Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Apostle John wrote the following words concerning the return of Christ, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). John must have thought he was in the last days, because of the environment he and other believers were in at the time. Paul himself seems to have expected that he would be alive when Jesus returned to this world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). He believed that he was in the last days too. Peter also tells us that he is “looking” for that day himself (2 Peter 3:12). The word “looking” is in the present tense. Peter believed that he was living in the last days!
Many Christians believe that we are living in the last days as well. I can imagine that every generation from the time that Jesus died on the cross to this present day, have believed we are possibly right at the point of Jesus’ return. Of course, it hasn’t happened yet. But there are a couple of things we know for sure. First, no one knows for certain when the Lord Jesus will return to the earth (Matthew 24:36). Second, it is certain that we are 2,000 years closer today than they were then.
Are We Living In The Last Days? Even though we don’t know the day of our Lord’s return, we know what the last days will be like. These verses give us the clearest portrait of all of what things will be like.
(2 Timothy 3:1-7)…..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! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Paul describes the last days as “perilous times”. The word perilous means, “difficult, troublesome, trying, uneasy, hard, violent, threatening and dangerous.” While these characteristics have marked all time periods of history to some extent, they are to be intensified in the last days. Do you recognize the intensifying of these days? What we are seeing all around us is society ready to collapse! We are living in an age when it is dangerous for men to live for God. Those who practice righteousness are called intolerant, bigoted, narrowminded, anti-social, and are labeled dangerous. While those who practice deviant, sinful lifestyles are praised and labeled heroes by society. These are indeed the very dangerous days described in (Romans 1).
Regardless of how we may want society to improve, we will continue to see it slide into decay. We may see pockets of attempted morality from a world of pagan worship, but for the most part, conditions around us will continue to deteriorate until Jesus Christ returns to this world to rule in righteousness and power. You see, natural man, instead of getting better spiritually, is actually growing more and more wicked (Ephesians 4:22). Even (Daniel 12:10) tells us that “the wicked shall do wickedly.”
So what does this mean for you and me as believers and followers of Jesus Christ? In comparison with the passage in (2 Timothy 3:1-7), look at what is happening around us and realize that we possibly to the place in history that every generation has looked for, “the return of Christ.” Are you ready?