“WOE to those
who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light,
and light for darkness.”
(Isaiah 5:20)

 

 

The Rise of Violence, Lawlessness, Immorality (and More)

 

 

God has spent a lot of time and effort describing and warning of a single generation which would one day rise to see the terrible realities and consequences of ignoring and rejecting God’s Word and His many warnings in prophecy.  We are told these prophecies are His way of preparing Mankind for the grave danger which now lies ahead, while also offering us a way “to ESCAPE all these things which will come to pass.”

 

Much information is given in the Bible concerning the character, morals, and attitudes of the generation which will lead the world down into the terrors of the coming Apocalypse and Armageddon.

 

In the following prophecy, Jesus Christ warns the generation of the Apocalypse will be just like the generation living in the days of Noah, which God utterly destroyed with the Flood.

 

We will find there are TWO aspects to this prophecy which are important to learn and to understand …

 

 

First:

The Generation of Armageddon will be morally corrupt and filled with violence

 

Jesus warns …

“But as the days of Noah were,
so also will the coming
of the Son of Man be …”
(Matthew 24:37)

 

To help us understand this part of the prophecy, God DESCRIBES the generation of Noah …

 

“The Earth was (morally) CORRUPT before God,
(in the Bible the word “corrupt” is like rotting, smelly meat)
And the Earth was filled with VIOLENCE.
So God looked upon the Earth,
and indeed it was corrupt;
for all flesh had corrupted their way on the Earth.
And God said to Noah,
‘The end of all flesh has come before Me,
for the Earth is filled with violence through them;
and behold, I will destroy them
with the Earth.’”
(Genesis 6:11-13)

 

So, our first major prophetic clue is the Generation of Armageddon will be filled with “Violence” and “Immorality”.

 

 

Here, the Bible lists even MORE character traits

which will mark the Generation of Armageddon

 

“But KNOW this,
That in the last days
perilous times will come,
For men will be  (Men = Mankind … both men and women)
Lovers of themselves,
Lovers of money,
Boasters,
Proud, (‘Nobody is going to tell me what to do … not even God!’  )
Blasphemers, (mocking and joking about God and Jesus)
Disobedient to parents, (will not respect any authority)
Unthankful,
Unholy,
Unloving,
Unforgiving,
Slanderers,
Without Self-Control,
Violent (brutal),
Despisers of good,
TRAITORS,  (Watch the news)
Headstrong,
Arrogant (haughty),
Lovers of Pleasure (‘feeding the desires of the ‘flesh’ and ‘eyes’)
rather than lovers of God, (loving pleasure and possessions more than God)
having a FORM of godliness
(professing a belief … maybe even going to church or synagogue)
but denying its power … “
(God’s power to help, heal, save, or destroy all of His Creation)
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)

 

 

The Generation of Armageddon will also be marked by ‘LAWLESSNESS’

 

“Now as He (Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives,
the disciples came to Him privately, saying,
“Tell us, when will these things be?
And what will be the sign of Your coming,
and of the end of the Age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: …
“And because LAWLESSNESS will abound,
the love of many  (for Jesus Christ and the Word of God)
will grow cold.
But he who endures (in faith) to the end
shall be saved  (into the Kingdom of Heaven).
And this Gospel (“good news”) of the Kingdom
will be preached in all the world
as a witness to all the nations,
and THEN the end will come.”  (The coming Apocalypse)
(Matthew 24:3-4…12-14)

 

Jesus warns many who call themselves Christians will practice Lawlessness

 

“NOT everyone
who says to Me (Jesus), ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
(These people consider themselves Christians)
MANY  (‘most’ or ‘majority’ who call themselves Christian)
will say to Me in that Day (of Judgment)
‘Lord, Lord, have we not taught (prophesied)
in Your Name,
cast out demons in Your Name,
and done many wonders in Your Name?
(They may have been very busy in church)
And then (at the Judgment)
I (Jesus) will declare to them
‘I never knew you,  (through love, faith, prayer, and obedience)
DEPART from Me  (out of Heaven)
you who practice Lawlessness.'”   (Willful disobedience against God’s Law)
(Matthew 7:21-23)

