Are We Living In The Last Days?

It might be good to explain what the Bible means when it refers to the “last days”. The last days is the time
period that will culminate with the seven-year tribulation that Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:21, 22: “For then
shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And
except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved”, and then lead directly to the return of the
Glorified Jesus to earth.

Jesus tells us in the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32-34 that when Israel is reborn as a nation, which
occurred in 1948, the last days will begin – see also: Ez. 37. He also tells us that the generation that is alive in
1948 to see Israel’s rebirth, would not pass away until all these things take place, referring to the description of
the last days which Jesus talks about in the entire 24th chapter of Matthew.

Not only did Jesus predict that Israel would become a nation again, (at a time when Israel still existed), but He
also foretold of the destruction of the temple forty years before Jerusalem was burned to the ground in A.D. 70.
In 132 A.D. Israel ceased to be a nation and the Jews were dispersed throughout the world. This dispersion
would ultimately lead to the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy: “Thus says the Lord GOD: Surely I will take the
children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them into their land…” Ez.
37:21.

What an amazing prophecy, especially when you consider that Ezekiel made it roughly 2500 years before it
actually came to pass, and that Jesus also said it would happen 1900 years in advance. According to the Bible,
the last days began in 1948, sixty years ago. When you consider that a generation as we know it today is about
70 to 80 years, I’d say we’re getting close to the return of Jesus, wouldn’t you? If you have some doubts, then let
me give you a few more details about the things that will be happening in the last days.

As amazing as Israel’s predicted rebirth is, there are countless other indications from the Bible that give us solid
evidence that we are living in the last days.

In the 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus answers the question from His disciples: What will be the sign of your
coming, and the end of the age? I suggest you read the chapter for yourself, as I will only be covering a few
specific points.

In verse 5, Jesus warns, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” I
doubt that I need to offer proof that this is occurring today. There are countless televangelists bilking honest
people out of their hard-earned money every day, telling them that God wants all of His people to prosper.

The prosperity gospel works just fine if you preach it in a wealthy nation like the United States of America, but
why aren't these so-called prosperity televangelists spreading their message in third-world countries? One
reason, no doubt, is that their own ministry wouldn't prosper under those conditions. People living in third-world
countries barely earn enough to support themselves, let alone some fly-by-night preacher.
Of course, if there is any truth in the prosperity gospel, then the third-world countries are the places where it
should be preached. You wonder if these prosperity preachers believe their own message. If they did, then
they'd be preaching where the need is the greatest...and that's not here in the USA. These people are not true
followers of Christ Jesus, and Jesus warned us about them because they would be so prevalent in the last days.
Turn on your television to one of the religious channels and you'll see for yourself - a good indication that we're in
the last days - just as Jesus said.

Wars & Rumors of Wars

Jesus continues in verse 6, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

The usual argument that I get when I present this sign of the last days to someone is the one that goes as
follows, ‘there have always been wars throughout history – how is this a clear sign that we are living in the last
days?’

It’s true, there have always been wars throughout history. In fact, there have been more than 1500 wars in
recorded history, but more people have died in wars in the past hundred years than in all the centuries before. At
present, wars rage in Iraq, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, India, a number of former Soviet territories,
along with dozens of hot spots on the verge of war, not to mention the tensions in the Middle East that make the
headlines daily.

And certainly the war on terror fits into this verse as well. The soldier in this new type of war could be a 13-year-
old girl with a bomb strapped to herself, just as easily as it could be a foreign businessman boarding a
commercial airliner. Rumors have been circulating that there are countless terror cells already here in the United
States, and throughout the world, just waiting for the command to strike…rumors of wars. These are just a few
examples; Jesus gives us an entire list of signs indicating the last days.

In verse 7 it is written, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Certainly World War I and II would describe, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,”
but unless you live in a third world country, it may be difficult to understand the widespread outbreak of famines
and pestilences effecting the vast majority of the world. And of course, deadly earthquakes have been on a
steady rise in the past century, contributing significantly to famines and pestilences, along with a population
explosion and increase in energy prices that are putting a strain on current food supplies. And the shortages will
only increase as the world population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.

With the advancements in weapons of mass destruction, we have to deal with the very real possibility of total,
self-annihilation, which no other generation in history has ever faced. “…and except those days be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved.”

We’ve already seen what terrorists are willing to do with commercial airliners. What do you think they’ll do if they
get their hands on a nuclear weapon? The Bible gives us glimpses into what will occur in the last days by a
Christ-rejecting world, and the picture isn’t pretty.

