The End Times or Not?

Commentary By:  Gordon King

For almost four years now I have been warning people of coming disaster, of the end times, and the closeness of Christ’s return.  Yet it seems that there are many believers out there who don’t hold the same beliefs that I or other Christians do.

I believe that we are living in the last days, that bible prophecy is coming to pass right before our very eyes, and that Christ will come in the clouds to rapture the church.

Jesus Christ Himself warned us of the signs of the times, of the coming disasters that would happen just prior to His return to earth.  The apostles told us about what the world would be like during these times and also gave us many signs to watch for.  The old testament prophets also gave us signs and warnings of the end times or the last days.

The point is, do we believe what the bible tells us, or do we ignore it because we don’t want to see it happen?  Perhaps some just don’t believe everything they read in scripture?  If you don’t believe all of it, then why believe any of it?  Or perhaps they believe it, yet don’t think that it’s happening now.  Perhaps they have no interest in it, as long as they are saved then that’s good enough!

If it were important enough for Jesus Christ to speak to us about it then it is very important!  It is something which we must learn, know, and be aware of.

The most important bible prophecy of the old testament which indicates that we are living in the end times is the restoration of Israel as a nation.  Most of the other end time prophecies could not even occur until this happens, and it already did!  The following are only a couple of verses regarding the rebirth of Israel as a nation, there are many more.

Jeremiah 16:14-15

‘ “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ ¹⁵ but, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.‘

Isaiah 11:11-12

“It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time
To recover the remnant of His people who are left,
From Assyria and Egypt,
From Pathros and Cush,
From Elam and Shinar,
From Hamath and the islands of the sea.

¹² He will set up a banner for the nations,
And will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
And gather together the dispersed of Judah
From the four corners of the earth.“

This is not the regathering of Israel after the Babylonian captivity, but the second regathering of Israel after they were driven out of their land by the Romans in 70 AD.  These Jews were regathered from the four corners of the earth, not only Babylon!

Matthew 24:32-34

‘Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ‘

The fig tree represents the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 24).  Well, this could not happen until Israel was once again regathered as a nation, and in 1948 Israel was reborn as a nation.  And this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place.  What things is Jesus talking about?  The end of the age and the Great Tribulation, then the second coming of Christ.  He is telling us to watch for the signs, to look and be ready, to discern the signs of the times and to know that His return is near, even at the doors!

So now we see the increase in immorality, the degradation of societies, the increase in war and rumors of wars, earthquakes in various places, and deception running amok!  Not only do we see these things, but we see them increasing in intensity and at a faster speed.  Just as a snowball rolling down a hill, the further along it gets it picks up more snow and grows in size, yet it also picks up more speed, faster and faster down the hill until eventually it will hit a tree an explode!  Not a very good analogy, however, it does seem to fit the bill, as a woman in labor, with increasing contractions and labor pains, speeding up over time and increasing in intensity, until finally a baby is born.

This is what the end times are like, increased signs with increased intensity, until finally the end will come.

Like frogs placed into a pot of lukewarm water, as the heat is turned up the frogs eventually die from being cooked to death, without them even knowing it.  Isn’t this how it is today?  People unaware of what is going on around them, slowly being deceived, drawn into a state of confusion and the belief that all is well.  Not knowing that things are getting worse, and that the end of time as we know it is at hand, then before they know it the end!

Many will come in the last days mocking and scoffing at those warning about the end of time and the soon return of the Lord.  The apostle Peter wrote about this.

2 Peter 3:1-9

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.“

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Timothy about how men’s hearts would be in these last days.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!“

 And isn’t it true that this is how the world looks today?!  Aren’t people of the world becoming more and more like this as time goes on?  I see it happening daily and becoming even more like this each day that passes us by.

So as believers in Jesus Christ we are to be true to our faith and trust in God.  We are to do the work of an evangelist and perform God’s will on earth.

2 Timothy 4:1-5

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“

Scripture tells us to be an evangelist.  It tells us to preach the word and to be ready in season and out of season.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine but according to their own desires.  I say that we are in those days now!  People twist the truth and make it out to be what they desire.

The apostle Paul tells us to be watchful in all things!  This includes the signs of the times and the soon return of Jesus Christ!  The word of God includes all of the word of God, not only what we pick and choose. 

The signs of the times are upon us, scoffers and mockers are out in numbers, and the persecution of the church is in motion.  America is on a downfall, beginning with the Supreme court decision in 1962 to remove prayer from public schools, to the Roe versus Wade decision in 1973 to legalize abortion, to the recent legalization of gay marriage in 2015.  Since the inception of abortion in America, over 50 million lives have been taken.  Since the removal of prayer from schools, immorality has been on the rise and violence in schools has increased dramatically, with mass school shootings and the dumbing down of America.  And now the decision to legalize gay marriage has degraded what it means to be married and is attempting to destroy the institution of marriage itself!  Not only that, but now we are witnessing the United States government condemning and judging believers for following their faith, coming against the children of God Almighty!

America is headed for coming judgment, just as the Jews were judged when they rebelled against God.  They were attacked by the ungodly and driven from their homeland, not once, but twice!  The Jews, God’s chosen people have suffered for thousands of years because of their straying away from God, for worshiping false idols, and living not as God commanded them, but as the world lives.

ISIS killing, torturing, raping women and children, burning people alive, these are signs of the times.  Leaders of the world unwilling to admit or say that this group of people are in any way related to or following the religion of Islam.  A sign of the times and a growing deception in the world.

Nations coming against and threatening the very existence of Israel, a sign of the times.  The increased persecution of Christians around the world, a sign of the times!

These are all signs of the times folks, signs that the end is near, that the Great Tribulation will begin soon, and that the second coming of Christ is even at the doors!  These are only a few of the signs of the times, there are many more of which we should be aware of and pay careful attention to.

Do not be deceived, do not be led astray!  Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, know what He is telling you, ask for wisdom and understanding.  There will be many who seek to deceive and twist the truth, many who seek to devour like ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Read and study the word of God, know what scripture tells us, and live as God wants us to live.

God bless my friends!  Maranatha!