This Wicked Generation and the Last DAys

[desertcry]

One of the most obvious prophecies that are being fulfilled today is the description of the last days generation. Let's take a look at 2 Timothy 3:1-9 which says, "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 powers. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith: but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all as theirs also was.

Some say that this can describe any generation. However, our generation is by far more prominent in these things. Let's so over these and see.

Men will be lovers of themselves This Scripture is referring to the selfishness of mankind, not homosexuality. Although every generation has had men who were like this, it has gotten worse in recent times. There are men that will be nice to a woman just to have sexual intercourse. There are women looking for a rich man so they can live in luxury. Back in the early church days the Romans would try to have abortions with unwanted babies. Because of lack of technology they would not fully succeed and the baby would come out deformed. Christians of the day would hide in the woods and when these babies were dropped off in a field to die, the Christians would come out of the woods, take these babies, and raise them as their own children. Now days many so-called Christians would rather sit at home and watch TV than tell people of the everlasting Gospel. They will go to their fleshly feel good revivals yet won't be persecuted for the chance to save someone's soul. There is no denying that today this Scripture is being fulfilled.

Men will be lovers of money

It's not hard to see men being lovers of money today. Many people are in competition today at being rich. Everywhere you look somebody is trying to sell you something. Telemarketers try to manipulate people into buying their products. One time we got charged over $200 for something we don't remember ordering because somehow we were manipulated by a telemarketer. Credit card companies are continually sending junk mail so they can make money off of us. You go on the Internet and it is next to impossible to escape e-mails or pop-ups that are trying to sell pornography. Pornography is big business and worse than useless. Fairs, carnivals, and theme parks sell things at very high prices to get your money. I remember a while back going to Six Flags Darien Lake and needing some water. They refused to give us tap water so we had to pay over $2 for bottled water. Everywhere you look there are people trying to get your money. Churches aren't much better. I remember Trinity Broadcasting Network selling a Bible for $200. They also sell other items at overly high prices such as video tapes, teaching cassettes, anointing oil, books, and many other things. Christian bookstores sell videos at $20 or $30, more than most Hollywood and Disney movies are sold for. I sometimes listen to a Christian prophecy radio broadcast online and the speakers spend half the broadcast either trying to sell their products or get donations from people. When my wife and I were going through a financial difficulty in our life, our pastor at the time threatened to remove me from leadership on the worship team because we weren't able to give at least 10% of our money. Another woman that claims to be a full-time Christian tried to turn in Desert Cry so she could get $500 out of us. The accusations were false and no action was taken. There will be more on this type of action later in this issue.

Boasters

Whether it be boasting about themselves, the things they sell, the things they accomplished, and so on, people are certainly boasters today. Have you ever ran into someone that constantly talks about themselves? Many of these people you will hear boasting about something. They will tell you what they are good at, what good they have done for others, and so on. Certain ministries love to boast about the products they sell. I heard one preacher boasting about a tape series he has saying that his series is needed by everyone to be able to understand these last days. Have you ever gone to a church event and have a guest speaker boast about all the healings he has performed and the strength of his faith? Paul of the Bible called boasting foolishness. Boasting has come into the church and needs to be repented of.

Proud

Proud and boasting kind of go together. It seems as if today people take pride in many things they do. If you ask people if they are good enough to go to Heaven most will say "yes" even if they don't believe in Jesus. Pride today is taught as if it is a good thing. 50 years ago you wouldn't have heard of the phrase "gay pride." Everyone has heard of the phrase "proud to be an American." Some will say that it's patriotic and there's nothing wrong with it. The Bible doesn't ever distinguish patriotic pride from other forms of pride. Pride is wrong according to the Bible no matter what form it comes in. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." What will happen if American continues in its pride? Some preachers even get proud of how good of a preacher they are. That is still a form of pride and needs to be repented of.

Blasphemers

This world is full of blasphemers. Look at the music industry. Some of the band names say it all such as Eyehategod and Deicide which means to kill all that is holy. I have gone in chat rooms on the Internet and will see people writing blasphemous comments. Movies and books have come out either portraying Jesus as gay or having sexual intercourse with Mary Magdalene. Some exalt the Catholic pope as being God which is blasphemy. Whenever people use the name Jesus as a cuss word they are blaspheming Him. Take heed that you do not do this. Sects like the Jehovah Witnesses deny the deity of Christ which is blasphemy. Blasphemy has become more rampant than it ever has. Those who blaspheme God will not escape judgment.

