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Preparing for the Last Days


II Timothy 2:1 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”

            We are living in what the Bible defines as the last days.  Can we know with certainty we are living in the last days?  We know from study of the Scriptures that no one knows the day or hour of the second coming.  Jesus told us in Matthew 24, and Luke 21, there would be specific signs to let us know we are living in the last days.

            Luke 21:25-28 says, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

            The Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:1-5 concerning the last days, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

            In Acts 2:17-18, the Apostle Peter quotes the Old Testament Prophet Joel concerning the last days, “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.” 

            In II Peter 3:3-4 the Apostle Peter said one sign of the last days would be scoffers who questioned the second coming of our Lord.  Mark 13:5-8 reveals the following signs to let us know we are in the last days, “And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”

            The signs of the times are not to cause us to fear, but to prepare us to be ready for the promised coming of our Lord.  The Apostle Peter writes this exhortation in 2 Peter 3:17-18, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

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