Are things really all that bad today? Yes. The end-times events have begun and are becoming stronger. The Rapture is near.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh“ (Luke 21:28).

Times are tough, but is it really all that bad today? Haven’t crimes happened since the Garden of Eden? Yes they have, but it’s getting worse. That shouldn’t surprise Christians because Scripture tells us things will get worse as we draw closer to the end of time.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come“ (2 Timothy 3:1).

Perilous? That English word doesn’t have quite the impact that the Greek word “chalepos” has. This word means “harsh, fierce, savage.” Is it really that bad today? Most of us don’t catalog news headlines. When a perilous event happens we watch the news, feel sickened, then move on because the media moves on. When the next big event happens we’re horrified, but then move on once again. These perilous events are happening more frequently with violence and hatred growing stronger. The end times are upon us, but are things really all that bad today?

In telling Timothy of the perilous last days, Paul described various things to watch for.

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers ,false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away“ (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

All of these attitudes have been around for a long time, but it’s getting worse. The self-centeredness of so many people is astounding. Whatever they can get without giving is fine. The natural affection that parents have for their children is growing cold. Every time I read of a parent who’s abused or killed their child, my heart breaks. The natural affection of a godly marriage is being replaced by perversions of one night stands and homosexual relationships. That’s far from natural.

Blasphemers? The mocking of our Lord is getting more outspoken, and “hate speech” laws protect everyone except Christians. Despisers of those who are good? Today good is considered bad and bad is considered good. When a so-called comedienne can gain fame for pretending to hold up the severed head of the US President, that’s having a cold heart. We are in perilous times, but are things really all that bad today?

To get a better idea of what “chalepos” means, we need to turn to Scripture. This particular word is used twice in the New Testament. Paul uses it in 2 Timothy 3:1, but the other place it’s used describes demon possession.

“And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way“ (Matthew 8:28).

This time “chalepos” is translated “fierce.” Matthew lets us know in one word how evil this demon possession was, but Mark uses more words to describe it.

“And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs crying, and cutting himself with stones“ (Mark 5:2-5).

In Luke 8:27, we find out that this man had been demon possessed for a long time and also that he wore no clothes. That’s pitiful, but he chose this. In order to possess a person, demons need to be invited in. By using mind-altering drugs or dabbling with other occult practices, you give them an invitation. Are things really all that bad today?

Many people have had sexual encounters with demons. Do you believe that? If you haven’t done any research, then you probably think this doesn’t happen. Demons are very real and very evil, and the occult is permeating our society.

The entertainment industry is leading the way in making demon encounters seem normal. Mind-altering drugs allow demons to have possession of a person, and that starts at a young age. A very large number of children are prescribed drugs to alter their minds. Are they unruly? Give ’em drugs. Do they have too much energy? Give ’em drugs. Do some research on the mass shooters, and you’ll find that they’re all on some form of mind-altering prescription drug; and most hear voices telling them to kill.

Also pay attention to the rising number of public nudity coupled with violence and superhuman strength. These things are demonically inspired. Occult practices are on the rise and are openly embraced today. It’s now the theme of movies and television programs. The internet can be a wonderful tool used to spread God’s word or it can be used for evil, such as the slender man delusion which was the evil behind two young girls who brutally stabbed a friend numerous times and left her for dead. Indeed, these are perilous times, but are things really all that bad today?

There’s no doubt that Satan is pure evil and he’s a liar. Satan and his minions encourage violence and desire to destroy humans. Satan rebelled against God, and a third of the angels followed him in that rebellion. These unholy angels mated with human women and had offspring called Nephilim. They corrupted the human genome, but these evil beings also corrupted all of creation, and God was forced to do something to protect the remaining uncorrupted creation.

“And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them“ (Genesis 6:7). 

Noah and his family remained true to God and stayed genetically pure. God’s judgment came by a flood and destroyed everything except for Noah, his family, and some animals who survived in the Ark. Jesus said that the end times would be like in the days of Noah.

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be“ (Matthew 24:37).

All of creation was being corrupted, and people were just going on as if all was well. Are things really all that bad today?

Scientists in labs around the world are corrupting the genetics of humans, animals, and plants. Babies are being born with a triple helix DNA instead of the normal double helix. Human/animal hybrids are grown in Petri dishes. Food is being genetically tampered with; pigs and sheep are genetically altered to grow human organs; and so much more horrible tampering with God’s creation happens around the world.

If that isn’t bad enough, there’s artificial intelligence. Have you seen Sophia? This robot looks human, carries on spontaneous conversations in any language, and has a sense of humor. Elsewhere, scientists are enhancing humans to have super-human abilities. Look into transhumanism and be horrified. Science fiction of yesterday is science reality today, and that’s not good.

