Expressions of the Last Days

Introduction

When I walk through a bookstore and see all the apocalyptic literature, not only Christian but also secular, I wonder if my writing will only clutter an already glutted market and therefore further confuse an already confused reading audience. However, I also have a burning desire to put forth a message that seems to be missing from the already existing books and magazines. I also believe that message is burning within the heart of God. I believe he desires so earnestly for Christians and non-Christians alike to know that message.

I do not believe God has given us all the timeless prophecies in the Old and New Testaments only to show us that he is God and he can see into the future and tell us about it. He has given us forewarnings of things to come so we will not be caught unaware and unsuspecting of the terrible troubles that are about to come upon this world. He has warned us so we can be prepared in heart, spirit, and mind to face these troubles and survive in the midst of them. We will not only to survive, barely breathing and shaking, but there is a victory even in the worst of times. We can turn toward his face and receive the peace, power, love, and grace we need to survive the coming awful days of tribulation that stands at our doorstep at this very hour.

As Christians, we should not be so deaf to this message or so assuming that we are caught with our defenses down and our shining armor on the ground. Jesus said in Luke 21:34 not to be caught unaware and let our hearts be weighed down with the cares of this life and drunkenness. They will upon us suddenly and as a snare, for they will come upon all those who dwell upon the earth. But pray that you will be found worthy to escape all these things to stand before him.

One of the most tragic things to come upon modern Christianity is a rise toward materialism and an over-concern for the cares of this life. Are we to assume that we are found worthy already to escape all these things? Or should we take a second look at ourselves and reevaluate whether we are ready—whether we have taken the time to study the Scriptures and to find their true meaning? Whatever conclusion you the reader come to or have already come to, we must all admit when it comes to the holiness and righteousness of God, there is always room for improvement.

I am by no means an expert on the subject of Bible prophecy or apologetics. I have, with the help of the Holy Spirit, studied the Bible and prophecy on my own over the years I have been a Christian. My idea in writing this book is not to badger my reading audience (which I am very grateful for) with my “right” opinions. Instead it is to inform you that the destiny of this desperate world is already mapped out. God, in his infinite wisdom, already knows the map from one end to the other. But the fact of the matter is that we are the most important elements of his plan. He cares for each one of us even though it may look like this world is about to come unglued.
 
Chapter 1

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

A serious look at our troubled world shows it is obviously in turmoil, and it does not look like it’s going to change for the better, at least not soon. What exactly is causing our trouble?

Well, in Matthew 24, Jesus spelled out many of the problems and troubles that would come upon this world right before his second return. That was two thousand years ago, yet his words describe our present situation in accurate and graphic detail.

Jesus’ disciples came to him privately and asked him what the signs would be of his coming and the end of the world. Amazingly, he did not hesitate to give his most frightening and interesting account of the world’s condition near the last days and the end of this era as we know it.

He started by saying we should beware of many false prophets and false teachers who would appear in Christ’s name. He said they would deceive many. We certainly would not be at a loss to come up with good examples of false messiahs and false prophets in our generation. Some even started out as sincere and godly leaders but have ended up in tragedy—sometimes violent tragedy—for themselves and their followers.

I’ve heard many people ask how such a thing could happen in our supposedly enlightened and educated society. It happens for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons it happens is because we have become very strong in the knowledge of the world and very weak in the knowledge of God. We are not educated in the Bible, and we do not have a proper God-given understanding that comes from self-education and the prayer closet. In the past few decades, people in this country and many others have gotten caught up in a rush toward materialism. Seeking those things can only bring temporary satisfaction to the inner self. Our civilization seems only interested in money, sensual gratification, and power over men, which again can only bring that temporary satisfaction to the earthly self.

What happens next is easy to understand. Many people do become dissatisfied with the idea of just accumulating things and having the best of this and that. Frustration builds within them to break out and do something drastically different—perhaps something at the other end of the spectrum. Unfortunately, though, they do not always do the right thing. They are often desperately grasping at straws and are simply looking in the wrong place for that satisfaction.

Many—and I might say most—of these self-proclaimed messiahs come with a package of promises and hopes for people who are searching and thirsting for something more than their drab world has to offer. Materialism or the boring routine of their lives has left them so weary, empty, and dry that they are willing to try just about anything. Our new messiah, whoever he is, has come to offer them more. In fact, these people offer much more than anything or anyone could possibly give.

Sin and rebellion run fairly rampant in our streets, homes, and workplaces. People grow tired of the fear, insecurity, and craziness of it all. They begin to crave the love, security, and hope of their new leader. He is the symbol of the opposite life. In other words; he promises all the things human beings spiritually hunger for. He becomes their whole world and the culmination of their dreams of a better life and a hopeful future.

The next step for our Christ-like figure is to convince his followers or potential followers that he can indeed keep his promises. He does this in many ways, but one of the most important ways is through miracles, or supposed miracles, performed in the presence of his audience. Whether his miracles are real is not the point. The point is to make his followers believe they are real. This display of spiritual fireworks causes them to fall further and further into his grasp until there is little that will convince them otherwise.