The Last Days

Introduction

When I was growing up, I would hear my dad and other preachers say that we were living in what they called “the Saturday evening of time.” Two thousand years ago, Paul referred in our text to “the last days.” I certainly believe, and I’m sure that you do, that we are in “the last days” and “the Saturday evening of time.”

We are living in an age when cataclysmic, catastrophic, and chaotic events are regularly featured in the news. And it is certainly interesting when you hear secular voices use words like Armageddon and apocalypse.

One of my favorite preachers is Dr. David Jeremiah, and he recently released an excellent book on prophetical events called “What In The World Is Going On?” Because we hear more and more about hurricanes, and tsunamis, and the oil crisis, and the economic crisis, and the growing turmoil in the Middle East, and the flexing of power in an invigorated Russia, I think a lot of people are asking that question. What in the world is going on?

The Old Testament personality Amos said, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son” (Amos 7:14). And I feel that same way. I am not a prophet, and even as a preacher I feel very limited in what I understand about Bible prophecy.

I feel like the Danish physicist Niels Bohr (1885-1962) who once said, “Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.”

I feel like I could have been a contributor to a book called “The World’s Worst Predictions” which lists some of history’s all-time prophetic goofs including some interesting facts. King George II said in 1773 that the American colonies had little stomach for revolution. An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm’s newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared that the ship was unsinkable. In 1939 The New York Times said the problem of TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn’t have time for it. An English astronomy professor said in the early 19th century that air travel at high speed would be impossible because passengers would suffocate. (From http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/prophecy.htm)

In contrast, when it comes to prophecy, the Bible is absolutely and amazingly accurate.

Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that…

“More than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy. … Both the Old and New Testaments are full  of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord's return – one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event … For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's second coming.” (From Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 40 – http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/prophecy.htm)

Again, I feel very limited in what I understand about Bible prophecy. However, it is on my heart this morning to preach a sermon that relates to Bible prophecy.

I want to build upon Paul’s reference in 2 Timothy 3:1 to “the last days,” and I would first say that…

I. There Is A Rebellion Involved In The Last Days

(2 Timothy 3:1-8)

(2 Timothy 3:1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

perilous – Greek 5467. chalepos, khal-ep-os'; perh. from G5465 through the idea of reducing the strength; difficult, i.e. dangerous, or (by impl.) furious:--fierce, perilous.

A. Notice How The “Last Days” Defilement Is Described

1. They Are Gloating

All of the things mentioned in verse 2 pertain to the exaltation of self. It reflects a “my way and I’m proud of it” mentality.

(2 Timothy 3:2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

lovers of their own selves – Greek 5367. philautos, fil'-ow-tos; from G5384 and G846; fond of self, i.e. selfish:--lover of own self.

covetous – Greek 5366. philarguros, fil-ar'-goo-ros; from G5384 and G696; fond of silver (money), i.e. avaricious:--covetous.

boasters – Greek 213. alazon, al-ad-zone'; from ale (vagrancy); braggart:--boaster.

proud – Greek 5244. huperephanos, hoop-er-ay'-fan-os; from G5228 and G5316; appearing above others (conspicuous), i.e. (fig.) haughty:--proud.

blasphemers – Greek 989. blasphemos, blas'-fay-mos; from a der. of G984 and G5345; scurrilous,

i.e. calumnious (against man), or (spec.) impious (against God):--blasphemer (-mous), railing.

disobedient – Greek 545. apeithes, ap-i-thace'; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G3982; unpersuadable, i.e. contumacious:--disobedient.

unthankful – Greek 884. acharistos, ach-ar'-is-tos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a presumed der. of G5483; thankless, i.e. ungrateful:--unthankful.

unholy – Greek 462. anosios, an-os'-ee-os; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G3741; wicked:--unholy.

2. They Are Guilty

(2 Timothy 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

without natural affection – Greek 794. astorgos, as'-tor-gos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a presumed der. of stergo (to cherish affectionately); hard-hearted towards kindred:--without natural affection.

trucebreakers – Greek 786. aspondos, as'-pon-dos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of  G4689; lit. without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), i.e. (by impl.) truceless:--implacable (cruel), truce-breaker.

false accusers – Greek 1228. diabolos, dee-ab'-ol-os; from G1225; a traducer (one who says critical or disparaging things about somebody); spec. Satan [comp. H7854]:--false accuser, devil, slanderer.

incontinent – Greek 193. akrates, ak-rat'-ace; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G2904; powerless, i.e.

without self-control:--incontinent.

fierce – Greek 434. anemeros, an-ay'-mer-os; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and hemeros (lame); savage:--fierce.

despisers of those that are good – Greek 865. aphilagathos, af-il-ag'-ath-os; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G5358; hostile to virtue.

