When discussing the exact time of His Second Coming, Jesus Christ told His disciples: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, WATCH and PRAY; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:32–33). Yet, after listing an entire series of events to precede His return to earth, Jesus stated: “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (v. 30).
So although we do not know the “day” or the “hour,” we are commanded a number of times to “watch” the unfolding of prophetic events and therefore have a pretty good idea about the generation in which Christ will come. Then, at that point—as more and more events rapidly unfold—we should probably know within a few years the time of Jesus’ Second Coming. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us WATCH and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:2–6).
Let us all be sure that we are “watching”—and that we know how and what to watch!
One good way to be sure we are watching world events in a thorough and intelligent manner is to have various categories of events to watch for and to “group” our thoughts and news clippings together in this way. For instance, we could group world events to watch in the following categories:
- Spiritual sickness of Israelitish nations
- God’s punishment on Israelitish nations
- European Empire rising
- U.S. and British power waning
- Mideast struggles and King of the South
- Religious deterioration and confusion
- False church increasing in power
Some of you may wish to come up with slightly different categories, of course, but this can perhaps give you an idea to work with. As we consider fulfilled prophecy, I hope that all of you realize that prophetic events on a truly broad front really are “heating up” and indicating to us that we are in the “last generation.”
Thinking about our spiritual sickness in America and the western world, we might consider a recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune of March 6, 2001. Discussing “The power of media on teen rage” the author, Bob Waliszewski states: “The causes have been well-documented for decades. The breakdown of the family. A prevailing lack of purpose and sense of hopelessness. Rejection by peers. The postmodern philosophy which says God and absolute truth do not exist. And one more—the most ignored of all (except briefly during times of crisis)—the influence of today’s violent entertainment.”
Later in the article, the author describes how completely gross much of our entertainment has become: “Take for instance, the three-time Grammy-winner, white rapper Eminem. He advocates killing, drugs and rape. On one song, Eminem even goes so far as to boast about murdering his girlfriend, then forcing his toddler daughter to help him dispose of the body. Similarly, in his song ‘Kill You,’ Jonathan Davis of the mega-popular rock group Korn fantasizes about killing his stepmother, and in his song ‘My Gift to You’ sings of strangling his lover. Marilyn Manson on his platinum album ‘Antichrist Superstar’ screams, ‘Let’s just kill everyone and let your God sort them out.’”
Ghastly!
Is this the nation that has as its motto “In God We Trust?” As always, we need to explain to our readers that they need to be careful which “god” they may be trusting in. And we must warn them about Satan’s deceptions—as well as the horrible influence of the media in a nation which is truly cut off from God.
Under the category of religious deterioration, we continue to read articles about various professing Christian churches which not only allow their members to practice homosexuality, but even ORDAIN practicing homosexuals as supposed ministers of Jesus Christ! A recent (April 23, 2001) issue of Christianity Today magazine states: “The 70-million-member Anglican Communion, which has its roots in the Church of England, officially condemns homosexual behavior. But the Episcopal Church unofficially allows local dioceses to ordain practicing homosexuals and to bless same-sex unions.” So here is a church in utter confusion. Some of their leaders realize that the Bible clearly states that homosexual practice is absolutely WRONG. Yet they are so wishy-washy that they are afraid to crack down on the spiritually sick American branch which ordains homosexuals into its ministry.
In another approach to the religious problems our nations are facing, U.S. News and World Report (March 26, 2001) states: “Here in New York, Cardinal Edward Egan had a little chat with Gov. George Pataki last week about whether Roman Catholic institutions should be forced to provide contraceptive services and the ‘morning after’ pill for their female employees… So far the public and the news media have paid little attention to the debate, because contraceptive funding seems like a ho-hum issue. Most people, including many Catholics, do not consider contraception immoral. But some religious leaders think this is a slippery slope. The slide could lead to mandatory funding of the abortion pill, euthanasia, and assisted suicide. So, many churches feel they have to make a stand here, before they are dragooned into funding new abortion medicines, cloning, and suicide pills. Joe Loconte of the Heritage Foundation wrote: ‘It is no whimsy to worry when people are forced to bankroll whatever reproductive practices are in vogue—today chemical abortion, tomorrow cloning.’”
Reuters (March 20, 2001) offered from Vatican City another significant report on religion: “The Vatican acknowledged Tuesday a damning report that some priests and missionaries were forcing nuns to have sex with them, and were in some cases committing rape and forcing the victims to have abortions. Some nuns were forced to take the contraceptive pill, the report cited in the Rome la Repubblica daily said. The Vatican said the issue was restricted to a certain geographical area but the report cited cases in 23 countries, including the United States, Brazil, the Philippines, India, Ireland and Italy.”
God’s Word clearly labels as a “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1–3) the practice of forbidding priests—or anyone else—from marrying. This should help us realize the blessings of God’s way of life, including a happy marriage and family, and we should be repelled by the horrible teachings and superstitions believed and practiced by the “Great Whore” of Revelation 17.
An entire array of problems shows up in the category of “God’s punishment on Israelitish nations.” Among them are the rising incidents of drug use and the once again rising crime rate of our youth in the United States. As the San Diego Union Tribune (April 3, 2001) stated: “After a decade of steady decline, reported crime has leveled off and is starting to rise prompting concern from police and criminologists that the numbers may get worse before getting better.”
Also the current financial malaise in the United States may become ominous if Japan is forced to repatriate the hundreds of billions of dollars they now have loaned or invested in America. As the U.S. News and World Report magazine stated recently (March 19, 2001): “Weather forecasters may have sounded a false alarm for much of the East Coast last week, but economists have harder evidence that an economic tsunami is bearing down on Japan. A financial disaster of the size implicit in their latest numbers would send huge waves everywhere. Japan is the largest economy in Asia. The spending power of its 127 million residents exceeds that of the 1.8 billion inhabitants of East and Southeast Asia. It is also the world’s largest gross and net international lender, with over $2.5 trillion outstanding—so that its financial troubles could disrupt global financial markets.” And then another article in the same magazine the following week quoted William Breer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies: “In desperation, Japanese banks WILL pull U.S. holdings” (emphasis ours).
As for the situation in Britain, I feel it is admirably summed up by a heartfelt letter I just received from one of our British subscribers:
Dear Sir,
As one who has always believed in God and who has been taking your magazine for several years, I am now taking your Bible Study Course, I wish to express my thanks to you for your work.
When I read in our newspapers of events which are occurring in Britain, from floods, the shoreline breaking up, mad cow disease, foot & mouth disease, the problems of over fishing in the North Sea, the problems of intensive chicken farming and intensive fish farming, your publications give reassuring answers to just what is going on. None of these problems were there sixty years ago in my youth, but now when one buys a newspaper one wonders just what the latest thing is, which has gone badly wrong.
I am enclosing a newspaper cutting which I find appalling, but it nevertheless backs up the fact that for all our computers and web sites, the really true knowledge of how to lead a good, useful, and contented life, is abysmally low, if not in fact nonexistent.
I thank you once more for your most instructive and welcome teaching, for which I wait eagerly each month.
Dear brethren, God is NOT mocked. Our godless way of life is SOON going to bring about a truly terrible result. But we who know God have both the opportunity and the responsibility to study His Word, understand what is going to happen and “watch” prophetic events unfold and so be INSPIRED that the Great God we serve is very near—and that His Kingdom is coming soon. As the Apostle John was inspired to put it: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).