When Jesus walked the Holy Land with His disciples, there was a lot of persecution; and many of the Jewish people were looking for the Messiah to rescue them. Unfortunately, most of them didn’t recognize Him. As the time drew near for Jesus to be crucified, a few of His disciples asked Him about the end of the age. At that point they didn’t know they were chosen to establish the Christian faith nor did they know about the Rapture, so they didn’t ask about that. They wanted to know about the last days.

Jesus gave a long list of what to look for, including, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places“ (Matthew 24:7).

These things have always happened, but it’s all getting worse as we move closer to Daniel’s 70th week.

Today we see civil unrest within nations and wars among the nations. The United States is on the brink of a civil war with the demon-inspired hatred and venom from the liberals becoming more and more violent. In Venezuela, the people are ready to rebel against their socialist government. The people of Iran are turning against their rulers. In South Africa, the government is taking land away from white farmers who have been there for generations. Muslim immigration into non-Muslim nations is causing tension as they try to implement sharia law. Tensions between nations around the world are at an all- time high.

Jesus went on to talk about persecution, betrayal, and false prophets. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold“ (Matthew 24:12).

Beginning in Revelation chapter 6, we read about what happens after the Rapture. God’s wrath will be poured out upon all who’ve rejected Christ and remain on earth. The judgments begin as Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, begins to open the seals of a scroll. When He opens the second seal, a red horse is released.

“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword“ (Revelation 6:4).

The word “kill” is translated from the Greek word “sphazo” which means to butcher or slaughter and put to a violent death. Are things really all that bad today?

Remember, the question the disciples asked was about the end, not about the Rapture; and Jesus described events leading up to the Rapture, as well as afterwards. As the end of time draws near, we see these signs all coming clearly into view. As that time period looms on the horizon, the days are becoming more and more evil. It seems as if every day there’s a news story of someone killing their girlfriend then eating her or a child being kidnapped, abused, and killed. In America, the radical left seem to be crazed by demons as they violently attack anyone who has a different opinion. Hearts are waxing colder and colder. Times are indeed becoming perilous.

Are things really all that bad today? Yes. The end-times events have begun and are becoming stronger. As Christians we’re admonished to live differently than the worldly people around us.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world“ (Titus 2:11-12).

The world we live in is our temporary home. No matter how bad things may seem today, our eternal home is with our Lord. Only Christians have hope for eternal life, whether through our own death or by the Rapture.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

If you haven’t accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you will face the horrendous time of Great Tribulation. Accept Christ’s sacrifice now, because tomorrow may be too late. If you have accepted Him, then start living your life to honor Him.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

When we hear the word “slavery,” we usually think of a very ugly part of history. It was. Scripture tells us of the Hebrew slavery in Egypt and the brutality of it. There had been a drought; and in order to survive, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to ask for food. Unbeknownst to them, the person they asked was their brother Joseph whom they had sold into slavery many years before. What man means for evil, God uses for good.

Through the years, Joseph had risen from a slave to the second highest official in Egypt. This position made it possible for him to provide food for his father and brothers, and also made the way for the family to move to Egypt. All was well for many years; but after a while, the descendants of Jacob became slaves to the Egyptians. This was the ugly type of slavery, and the Hebrews suffered greatly.

In due time, God called Moses to approach Pharaoh and ask him to set the Hebrews free. Eventually Pharaoh granted them their freedom. They began the journey to the land that God had promised them; and when they came to Mt. Sinai, God gave the Law to Moses. This Law included guidelines for slavery. You may think it odd that they had just left a nation in which they were slaves, and now God talks of slavery again. The difference between secular slavery and what the Law required is the grace and mercy of God.

Unlike other forms of slavery, God put a time limit upon the servitude. “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing“ (Exodus 21:2).

This meant that slavery wasn’t for a lifetime and it wasn’t generational. The reasons for becoming a servant, or a slave, were varied; but the slave was protected under the Law. If a man ran into hard times and had no money, he was to be a hired servant until the year of jubilee when he would be set free and be able to return to his own home (Leviticus 25:39-41). If a man was caught stealing and couldn’t make restitution, he was to be sold to work off his debt (Exodus 22:3-4).

These laws were established for protection of individuals and in order that debts could be paid. This cannot be confused with or compared to the slavery found outside of the Jewish nation. The “slavery” under the Law was governed by rules set by God. The duration of the servitude had a specific duration and would not be a lifetime requirement.

Servitude wasn’t only for men. “And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do“ (Exodus 21:7).

This wasn’t an unsavory act by her father, but one of protection. Men were to provide for their wife and family, and women were to care for their husband and children. The hope of the father was that while in service she would marry either the master or his son. This was actually a type of betrothal; but if the master chose not to take her as his wife, she was still protected. She might also marry a man who was a slave, but that didn’t negate her servitude. Unlike a man’s servitude, she was not free after a certain period of time unless the master failed in his protection of her. We can’t understand what a blessing this law was, because today most women have jobs and leave marriage and family as a low priority.

