Where We Stand Today

Over the last several generations, virtually every evangelical movement has believed that they were then in the “end times” immediately prior to the Parousia return of Christ Jesus.  Al­though we do not expect the actual Parousia return soon, we do anticipate in a few years a widening gap permitted by God.

During these “end times” from here on, we will see the gap between “being in Christ” and “being of the world”, continuously widen.  The “light” will get brighter, and the “dark” will get darker.  Ultimately, every person will be forced to choose between total commitment to Christ (and to His Body) or total commitment to worldliness, with no middle ground.  My guess is that the children of Christ will number only about one one-thousandth of those alive: note for example Gideon’s ratio – out of an unspecified millions of adult male Israelites, twenty thousand responded to the call, and only three hundred were chosen.

We specifically relate, to the present years and the immediate future, the following four Biblical prophecies concerning satan’s activities.  During these days of the widening gap, satan will:

(1)  Deceive God’s very elect if he can (Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22):

(2)  Go about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8):

(3)  Propagate deceitful spirits, doctrines of devils, among men (1 Timothy 4:1-3):

(4)  Propagate apostasy (“falling away”) among the church – God’s “called-out ones” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 13 & 4:3-4:

We do not directly link the “as in the days of Noah” prophecies, of Matthew 24:37-38 and Luke 17:26-27, to the immediately future years, since they are directly linked with Christ’s Parousia return.  However, there is no doubt that such conditions will increase from now on.

We repeat that God will allow Satan to do these things, primarily to force believers to become closely committed to Him and apart from the world.  Light is most attractive when all is darkest about.