Are we living in the end times? The Bible is pretty clear about end time events; the signs of the end times. So what exactly does the Bible say about end times? The object of this article is to examine the bible and end times to answer the question: are we living in the end times.
What does the end times mean
The term “end times” refers to the final time (s) before the end of history, specifically the second coming of Christ. It is also referred to “last days” in the Scriptures.
The study of this period is called Eschatology. The word comes from two (2) Greek words, eschatos (last) and logos (study) – thus its definition as: the study of last things. This period began when Christ ascended into heaven and ends upon His return. Therefore, we are living in the last days and the end times.
What Does the Bible Say About End Times
For starters, we are informed in the Scriptures about the signs of the end
times. Let’s look at one in 2 Tim 3:1-5:
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 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. KJV
Does this apply to today? Let’s take a look.
The Scripture says in verse 1: “in the last days perilous times shall come.” We are without a doubt living in some dangerous times. People are shooting each other in the streets. Individuals are being shot in their homes for no reason. Worshipers are even being killed in their houses of worship. The police, who are supposed to protect us, are too often the ones endangering us and we are living under the ever-increasing threat of terrorism both domestically and internationally.
Verse 2: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” Have you noticed how narcissistic our society is today? It is all about self: what I want, what I need and the me first attitude. Our culture has a me first and the hell with everybody else attitude. There are numerous segments of the population crying for their own rights instead of being unified under the general law.
“Covetous?” Our society is all about the dollar and material things. There is no such thing as enough because it’s lusted. Eccl 5:10 reads: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” People of today want more and more and bigger and bigger and better and better, and are seldom satisfied with what they have. In the last days people focus and will continue to focus upon…
• money, accumulating more and more.
• houses in the very best neighborhoods, on the seashore, in the mountains, and by the rivers.
• furnishings and property.
• property, stocks and bonds— be in possession of more and more.
possessions—such as clothes, jewelry, antiques, art, and cars.
• travel, seeing more and more sights.
• power—controlling more and more.
People love money, what it buys and allows them to do, and they will covet more and more of it and the things it buys. Their eyes and hearts are focused upon money instead of God. The new religion of the nation is—money. They will indulge and hoard instead of meeting the desperate needs of the poor and lost of the world.
Notice what has happened to the middle class. It’s disappearing! It’s shrinking to only two classes: the haves and the haves not. The haves want more and more at the expense of the others. They simply don’t care.
“boasters, proud, blasphemers,“ have you heard our President lately? Blasphemy is usually thought to be against God, as it is. But it is also against people. People can blaspheme people. Think of the cursing and insults thrown against God and folks today. Practically everyone is cursing and reviling someone. There is so much cursing today because there is a loss of respect for both self and others, for both position and authority because people are disturbed within.
“Unthankful”
There is an ever decreasing sense of gratitude or appreciation for what one has and receives; no giving of thanks due to God or man. Many feel that the world and society or business and government owe them the good things of life. Our present society fails to see how good God has been to them. Therefore, they reach out to get more and more without sensing any need to express thanks and appreciation. They take and take and forget all about the thanksgiving. —the debt and contribution—they owe to God and men. Retail stores are even open on Thanksgiving Day! Today we as a nation can’t as much as put a day aside to be thankful for all that God has done and is doing.
“unholy” Our nation, the US, has become more secular than ever before. It began with the removal of prayer from the schools and has progressed steadily since. The cries for removal of the Ten Commandments from public grounds, retail stores no longer display Merry Christmas, record low church attendance are manifestations of an unholy secular society. More and more and more businesses are open on Sundays—total disregard for God (The Lords day). The atheists are more and more aggressive with their agenda of denouncing God and twisting the separation of church and state.
These are just a few examples of the progressive godliness in occurrence. In my article: Postmodernism and The church, I explain how this movement was used to usher in this apostasy.
Verse 3:”without natural affection” This addresses a lack of feeling for others who become little more than pawns for a one’s own use and benefit, pleasures, excitements and stimulation. It’s presently legal in the US to disregard human life for one’s selfish benefits. There is less and less affection for the normal and natural. People are turning to the abnormal and unnatural in relationships and behavior, pleasures and sex. Men and women have become unfaithful and perverted. Affection for friends, country, and earth is diminishing.
“trucebreakers” A trucebreaker is an individual or some organization or body of people who tragically do not keep their word or promise. They are simply untrustworthy and undependable. Recently we backed away from our commitment to an ally in the fight against terrorism; pulled out all troops. As the last days move forward, we will see even more of what we are seeing in our society today: a barrage of broken truces, covenants, and promises.
“false accusers” these are simply slanders. Such people are quick to spread falsehoods. Slanderers enjoy spreading gossip and malicious reports about others. Destroying another’s good reputation gives them some perverse pleasure. There is certainly enough of that going around today.
“incontinent” describes someone who is undisciplined and uncontrolled; having no self-control or no power to discipline. It is being given over: to pleasure and indulgence, to passion and sexual craving, to lust and lewdness. It is a person who cannot control their passion for food, sex, pornography, sensuality, drink, drugs, smoking, whatever their passions dictates. It is a passion that grips and enslaves a person until it becomes an unbreakable habit and bondage. For examples of this: just watch the news, both local and world news.