We’re told in the first chapter of Romans another characteristic that will be prevalent in the last days. “For this
reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against
nature. Likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with
men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”
All one has to do is turn on MTV, the news, or just about any show to see that homosexuality has not only
become acceptable, but it is spreading. Gay marriage will be an issue in every election until it is recognized in
every state. Whether gay marriage or civil union, God condemns homosexuality. Nevertheless, God loves the
sinner, but He hates the sin. It still amazes me that the Bible describes the rise of homosexuality in the last days
and even tells us what will indicate the beginning of the last days. It’s also interesting to note that while wars, and
famines and earthquakes, and even homosexuality, have always existed, they have all increased in intensity and
frequency since the rebirth of Israel as a nation.

Billy Graham once said that if God doesn’t judge the United States of America, then He owes Sodom and
Gomorrah an apology. The fact is, we have been given more light than the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.
America has more churches per city, county and state than any other country – and yet our ethics and morality
continue to decline more and more every day. We’ve allowed the pornography industry to flourish at an
unprecedented and alarming rate. At 13 billion dollars a year, it produces more money than the NFL and Major
League Baseball combined. And since the pornography industry employs thousands of people, the economics of
it will help it to grow until it has contaminated every heart and mind of every citizen in this country.

When Will Jesus Return?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Jesus will never return to earth. He has given us specific details about the
general time in which He will return. It’s not a coincidence that all these things are occurring at the same time.
The 24th chapter of Matthew gives us a good amount of information about the last days. Will you heed Jesus’
warning? Or just go about your business as usual – as if you had never read this.

I know that it’s difficult to understand why God is allowing all the suffering and injustice to continue in the world,
but He does have a plan, and He is on schedule – and I believe that He’s about to interrupt human history.

What Should We Be Looking For?

Besides everything that I’ve already mentioned, we should keep our eyes on Israel and the Middle East. God
has already fulfilled the prophecy from Ezekiel 37:21 by bringing the Jews back into their land. However, there is
another prophecy from Ezekiel that is yet to be fulfilled, and I believe that we’re the generation to see this one
come to pass. In fact, there are indications that it could happen sooner rather than later. Newspaper headlines
are mirroring Bible prophecy with amazing accuracy. Let me explain.

Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe Israel being invaded by forces from the north, which is Russia. In the last days there
will be an alliance between Russia and a number of Muslim nations; the most prominent being Persia, or modern
day Iran. Also included in the invasion will be Ethiopia and Libya, which shouldn’t be of any surprise, since the
countries surrounding Israel would like to see, in the words of Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “the
Jews wiped off the face of the map”.

If you follow current events at all, then you know that in the latter part of 2007, Russian president Vladimir Putin
visited President Ahmadinejad; the first visit to the country by a Kremlin leader since 1943. Is this just a
coincidence, or is Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes? Putin also visited Libya not long after his
visit to Iran. The exact alliance the Bible describes is forming before our very eyes.

Remember that Ezekiel and Jesus both said that the rebirth of Israel would signify the beginning of the last days.
Also keep in mind that Russia and Persia, (modern day Iran), will lead an invasion into Israel in the last days.
Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe it in detail to the point that there can be no confusion as to what is occurring.

If you think about it, is this really a far-fetched scenario? If you consider Ezekiel’s prophecies and Iran’s pursuit of
nuclear weapons, and Ahmadinejad’s public comments about wiping Israel off the face of the map, then this
scenario becomes not only credible, but something that should change our entire way of life. After all, how much
more proof do you really need?
 Jesus Is Coming! - Are You Ready?
Jesus is coming! I may not have convinced you that we are living in the last days, but rest assured, Jesus is
coming. I’ve given you enough proof to make a well-informed, educated decision to help you make this life-
changing choice to follow Jesus. What will you do with this proof? After all, this is the most important decision
that you will ever make! I’m not asking you for money or promising you riches if you follow Jesus. In fact, as I
mentioned earlier, Jesus warned us of false prophets and teachers in Matthew 24. Jesus told us that the world
would persecute and hate anyone who openly followed and accepted Him. However, as the apostle Paul wrote,
the temporary sufferings that we may be experiencing in this life are not worthy to be compared to the promise of
eternal life. If you’re ready to accept Jesus, then open your heart to God and pray the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need a savior. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and opening the
way for me to Heaven. I ask you to come into my heart, change my life and help me live for
you from this moment on. Help me to grow in your grace and knowledge every day. Draw
near to me, I ask, in your awesome and precious name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, then you have the absolute assurance of going to Heaven. Now it’s time to start looking
for a good, Bible-believing church in your area. There are also some good resources on the Internet. One of the
best audio teaching resources on the Internet that has helped me grow in God’s word can be found at:
ccphilly.org – and the best news is, the audio files can be downloaded for free. May God bless you as you grow
in Christ.

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things are
become new”, 2 Cor. 5:17.

"Universal Life Church”

Anointing Of The Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket
203-1990 Whites Road,
Pickering, Ontario L1V 6P5
T:905 . 839 . 9031
Fax: 905 . 839 . 9031
E-mail:gcuthbert@rogers.com