3. They Are Godless

(2 Timothy 3:4-5) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; {5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

traitors – Greek 4273. prodotes, prod-ot'-ace; from G4272 (in the sense of giving forward into another's [the enemy's] hands); a surrender:--betrayer, traitor.

heady – Greek 4312. propetes, prop-et-ace'; from a comp. of G4253 and G4098; falling forward, i.e. headlong (fig. precipitate):--heady, rash [-ly].

highminded – Greek 5187. tuphoo, toof-o'-o; from a der. of G5188; to envelop with smoke, i.e. (fig.) to inflate with self-conceit:--high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud.

lovers of pleasure – Greek 5369. philedonos, fil-ay'-don-os; from G5384 and G2237; fond of pleasure, i.e. voluptuous:--lover of pleasure.

form – Greek 3446. morphosis, mor'-fo-sis; from G3445; formation, i.e. (by impl.) appearance (semblance or [concr.] formula).

These are so full of self that they have no room for God. They love sensual pleasure and lack spiritual power.

B. Notice How The “Last Days” Deeds Are Defined

1. They Are Carnal

(2 Timothy 3:6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2. They Are Cultured

(2 Timothy 3:7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

ever – Greek 3842. pantote, pan'-tot-eh; from G3956 and G3753; every when, i.e. at all times:--always (-s), ever (-more).

learning – Greek 3129. manthano, man-than'-o; prol. from a prim. verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alt. in cert. tenses; to learn (in any way):--learn, understand.

They are learning more and more about everything except what really matters.

3. They Are Corrupt

(2 Timothy 3:8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

corrupt – Greek 2704. kataphtheiro, kat-af-thi'-ro; from G2596 and G5351; to spoil entirely, i.e. (lit.) to destroy; or (fig.) to deprave:--corrupt, utterly perish.

reprobate – Greek 96. adokimos, ad-ok'-ee-mos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by impl. worthless (lit. or mor.):--castaway, rejected, reprobate.

II. There Is A Rapture Involved In The Last Days

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

A. The Savior Will Descend

1. There Will Be Some Companions Involved In His Descent

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Though the bodies of “them which are asleep” have been buried, their spirits or souls have gone to be with Jesus…Cf. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: {7} (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) {8} We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

At His coming, souls will be reunited with bodies, but bodies will be changed into something incorruptible…Cf. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, {52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. {53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

2. There Will Be Some Commotion Involved In His Descent

(1 Thessalonians 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Warren Wiersbe said…

Three unique sounds will be involved in this event: the Lord’s shout, the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of the archangel. Jesus Christ will give “a shout of command,” just as He did outside the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:43). Those “in the graves shall, hear His voice” (John 5:28).

First Corinthians 15:52 also relates His return to the sound of a trumpet. The Jewish people were familiar with trumpets, because trumpets were used to declare war, to announce special times and seasons, and to gather the people for a journey (see Numbers 10). In the Roman Empire, trumpets were used to announce the arrival of a great person. When God gave the Law to Israel, the event was preceded by a trumpet blast (Exodus 19:18-20).

Why “the voice of the archangel”? The only archangel who is named in the Bible is Michael (Jude 9), who apparently has a special ministry to Israel (Daniel 10:21; Revelation 12:7). According to Daniel 10:13, there is more than one archangel; so we cannot be sure that it will be Michael’s voice. At any rate, the angelic hosts will share in the victory shout when Jesus Christ comes.

David Jeremiah said…

The three allusions to sounds are not to be taken as coordinate but rather as subordinate. Paul was not describing three separate sounds; he was describing only one sound in three different ways.

This sound will be like a shout, ringing with command authority like the voice of an archangel. It will also be like the blare of a trumpet in its volume and clarity.

I don’t know if this is one sound manifested in three ways, or if it is three distinct sounds. But I do know that it will be a commotion and sound(s) heard by every believer on planet earth.

B. The Saints Will Depart

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1. There Is Rapture

(A Catching Away) In These Statements

caught up – Greek 726. harpazo, har-pad'-zo; from a der. of G138; to seize (in various applications):-- catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

John Walvoord explained that the word “rapture” is from “rapere,” which is the Latin translation of the expression “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This expression “caught up” is translated from the Greek term “harpazo,” which has the idea of taking for oneself, or seizing, or pulling, or taking as if by force.

2. There Is Reassurance

(A Comfort) In These Statements

(1 Thessalonians 4:18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

comfort – Greek 3870. parakaleo, par-ak-al-eh'-o; from G3844 and G2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

comfort – Greek NT:3870; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

One of the greatest sources of comfort in these words is Who we are meeting. It’s not just that we are being reunited with those who have died in the Lord, but we are meeting “the Lord in the air … and so shall we ever be with the Lord”!

After the catching away, or Rapture, of the church we see something else.

III. There Is A Revelation Involved In The Last Days

(Revelation 1:1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation – Greek 602. apokalupsis, ap-ok-al'-oop-sis; from G601; disclosure:--appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.

This is the word from which we get the word “Apocalypse.” What things are being revealed that “must shortly come to pass”?

A. Notice The Sorrow That Will Be Revealed

Paul said…

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto

you. {2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. {3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

This idea of destruction coming like the birthing pains of a woman is an analogy that Jesus also used in Matthew 24 when He said…

(Matthew 24:8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

“Sorrows” is the same Greek word as “travail” in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, and it means the pains of childbirth.

1. There Is Sorrow In The Olivet Signs Of Matthew 24

(Matthew 24:5-8) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {6} And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. {8} All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Here we see the counterfeits, and the conflicts, and the catastrophes involved in this early stage of the Tribulation.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Matthew 24:1-44 indicates that our Lord was discussing events that will take place on earth during the time of Tribulation.”

2. There Is Sorrow In The Opening Seals Of Revelation 6

(See Revelation 6:1-17)

All of these horrible things are happening…

(Revelation 6:17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

But as believers, we will not be here…

(1 Thessalonians 5:9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

B. Notice The Savior That Will Be Revealed

1. He Is The Noticeable One

(Revelation 1:7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

2. He Is The Named One

After the massive Hallelujah celebration in the first part of Revelation 19, the Lord Jesus rides out with His armies in the second half of Revelation 19…

(Revelation 19:11-16) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon  him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. {12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. {13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. {15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. {16} And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

The “armies which were in heaven” is comprised of saints and angels…(Jude 1:14-15) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, {15} To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

(2 Thessalonians 1:7-8) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, {8} In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

IV. There Is A Readiness Involved In The Last Days

In the Olivet discourse, Jesus said…

(Matthew 24:44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Though this applies especially to the Jews in the time of the Tribulation, there is an application for us here as well.

A. You Can Be Ready By Being Saved

1. The Saved Have Been Accepted – Brethren

(1 Thessalonians 5:4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The Pulpit Commentary that “brethren” … refers to “believers, in opposition to the unbelieving world.”

2. The Saved Have Been Awakened – Children Of Light

Children of the Day

(1 Thessalonians 5:5) Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Albert Barnes said…

They would always be wakeful and active, and it would be impossible to come upon them by surprise.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that…

Christians live in a different sphere of life from non-Christians; it is the difference between day and night. Christians are sons of the light; they are also sons of the day. That is, they have illumination, and they also live in a realm characterized by light, warmth, and growth.

B. You Can Be Ready By Being Sober

1. Paul Encouraged Such A State Of Readiness

(1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch (keep awake, be vigilant) and be sober. {7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. {8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober (discreet, cautious), putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

2. Peter Echoed Such A Statement About Readiness

(2 Peter 3:10-14) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. {14} Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent (prompt, earnest, serious) that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Conclusion

When I was in high school, I was involved one year in the Drama Club’s production of a play called “Night Of January 16th.” It was a courtroom drama, and when it came time for the curtains to open, all the participants were in place and the stage was set.

Where are we are in the prophetical timeline? I believe that everything that is happening in our world right now simply indicates that the stage is being set, and the great courtroom drama of God judging this world is about to begin.

What will be your role in this grand production of the last days? Will you be in the safety of the audience of the saints, or will you be among the guilty of this world?