 

ANOTHER prophetic warning against ‘Lawlessness’ …

 

“The Son of Man  (Jesus … see Daniel 7:13-14)
will send out His angels,
and they will gather out of His Kingdom
All things that offend,
and those who practice Lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 13:41-42)

 

‘Lawlessness’ IS a major prophetic sign

 

One objective here is to simply provide a mechanism to help people test to see if Bible Prophecies are now being fulfilled (or preparing to be fulfilled) in this generation.  As we read above, the Bible warns “Lawlessness will abound.”  Lawlessness refers to large segments of a generation denying, ignoring, or rejecting God’s Law as found in the Bible.  We will also see it even applies to those who just “approve of those” who do such things.

 

Now, consider two of the major issues facing us today which are “Homosexuality” and “Abortion” … and then do a diligent study of what the Bible (God’s Law) says about these things to see if they qualify for “Lawlessness.”

 

 

LYING, DECEIVING, AND BEING DECEIVED WILL ALSO MARK “THE LAST DAYS”:

 

 

The Bible warns “in the last days” (around the time of the coming Apocalypse) a generation of evil men and women would rise. We are told that lying, deceiving, and being deceived will characterize that generation (and its leaders) who will lead the world into the coming Apocalypse. To help clarify the terminologies, it should be noted that ‘lying’ and ‘deceiving’ are a little different. Deceiving is considered worse than lying because deceiving (deception) mixes some truth in with the lie, which makes it much more difficult to discern the lie.

 

The Bible is very adamant about us knowing this prophecy …

 

“But KNOW this,
that in the last days
perilous times will come . . .
Evil men and impostors  (Men = Mankind … both men and women)
will grow worse and worse,
DECEIVING (lying) and being deceived.”
(2 Timothy 3:1, 13)

 

The Bible warns God hates lying …

 

“These six things
the Lord hates – yes, seven …
– A proud look (arrogance, selfishness, conceit)
– A lying tongue 
– Hands that shed innocent blood
– A heart that devises sinful plans
– Eagerness and willingness to do wrong
– A false witness speaking lies
– One who sows discord among brethren
(Proverbs 6:16)

 

The Scriptures tell us God cannot lie and that He hates all lies.

 

God says truth is non-negotiable and is fundamental to His Law. In fact, the Bible tells us at least five times it is “impossible” for God to lie.

 

In the past, liars and perjurers were held accountable and dealt with harshly and severely. Today we see lying casually accepted in the news, in the movies, and on television. Lying is now being presented as funny and harmless. This generation is unique in its reaction to liars and perjurers. This nation even lifted up a recent President whose most notable characteristic was revealed by flagrantly staring into a TV camera and wagging his finger while blatantly lying to the whole nation. Even though later convicted for criminal perjury he is still a very popular leader.

 

Many in this generation today mock our nation’s Rules of Law.  Many now also mock God’s Law.  As noted, telling the truth is fundamental to God’s Law. In the Bible we find when a nation and its leaders defiantly mock, ignore, and turn their backs on God’s Law, the future of that nation and people is always very, very grim …

 

Stark Warnings …

 

“Knowing this:
that the Law is not made for a righteous person,
but for the Lawless and insubordinate,
for the ungodly and for sinners,
for the unholy and profane,
for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers,
for sexually immoral (fornicators),
for homosexuals (sodomites),
for kidnappers,
for LIARS,
for perjurers,
and if there is any other thing
that is contrary to sound doctrine.”
(1 Timothy 1:8-10)

 

“But the cowardly,
unbelieving,
abominable,
murders,
sexually immoral,
sorcerers (“pharmakeus”… includes both occult and drugs)
idolaters,
AND ALL LIARS
shall have their part
in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.” (Hell)
(Revelation 21:8)

 

Please remember, the Bible clearly says God is a forgiving God who will forgive any and all who have sinned against Him. The Bible tells us we are all sinners who can be lovingly and completely forgiven.  So, no matter how bad or how many our sins might be, they were ALL lovingly “paid for” on the Cross.

