LIST OF EARTH EVENTS PRIOR TO DIVINE INTERVENTION
“As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of [the coming of] the Son of Man.”
Luke 17:26, Matthew 24:37 Notice “days”, not “day”. The coming of the Lord occupies a period of time with a sudden end, as it was in Noah’s day. Hence the Lord admonishes us to “look, watch, and pray.” The birth of the Kingdom is preceded by a stressful time of “labour pains”.
“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.” Genesis 6:11.
The last 100 years has seen two world wars, and this has been the springboard for the manufacture of more and more sophisticated weapons of mass destruction which hang over us like the sword of Damocles. But life goes on regardless, with no one heeding the warnings of Scripture. Not only the violence of ISIS, but frequent acts of violence in domestic circumstances. Hate, rage and accusation growing rapidly throughout the nations.
“As it was in the days of Lot, even so shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17:28
“Behold, this was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49
In Britain, on 5 July 1967, homosexuality became legal. The Same Sex Marriage Act became law on 31 October 2013. According to Edward Gibbon, in “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, homosexuality played a significant part in the final downfall of Rome. Empires can destroy themselves by immorality and love of pleasure. 40,000 people paraded in “Gay Pride March” in New York just recently. Tel Aviv is the most active city in the world for LGBT people. Nearly 50% of American evangelicals accept same-sex marriage according to a recent poll.
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4 About 3300 planes are in the air at the moment. Assuming an average capacity of 200, there are about 660,000 people in the air right now. The total number of aircraft currently in service is approximately 23,600. And this is just one way of “running to and fro” unknown in Daniel’s day, and unknown in the world until the beginning of the 20th century with the manufacture of Model T Fords and the manufacture of the first aeroplanes. Gone are the days of horse-drawn carriages. Even the craze for bicycles only began in the 1890s! As for books, Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.” Ecclesiastes 12:12. But not only is the world flooded with books, but we now have Google! However, the ability to learn from all the available sources of knowledge has not led mankind into the land of righteousness. Rather has it increased his ability to destroy his neighbour and the world in which he lives.
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons. . . . . forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving” 1Timothy 4:1-3. Catholic priests are forbidden to marry. Some sectarian leaders require a vegan diet for all their followers. These are just examples. But the really evil ones are those that seek to dethrone the Lord Jesus Christ, and bring His name into disrepute.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20. These days evolution has become almost universal. Creation is not only mocked, but used as an instrument to discredit those who hold to it. Creation teaching is disallowed in schools and colleges. University students who espouse creation are in danger of being refused their degrees. We have witnessed the rise of Militant Atheists in recent years. Evolution is no longer considered a theory. It is demanded as scientific fact.
“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.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The 21st century already holds the record for the love of self, money, and pleasure.
“But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly desires.” Jude 17-19. Mockery of Christian values has become almost an epidemic.
“First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days, following their own passions and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.’ They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.” 2 Peter 3:3-6. Evolution and disbelief in the Flood of Noah’s Day have even infected the Church. Few these days have the courage to stand by the Biblical record.
“Men’s hearts will fail them from fear at the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26 Stronger and more frequent earthquakes, Tsunamis, the evils of the ISIS and other terrorists, the shutting down of free speech, drugs, the increase of diseases like cancer, these and many other such things trouble the average person seeking to live a moral life.
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. . . For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36. To “stay awake” means to stand fast to God’s words, “waiting and watching” the development of events, and the “signs of the times”, and being always in an attitude of prayer, to walk worthily of our calling with godly fear.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of birth-pangs. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” Matthew 24:7-9. Labour pains precede a BIRTH. Best to keep one’s thoughts and prayers on the birth of the Kingdom, rather than being weighed down by trials and tribulations. “Look up for your redemption draws nigh”.
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be preserved. And the good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:12-14. This is not a reference to the centuries of missionary work, but to a brief, world-wide proclamation that God’s Kingdom is “at hand”. Elijah’s ministry. More on this in part 3.