Disobedient to Parents

Like never before has a generation been so disobedient to their parents. Unfortunately it seems as if those parents are slacking on discipline because of all the disobedience. Teenagers stay out late at night against their parent's orders. When asked to do a few simple chores children will yell at their parents refusing to do it. Movies seem to portray teenagers being rebellious as the norm and if parents use discipline they usually look like the bad guys. Instead of parents being in authority we see children running the household. In the last 50 years there has been a severe increase in children being disobedient to their parents. Children and teens do many things behind their parent

[gypc]

Brother, I don't mean to toot your horn......but you are nailin it.

Great post

In his love,

Brian

[refugepsa91]

it does sound familier doesn't it.

:hug:

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[Guest cls]

Wow!!! Great post desertcry. I am going to print it out and hang it on my fridge. I needed to be reminded of that. Glorybee's response as well serves to remind me that which category do I fall in?

Being new here, is there a topic on dealing with grown up children? I couldnt find one.

:sweating:

[dgolvach]

LOOK UP!!!! I think God is about to step in big time.

Dan

[Born Again]

Excellent thread DesertCry- spoken with TRUTH! God bless

Shannon

[O'Dannyboy]

Wonderfull article. I look forward to reading more of them. I noticed a couple of catagories I fit into. I found myself, today, for the first time, thanking Our Lord In Heaven that someone pulled out in front of me. I noticed my mind more dificult than my tongue to conquer. I am thankful that I can find humility everywhere I go. When I am treated as less important by those around me I will give thanks.

Praise be to the Lamb of God for he makes all things new.

[Budman]

Here is another article that shows the time of our Lord draws near:

Shadow of Persecution Advancing Toward U.S. Christians

High profile news of persecution of Christians in Muslim countries may be masking a more subtle threat to the spread of the gospel in the free world. Laws are being put in place in Europe, Australia, Canada and now in America to criminalize witnessing or sharing Bible truths.

The laws are drafted to address "intolerance," "discrimination" and "harassment." Several years ago extra penalties were added to the standard penalties for murder and assault, if the crime was motivated by hatred for a protected class such as race, ethnicity, sex, and more recently, sexual "orientation."

Now, a new, most dangerous, dimension is being added. In Canada, England and Sweden, Christians are being prosecuted for "hate speech." They are being charged with "incitement" of hatred for preaching and teaching against sin.

In Sweden a pastor was recently sentenced to 30 days in jail for stating in a sermon that homosexuality was "abnormal

[Grandma Betty]

Way to go Desertcry. There is a man in our church who is always boasting about what he has done (claims to have healed someone recently) always makes others feel as if they are inferior and don't know as much about the Bible as he does. Its extremely hard to be around someone like him. I really struggle every time in church to be able to tolerate him. He is always "tooting his horn" How do you think I should handle someone like him. He also makes a lot of good people who have only been saved within the last year or two feel inadequate and alot of times if these people are standing talking he will walk up and interfere with their conversation or ask questions that are really none of his business. I feel as if he is a control freak. One part of me thinks, "well maybe he is closer to the Lord, or maybe he is all he says he is" but then another part of me says "its wrong to be doing what he is doing and because of all his boasting he can't be as "Christian" as he portrays himself to be." What do you think?

[desertcry]

Way to go Desertcry. There is a man in our church who is always boasting about what he has done (claims to have healed someone recently) always makes others feel as if they are inferior and don't know as much about the Bible as he does. Its extremely hard to be around someone like him. I really struggle every time in church to be able to tolerate him. He is always "tooting his horn" How do you think I should handle someone like him. He also makes a lot of good people who have only been saved within the last year or two feel inadequate and alot of times if these people are standing talking he will walk up and interfere with their conversation or ask questions that are really none of his business. I feel as if he is a control freak. One part of me thinks, "well maybe he is closer to the Lord, or maybe he is all he says he is" but then another part of me says "its wrong to be doing what he is doing and because of all his boasting he can't be as "Christian" as he portrays himself to be." What do you think?

Hello. It's always sad to see that there are people like this in the church. I would pray to God what to do in this situation. Maybe you should tell him how you feel because maybe he doesn't know that he makes other people feel inadequate. Make sure you are gentle about it. If he doesn't change pray that God will deal with it. God allowed a thorn to be in Paul's side to keep him humble. Remember, pride is a difficult thing to change so if he doesn't change overnight don't be discouraged. If this man had the Holy Spirit working in him he will change. If he doesn't change then maybe you should talk to your pastor and both of you confront him about it. Remember though, that you must have your life right with God before you talk to this man. If you don't, you won't see clearly enough to help him with his sin. If God leads you to do somethign different than what I suggested then go by His leading. I hope I have helped some.

God Bless,

Nate

Desert Cry Author