 

 

Most of the generation will not realize the Apocalypse is near, and will not be prepared

 

“But as the days of Noah were,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as in the days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
UNTIL the day that Noah entered the Ark,
and did NOT know until the Flood came
and took them all away,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Then two men will be in the field:
One will be taken and the other left.  (The escape … The coming “Rapture”)
Two women will be grinding at the mill:
One will be taken and the other left. (Lovingly removed … before the Apocalypse)
WATCH therefore!
For you do not know what hour
your Lord is coming.
But know this,
that if the master of the house
had known what hour the thief would come,
he would have watched and not allowed
his house to be broken into.
Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
you do not expect.”   (Bible Prophecies tell us what to look for and then tells us to “Watch!”)
(Matthew 24:37-44)   (We are told those eagerly waiting in faith will “escape” the Apocalypse.)

 

 

Some valuable insight …

 

Just before bringing disaster upon Israel with a catastrophic judgment, God gave his prophets (and us) some valuable insight into determining when a generation has crossed His line of moral corruption.

 

God reveals to Jeremiah …

“They were not at all ashamed,
they did not even know how to BLUSH”
(Jeremiah 6:15 & Jeremiah 8:12)

 

How many people do you know today over the age of 12 who still know how to blush?

 

The character of a generation is not only revealed or reflected by the news reports of global violence and immorality which we read about daily, but, it is also revealed by what entertains a generation.  Simply look at the movies, television shows, video games, and internet sites to see what now entertains this generation today.

 

God also warns there will come a time just before the catastrophic judgment when a generation will no longer receive Godly warnings from the pulpits, and most of the people will be blindly unaware of the grave danger which now lies ahead.

 

God reveals to Amos …

“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.”
(Amos 8:11)

 

It is somewhat analogous to a tidal wave.  When we see the water rapidly receding from the shore we know it’s the sign a massive tidal wave which will destroy and devastate everything in its path is rapidly approaching.  In our scenario, the water represents the teaching (and hearing) of the Word of God, the shore represents our churches and synagogues, and the devastating Tidal Wave represents the coming Apocalypse … the fierce and terrible “Day of the Lord.”

 

Jesus warns …

“When you SEE these things,
know that it is NEAR – –
at the DOOR!!”
(Mark 13:29)

 

Most people can’t see because they don’t know (and have never been taught) what to look for.  Unfortunately, (and just as the Bible predicted), most of our churches and synagogues today either ignore, reject, or (for their lack of knowledge) simply avoid God’s prophetic word, even though Bible Prophecy represents around 30% of the Bible!

 

Jesus warned of the religious leaders in His day who ignored all of the prophetic signs of His first coming …

“They are blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind leads the blind,
both will fall into a ditch.”
(Matthew 15:14)

 

How many churches (or synagogues) can you find today who ever teach any of the many prophetic signs we are told to diligently “watch” for concerning His return?

 

Later, God gave Peter (and us) some valuable insight into identifying the generation which will face the final catastrophic judgment upon the Earth.

 

God reveals to Peter …

“Knowing this first:
That SCOFFERS will come in the last days,  (Many of these will go to church every Sunday)
walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘
Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue on
as they were from the beginning of creation.’”
(2 Peter 3:3-4)    (God warns many will “scoff” at prophecies of Christ’s Return)

 

So, another prophetic clue is the Generation of Armageddon will be ignorant of the Bible Prophecies, and will not believe (or will even mock or ridicule) those who do take God’s warnings seriously.

 

 

Unfortunately, most of those born after 1967 will have a very difficult time realizing these character traits aren’t normal, or that there ever was any difference in how people generally acted, spoke, and behaved.  While those born in the 1950’s or before can see and realize what a stark difference there is now in the generation alive today compared to those which came before.  Yet, it was mainly those born between 1948 and 1960 who were powerfully seduced, led, and then swept into the darkness of this “new morality,” which quickly changed the way churches (and synagogues) began to teach and follow God’s Word.