In the last days, the days many saw coming, most continued without change. As was promised, “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”. Throughout all levels of society the gloom and doom expectations were common topics. Asteroids and fires and natural phenomenon accompanied wars and national conflicts and all such as predicted. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places.” But this had been occurring for more than a single lifetime and many were questioning “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” And it was the last days. Few things changed. Few cared.
The few who did see and respond with warnings were seen as radical troublemakers, “And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things”. The responses were predictable. “And brought them to the magistrates, saying, ‘These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.” Soon the wisdom of saying little became apparent. Still it was not conscionable that they should silently watch others race toward oblivion without hope.
There was a message they needed to hear. They had such great need and could not even see it. It was like trying to explain that the Golden Gate Bridge had collapsed and having people swerve around your roadblock shouting “Your nuts, it’s always been there. Nothing bad will happen to us.” They were lost and did not know it. They believed in their technology that told them the bridge was still there. They trusted in the men who told them how many millions had gone that way. They felt no alarm. They were busy in their daily activities and had no time for considering when the end might come. In the end the screams cried out “Why didn’t you warn us?”
In the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, came saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” They had no desire for the truth. They had no desire for the things of God. For this they willingly are ignorant of. They purposely chose to ignore the Bible. They purposely chose to ignore the warnings of those who said “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days”. The warnings of love and compassion pierced their heart as they were told that in the last days perilous times shall come. Many called it alarmism and declared a few more peace talks and all this will be behind us.
The few who did believe were shamed and dishonored. They were ridiculed, mocked and even beaten so that they might renounce their foolishness. They were denied jobs and even the right to shop in the markets. Others had trials of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. Yet they would not turn from this troublesome way. They were seen as endangering the peace of the new world order. In all of this it seemed that truth failed. Any that departed from evil made himself a prey to their wickedness. Judgment seemed to be turned backward, and justice to be standing afar off. Truth as if it was fallen in the street, and nowhere was justice allowed to enter.
There was a message they needed to heed but they turned from the truths of God. They are those who twist justice with cords of vanity, and sin in any way they can. Knowing what is the good they should do, still they choose the evil way. They say, “If God is real, let him hasten his work, that we may see it. Let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink. And woe to those which justify the wicked for profit, and take away the righteousness of the righteous because it offends them!
In the last days a few listened. A few turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. The rest came to understand that at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. They soon came to find out that God is angry with the wicked every day. They fearfully marveled at the stormy wind God sent in His fury. All the hellish forces of nature are unleashed as God declares “There shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume”. They found no place of escape for as in the days of Noah, once the season of repentance was past, the door was shut.
The few who did see knew what was coming. The last years gave way to the last weeks and the last weeks to the last days and the last days to the last moment in time before it was the last time. Nothing was left; no warnings, no time, nothing. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the enemies of God. And so they were, counted as they enemies of God. They were numbered as transgressors of His truth, His law. They set themselves up as their own god even though they could not raise one hair on their body. God is ruler, master, and sovereign over all. He makes something from nothing. It is His universe, His planet, His creation, His dirt. If you want to be God, go make your own.
There was a message they needed. There was a time they needed to understand. There was a way, a truth, a light they needed to believe in. You see there is a way that seems right to men but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Only Jesus has the keys to life. Only Jesus can provide the forgiveness they need. Only Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of all we know, only He can set you free from the sin and doubt which entraps your soul in hell. In the last days it will be like this. In the last days many will have a very short window of time in which to turn to Him and find everlasting life. In the last days some will be telling of this. In the last days some will be believing this. In the last days some will still say “Is it the last days?”