difficult times will come.
--2 Timothy 3:1
"Know and Understand"
in End Times
Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. . . .
► Know that God is in Control!
In spite of how we feel at times, we need to remind ourselves what the word of God says. Immersing ourselves in the truth of scripture will keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and increase our faith. The LORD is all powerful and controls all things.
Remember, if you are
born again , you belong to the LORD.
-- Proverbs 19:21 ESV, Proverbs 16:9 ESV, Psalm 115:3 ESV, Matthew 19:26 ESV, Isaiah 55:8-11 ESV, Proverbs 16:4 ESV, Psalm 46:10, Proverbs 16:9, Isaiah 14:24, Isaiah 45:6-7, Jeremiah 32:27, Psalm 103:19
► Know the comfort of the LORD Jesus Christ when He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
--Hebrews 13:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5,9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Galatians 2:20, John 6:37, John 14:18, Psalm 100:3, 1 Corinthians 3:23
Go therefore and make disciples...
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
--- Matthew 28:19-20
► Know that in the last days, wickedness with unprecedented violence will abound:
Spiritual darkness will exponentially increase as people become "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy..." -- 2 Timothy 3:2-4 NASB
Research groups say we are experiencing a narcissism epidemic. Narcissism is selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. And out of this cruel indifference, violence will erupt. This rise in violence is called the Lucifer Effect by psychologists. The Bible says the last days will be full of violence like the days of Noah.
see Genesis 6:11
--- 2 Timothy 3:2-5 ESV, Luke 17:26, 2 Peter 3:3-4 ESV, Genesis 6:5, Matthew 24:10 ESV, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ESV, Ephesians 4:19 ESV, Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:2-4, Proverbs 6:17
► Know that if you live Godly in Christ Jesus, you will be persecuted.
--Luke 6:27-28, James 1:2-3,1 John 2:18 ESV, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 10:23, Luke 21:12, John 15:20, Romans 8:35, Romans 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:12
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
--- 1 Peter 4:19 NASB
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
--- 2 Timothy 3:12
► Know that Jesus did not come to bring peace on the earth but a sword.
--Luke 12:49-53, John 16:2-3
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
--- Matthew 10:34-39
► Understand you are not fighting against flesh and blood. Satan and his servants come as an angels of light; They come as wolves in sheep's clothing. They often can quote scripture as well as a follower of Jesus Christ but they misuse or twist God's word.
-- Ephesians 6:12, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV, 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV,
► Understand that mockers will come. Such mockers are proud, haughty scoffers showing contempt and insolent pride.
in the world around you,
know that it is an end time
sign. (2 Timothy 3:2 KJV )
-- 2 Peter 3:3, Proverbs 21:24, Proverbs 19:29, 2 Timothy 3:1, Proverbs 15:1, Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 29:8, Proverbs 9:8, Isaiah 28:22, Proverbs 9:7, Job 17:2, Proverbs 24:9, Proverbs 9:12, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 14:6, Acts 13:41, Proverbs 21:11, Proverbs 13:1
... In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.
--- Jude 1:18 NASB
► Understand that Apostasy will cause many to turn from faith in Jesus. The parable of the seed, I believe is a foreshadowing that 75% of Christians will be part of the Apostasy (falling away) in the end times.
The Seed Parable:
Read Matthew 13:18-23
The reasons in the seed parable that people turned from believing:
► Birds ate seeds = deception
► Rocky soil = persecution
► Thorns = greed
All three of these reasons are well rooted in end time events and scriptures warn us about.
deception
(Colossians 2:8, James 1:16, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 2 Peter 2:13, Matthew 24:4, 2 John 1:7)
persecution
(1 John 3:13, John 15:20, John 16:33, John 15:18, 1 Peter 4:12-14, Luke 6:22, Revelation 2:10, 2 Timothy 3:12)
greed
(Luke 12:15, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 1 Timothy 6:9)
[greed includes money but also possessions like food]
In the end times, 75% will fall away from the faith in what the Bible
calls the Apostasy.
Prepare and Guard Your Heart
--- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV, 1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:4, Matthew 7:21-23 ESV, Psalm 81:15, Matthew 24:11 ESV, 2 Timothy 4:3 NASB, Matthew 24:5, Romans 8:7–8, 1 John 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV, 2 Peter 2:22
► Understand that the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God
-- John 16:1-4 ESV, Matthew 24:9, John 15:19-20, Luke 21:16-17, Luke 21:12, Revelation 2:10, Matthew 10:17-22, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 6:22
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
--- 1 John 3:13
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
--- John 15:18
► Know that even though you are in the world, this world is not your home. You are just passing through. Your home is in heaven with the Lord.
-- Philippians 3:20-21, John 14:2-3, Revelation 21:2, 2 Peter 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:8
For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
--- Hebrews 13:14 NLT
► Understand that separate from the world does not mean isolation from the world.
-- 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, Psalm 119:46, John 15:27, 1 John 5:10, Matthew 24:14
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
--- Revelation 12:11
► Remember, there is no fear in love. Love your neighbor as yourself, speak truth in love, love mercy, and don't let your love grow cold.
--- 1 John 4:18 ESV, Matthew 24:12 ESV, Jude 1:21, Matthew 5:43-45a, 1 Corinthians 13:1, Romans 12:21, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:7, 1 Corinthians 13:13
► Understand that it is by our Our faith in.. belief in.. trust in.. obedience to.. surrender to Jesus Christ that we inherit the promises of God.
-- Romans 4:13 NASB, Romans 4:16 NASB, Romans 9:8, Galatians 3:14, Hebrews 10:36, Galatians 3:22, Ephesians 1:13
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
--- Hebrews 6:12
► Understand that righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, kindness, holiness and love are qualities of a Christian life.
-- 1 Timothy 6:11, Galatians 5:22-23 ESV, Colossians 3:12 ESV, 2 Peter 3:10-13 NASB,
► Remember that you are not your own, you have been bought with a price. You belong to Jesus.
--1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Psalm 100:3, John 10:27-28, Romans 14:8, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 John 3:1
► Remember that these things must take place to fulfill Bible prophecy
-- Matthew 24:6, Revelation 1:1, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 22:6, John 16:13
► Understand that we do not know the day or hour of the Rapture. We know that we are a day closer than yesterday.
Look up for the Blessed Hope.
Maranatha: The Lord is coming!
-- Titus 2:13, Romans 13:11 ESV, Hebrews 9:28 NASB, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV
► Know that if there is any sin in your life, REPENT NOW.
And if you are a Christian, click here to make sure you have been
born again as our Lord said in
John 3:3
-- 2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB, Revelation 3:3 ESV, Acts 3:19-21 ESV