“Fierce.” The single word of description: terrorism. These are people who are savage and untamed. It is the word that describes the savage beast of the wild that’s unrestrained in its ferocity. It is a word that should never be true of human beings, yet tragically it is. Never in the history of the globe have men become as fierce and savage as they are nowadays. They are conducting public mass beheadings, blowing up civilian villages, raping women and children, mutilating and torturing innocent people. These horrific things are happening and it isn’t going to get any better.
“despisers of those that are good.” These people are so evil that they actually have abhorrence for anything good.
“Traitors” These individuals are prepared and willing to betray anyone. It refers to a person who betrays any trust or any commitment. The most tragic betrayal of all is the person who betrays Christ and the church—who turns his back upon Christ and returns to the world and its crowd. As the last days progress, we will see an increase in traitors.
“heady” obstinate and reckless, rash and hasty—all without giving thought to the consequences. Reckless is probably the best word to describe these individuals. These people cause irreparable damage to society: the drunken drivers, the random shooters, gangbangers and thugs all increasingly present in our society today. By being heady, thinking that one knows best and can live and act recklessly without consequence, has led to more hurt, accidents, damaged bodies, and death than can ever be imagined.
“highminded” These are people who feel that because they are educated, and so scientific, so advanced, so high in position and authority, ability, and gifts that they feel completely self-sufficient. They feel no need for God. They are above God and most people. Furthermore, they have no problem showing it.
“lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” This is simply fleshly. Unfortunately, this has crept over into the church. Professing Christians are choosing pleasures over church. This has contributed to the decreasing attendance of churches across America.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” These individuals have godliness on the surface, but on the inside they deny God’s power over their lives. In a word— Hypocrites—and there are plenty of them to go around!
These behaviors and events are happening all over the world right now—today. Are we living in the end times? Indicators say, yes.
The Scriptures mention the event when the final battle between God and the adversaries of God meet for the final battle in a place named Armageddon. [Rev. 16:16] Although scholars disagree on the exact location, it is in the Middle East. An individual would have to be living under the biggest rock to not know that the middle east is the most contentious region on earth and becoming more so with every passing day. Just know that there will never be complete peace in the Middle East.
So what are we to do while all of this goes on around us?
In Luke 21:7 Jesus’ disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him when the end would come and what would be a sign of His return. Verses 8-36 contain the discourse with the answer. [cf. Matt. 24:3-42] At the end of His discourse, in verse 36 He said: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
As followers of Jesus we are to always be on the watch, and pray. This reflects an attitude toward life that endeavors to stay away from evil and to follow and obey Jesus. Both watching and praying are free will actions — as Christians await Jesus’ return, we are to work to advance his kingdom. Only with a focus on Him and the power of the Holy Spirit can we escape all that is about to happen, and only through obedience to him will we be able to stand before the Son of Man when he returns. All Christians must be ready and alert for Jesus’ return, working for the kingdom, both because they know of the certainty of Christ’s return and because they don’t know when that return will happen. Being prepared demonstrates believers’ faith and wholehearted obedience. Amen.
Please feel free to leave any question or comment below.
Hi, the bible is a very fascinating book for so many reasons. In particular that it has been written so long ago and followed by so many people.
there are a lot of people that believe we are living in the end times as there are many comparisons to the bible scriptures.
it really is a subjective interpretation as there are so many complications.
Thanks for commenting Jake!
This is an interesting question. When you watch the mainstream media you certainly see signs of lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers and trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, and all kinds of other bad traits. I guess what it comes down to is how the majority of people act on a day to day basis in their own lives. One thing I’ve noticed especially in the younger generation is an absence of please and thank you’s, generally speaking. You have me thinking with this post, and this type of awareness can lead people to change and really do some self-reflection. Thank you for the post and keep up the good effort!
I am in total agreement with you. Thanks for commenting!
Have you written an article since Biden has been in office??? You mentioned in this article “Have you heard our president?” That would be President Donald J Trump who did more for our country & Israel than any other president. He kept us out of a war. Look what’s happening now. He was a President of law and order. The Democrat party supports BLM & Antifa & Kamala Harris bailed out lawless criminals who destroyed cities & fought police officers. President Trump protected our southern border. President Trump fought drug, child and sex trafficking. Our open border under Biden is an invasion with all 3 pouring in. President Trump was the only president to attend the Right for Life March in Washington. He appointed two Supreme Court Justices that are Pro-Life. Tell me sir, why you threw stones at President Donald J Trump??? Direct me to an article about our country flourishing under Joe Biden.
Greetings, Linda – Actually, I have written articles since Biden was President, but not on this topic. Further, this is not a political website to compare governmental administrations. The paragraph you are referring to made the point that what the Scripture prophesied will happen when God is ignored has come to fruition. These manifestations include, as the Scripture reads, “boasters, proud, blasphemers.“ I used the President at that time as an example because he fit the mold.
Have a blessed day.