What role will mankind itself play in Ushering in the end of the age?
Signs
In this portion of Scripture we discover that, upon Christ's return, conditions on earth will be exactly as they were during Noah's era: "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.... And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis 6:1-2,5,11). Would you not agree this passage is as current as this morning's headlines?
Sex Outside of Marriage
What did God create?
He did not create a man for a man. Instead, He created one woman for one man. This is God's established order for the universe. Lust and sin have, however, kicked a dent in the Almighty's program. Men and women today are running away from one another, leaving children destitute and homes broken.
Why? Because their number one concern is the satisfaction of their own flesh.
Someone compliments them, they become enamored, and suddenly they find themselves infatuated with the idea of love rather than the genuine article. Soon they go through a predictable pattern of adultery, divorce, and remarriage, only to discover that their second and third choices were not much better than the first. The trouble was not their first mate, but sin. Naturally, there are exceptions. Today, approximately half of all American marriages end up on the casualty list. The signs of Noah's era are all around us. It is one more example that the Rapture is near.
Jesus further added that they were "giving in marriage." Dr, M. R. DeHaan and other scholars render this as "exchanging mates" or "wife swapping." Swingers are still the rage of the day-and in many communities where you might not expect such unsavory activity. Couples get together for a supper bash and end up exchanging their mates for a night of glorified orgies.
How low can humans go?
The situation dominates modern society, and it has the curse of God upon it. We also see millions today shacking up and living together without a marriage license, and the pulpits remain silent. Hebrews 13:4 states, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Still, despite God's warning, millions disobey His commandments. They live life loosely and laugh off the consequences. Sin, however; offers its own reward, and its wages are always death (Romans 6:23). The day of sifting and judgment is coming.
Soon a sin-crazy, hell-bent generation will meet the God of holiness: The string will snap and the joke will end.
Gluttony and Drunkenness
The fool's motto has not changed over the centuries, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. " Bars and nightclubs throughout the nation advertise a "happy hour," or an "attitude-adjustment hour," meaning that drinks go for half-price during a specified time.
But what does this really mean?
That one can choose an eternity without Christ at discounted prices. Never have we had so many alcoholics and drug addicts. America's combined total of addicts exceeds twenty million. Europe, Asia, and all the continents of the world are in the same dilemma. Satan's brew is eye-enticing and nose-appealing. Millions have fallen victim to his seduction.
Revelation 6:7-8 states, "And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." When life ends, as it must for all mortals, because "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27), the sinner must enter a place where even water is unattainable.
Christ told of a lost sinner crying out from hell, saying, "Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:24). Liquor is not worth such eternal thirst.
The Holy Spirit declares in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21 mentions seventeen sins, and the sixteenth is listed as "drunkenness," which brings eternal loss, for the conclusion of the text states, "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Do not let sin rob you of being caught up with Christ in that glorious day that is soon to come.
Is it my imagination, or are corruption and violence on the increase?
What does this have to do with Christ’s return?
Corruption
This is history's worst hour. Filthy pornographic magazines and X-rated movies have brainwashed the depraved into submission. Vile, lewd, and licentious pornography floods the world. Savages are roaming the streets raping and sodomizing victims.
Since morality is the essence of God's Ten Commandments, as well as the entire teaching of the Holy Bible, Christians should be crusaders in the battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
How does it make you feel to see pornographic bookstores within a few doors of gospel-preaching churches? Unfortunately, many believers are doing nothing to stop this intrusion on our morality. This is contrary to the Almighty God who demands that His servants "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1).
If we do not want kiddy porn and its sister, prostitution, to arrive in our communities, we must rid ourselves of obscenity at every level or eventually it will touch the innocent lives of our children. Even the Supreme Court has stated emphatically that the first amendment does not protect obscenity. The laws must be enforced at all levels: local, state, and federal.
Many Christians think their children are safe because they are in a Christian school and church. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Our homes are being invaded by television filth from morning to night, with the afternoon "freak shows" walking away with the ratings! Yet, millions of American Christians have accepted the philosophy that there is no right or wrong.
The result of our inaction?
Purveyors of smut capitalize on the opportunities that an uncaring public hands them on a silver platter. The present scene has become so nauseating that celebrities, professional counselors, and media executives themselves are speaking out. One famous comedian, Steve Alien, declared publicly that television has gotten too dirty and that the networks televise junk just to keep the ratings high. A broadcasting executive asked his industry this probing question, "Have we sunk so low that we have sold our children to the dogs in order to make a dollar?"
What Would Jesus Do?
Good question. "What would Jesus do? Well, I can tell you one thing He's going to do:
He's going to return in majesty and glory. He's going to remove His church from the porn, the permissiveness, and the poverty of morality and arrange for His bride to meet Him in the air in a sky-splitting event known as the Rapture.
While we remain on planet earth, you and I must heed the apostle's words, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). This bombardment of continual wickedness, implanting so much filth and false values in our collective minds, is presently reaping an abundant harvest morally, spiritually, and socially. Just as the degenerated values of society in Noah's day filled the world with violence, so sin, crime, and fear stalk humanity as we come to the close of the twentieth century.
I'm confident this situation will continue to deteriorate because the sign will break forth in all its debauchery during the Tribulation Hour.
We are already observing the preview of coming events. Life will not be worth living during the Tribulation, because Satan will be cast out of the heavens and will be enthroned upon the earth. Because he knows that he has only a short time to perform his heinous acts, and because of his impending imprisonment for one thousand years (Revelation 20:3), he will unleash all of his brutality and uncleanness upon earth's millions. That is why Revelation 12:12 states, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
Violence
They are an organized alliance with roots in Asia, the Middle East, especially Iran, Western Europe, Latin America, and the United States. The network's ideological cement is mixed from Marx and Mao, with proclaimed goals of "world revolution," to be attained through a worldwide war of terror against the advanced states in attempts to undermine their normal way of life and institutions. While the scope of the terrorist alliance now is attaining global proportions, the Middle East remains its main base and sanctuary area-backed by Russian arms and manipulation. It's reported that terrorists believe that a larger number of casualties may now be necessary to generate the amount of publicity formerly evoked by less bloody operations.
The world is in a precarious position. But we've seen nothing yet.
Violence will rear its ugly head in monstrous proportions as terrorists prepare for germ and biological warfare to hold major cities captive. Soon millions will die.
When it does occur, could it be the beginning of the Tribulation Hour? But fear not precious flock, Jesus said in Luke 21:9, "When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come" and then adds in verse 31, "When ye do see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom [return to earth] of God is nigh at hand [near]."
A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE
