a breath, much less call out to be saved.
If you have not truly received and accepted the free gift the Father has offered for calling out to Jesus to be saved, today will not be too soon to do so. We have no guarantee that we will see tomorrow.
Please understand, God did not force Satan and his fallen angels to be Holy, but gave them freedom of choice. We have that same option. He will not force us to call out to be saved, but will honor all who truly do. This is the most important decision you will ever make. Heaven or lake of fire – Your Choice.
Shalom! Peace be with you!