End Times in Our Time

Amos 8:11-12

“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.’”

We are living in times, I believe, that are unprecedented in church history. I believe that we are specifically and literally living in the time prophesied by the Apostle Paul and Peter:

1 Timothy 4:1-2: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5: “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!”

2 Peter 2:1-3: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

Why would God send such a famine? Why wouldn’t He want His Word faithfully proclaimed and taught?

First of all, I believe that the number one reason is that He cannot find faithful men who will simply and truthfully proclaim and teach His Word, Proverbs 20:6, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?” Most (yes I said most) today are too busy with their own program and agenda. They are seeking to build their own little kingdom right here on earth.

Second, God will give you what you want. Do you doubt He won’t? Consider Paul’s words (inspired by the Holy Spirit):

Romans 1:24, “…God also gave them up to uncleanness…”

Romans 1:26, “…God gave them up to vile passions…”

Romans 1:28, “…God gave them over to a debased mind…”

Paul’s point in Romans 1? If you don’t want God in your life, He will give you a life devoid of Him. So Amos tells us that a hallmark of the last days will be a famine, “Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.” It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a church today that faithfully teaches the Word because most don’t want to hear it.

So many men, seeing the so-called success of mega-churches, are filled not with a passion for lost souls, but rather with a lust to be like the mega-church pastor (who, incidentally, may very well have compromised the gospel for the purpose of filling the pews).

I believe that Paul accurately described the so-called “Faith Movement, when he wrote, “…some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy…” Initially, they taught what they knew was lies; now they actually believe what they teach to be the truth, and as a result, “…having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” They are no longer able to hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit, convicting them for telling lies and teaching falsehood.

Paul described these teachers and those who follow them as one would an oak veneer on a pressed sawdust table, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” What they espouse seems godly, however, it has no ability to transform lives like the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Peter spoke of these as well, “…there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them…” One of their own declared that any born again man armed with the word of God could to the very thing Jesus did. (You won’t need to google very far to find out who this gentleman is). To teach such things is to deny the Lord who bought you.

And unfortunately, this is not limited to the so-called “Faith Movement.” Many in the modern so-called “Church Growth Movement” are guilty of heresy as well. They have soft soaped the Gospel so that Jesus is no longer Lord, but a guide and leader who may be called upon in to assist you in your plan and purpose for your life, instead of being your Lord and Master who saved you from your sins by dying in your place and to whom you submit your life to for His plan and purpose.

Who told these guys they could grow the church? Consider the following:

Psalms 127:1: “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…”

Matthew 16:18: “…and on this rock I will build My church…”

Anything you do apart from seeking Jesus to build His church is nothing more than a façade and doomed for failure.

Our nation is in trouble and I believe that the church is the primary cause. The church in America is asleep. While we were sleeping, prayer was removed from schools; while we were sleeping the Ten Commandments have been removed from public places; while we were sleeping we lost the right to stand out in front of an abortion mill and share Jesus.

Currently, moves are underway to remove “In God We Trust” as our national motto; to make it a crime to teach the morality of the Bible; to make it a crime to share our faith in our workplace and even in public places. All this is going on, and still we sleep.

Jesus said that we are to be salt, Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” The church in America is increasingly being thrown aside as irreverent, bigoted and judgmental (if you doubt me, read “Unchristian” by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, Baker Books, publisher).

Jesus said that we are to be light, Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.“ Yet we elect politicians who promote abortion and ungodliness, as long as we are comfortable.

Now lest you think I am being too harsh (or even judgmental) consider what the Lord says, 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

“If my people” – not the government or the politicians.

“Humble themselves” – we must agree with God that we have turned away from Him.

“Pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways” – this involves not only praying, but also a genuine repentance (that’s what the word repentance means, a turning away from sin and turning towards God).

“Then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land” – then and only then.

I find it interesting that at the end of Jesus letters to the churches of Revelation, we see Jesus doing and saying something very particular, Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

What door is Jesus knocking at? It is the door of the church, and Jesus is patiently waiting to be invited back in.