Women aren’t inferior to men, but God has a special purpose for both men and women. When that purpose is blurred, society becomes a disaster. Following God’s ways are always best, and we can see that secular ways have a way of bringing down a nation.

When a man had served his time and paid his debt, he would be free to leave but could only take away what he had brought with him. If during his time of service he had married a woman who was also in service to the master, the wife would not be able to leave. This would have been a difficult problem for the man. God made provision for this. The man could choose to remain a servant.

“And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: then his master shall bring him unto the judges; and he shall also bring him to the door or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever“ (Exodus 21:5-60.

This was a voluntary choice by the servant and changed his status from a hired servant to a bond servant. We can be sure that slavery under God’s Law is nothing like what the Hebrews endured in Egypt or any modern form of slavery. The most perfect example of voluntary servitude is seen in Jesus Christ. Paul says that even though Jesus Christ was God He chose to become a servant to purchase our redemption.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross“ (Philippians 2:5-8).

When we accept Christ’s sacrifice for salvation, it’s a voluntary choice, and we need to become a bond servant to Him. Just as the voluntary slavery in Old Testament days lasted a lifetime, so our voluntary slavery to Christ is eternal. Our mindset regarding our service to our Master should be the same as His mindset about humbling Himself and being obedient.

The men who penned the letters in the New Testament understood what it meant to be a bond servant, and they often referred to themselves as such. “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God“ (Romans 1:1).

The word translated “servant” is from the Greek word “duolos” which means a slave or bondman, but is also used as a metaphor for a person who gives himself to be used by Christ. James also used this description. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting“ (James 1:1).

This is also the word Peter used to describe his service to Jesus. “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ“ (2 Peter 1:1).

Even Jude, who most scholars agree was the half-brother of Jesus and wasn’t proud of that fact before the cross, eventually saw himself as a servant of Christ. “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called“ (Jude 1:1).

These men were Jewish and understood what it meant to voluntarily become a bond servant, a duolos, to Jesus. It meant giving Him their loyalty. It meant becoming living sacrifices to His service. They all suffered severe persecution, but their faith and dedication was too strong to be anything other than voluntary slaves to Jesus. Is that our attitude today? Or do we just say “I believe” then go on being a slave to the world?

It’s important to understand that we all choose to follow a master. If we don’t choose to be a servant to Jesus, then we choose Satan as a master. Servitude to Satan carries with it the harshness of the slavery that the Egyptians forced upon the Hebrews or the slave trade that was an ugly blotch in history. By your servitude to the evil one, you’ll suffer under his yoke and face the wages of sin, which is death. On the other hand, by becoming a slave to Jesus, you choose a brighter path. That path will still be filled with challenges, temptations, and failures but the ultimate gain is eternal life.

Jesus said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light“ (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Becoming a bond servant to Christ has eternal benefits.

Today, much of our servitude is to a job. We voluntarily take a job in order to pay the mortgage, buy food, drive a car, etc. A slave to bills must be a slave to the means to pay those bills. When we work for someone, he’s our master, and Christians are expected to serve him as if we were serving Christ. In fact, your servitude to Christ is a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week service.

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men“ (Ephesians 6:5-7).

Our job may not be easy, but easiness of servitude isn’t what determines if we give our service properly. If you’re a slave to Christ, He will help you to serve at your job in a manner that honors your true Master.

Now a word to the masters who employ the slave, servant, or employee: “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him“ (Ephesians 6:9).

God loves you whether you’re a master or a servant, employer or employee, and He has no prejudice as to skin color or nationality. Whatever your station in life, you’re loved by God. Our attitude towards other people needs to be the same as that of our Master. It isn’t a coincidence that the following verses in Ephesians 6 deal with putting on the full armor of God in order to fight against the powers of darkness. Indeed, Satan uses bad attitudes as a way to cause strife.

Whether in the workplace or outside of it, if you feel superior to someone or belittled by someone, you need to check your attitude. If you feel superior, then you need to humble yourself before the Lord. If you feel belittled, you need to be sure that your own attitude and actions aren’t causing others to react to you in a bad way. Turn to the Lord and let Him mold your attitude.

Brothers and sisters, we must always be ready to fight against the powers of darkness; and the way we treat each other is important in that fight. As an employer, you must be a leader and expect those you hire to give an honest day’s work, but you have no right to mistreat your employees.

Jesus fulfilled the Law, and the Law regarding slavery is just one example. He voluntarily became a servant so that we can have eternal life. We owe Him everything. When we accept the sacrifice He made for our salvation, we become His bond servant for life….for eternity. We voluntarily choose to follow Him, and our service needs to be as bond servants…voluntary because we love our Master.

Your choice is whether to be a slave to sin or a bond servant of Christ.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.