End Times: How Close Are We?
We should not be confused about the occurrences going on around us. God's Word reminds, reveals, and admonishes us of what man has gone through, is going through, and will go through in this world. God's Word has, and is, all of the answers to the question. Why? Well, we are the ones we can hold responsible for man's impending doom. Sin is what set man's decay into motion.
We're all entitled to have an excessively high opinion of ourselves with an uncontrolled longing for an increase of material things: food, money, property, and sex. Right? Maybe add to that a desperate need for social values like status, and Power. I mean, Why not? Those emotions left unchecked will only become insatiable hungers which will make one do just about anything to fill its desire(s). Not bad talking emotion. Emotions aren't the problem. We were created to feel many things in many ways. Both negative and positive emotions can help one move forward in a positive non-abusive to others kind of way, or, if maladaptive and left unchecked, they can fuel some covert fires. You see, emotions mixed with bad experiences or some perceived provocation hurt or threat can turn anyone, group, entity, or government toward maliciousness. Maliciousness can turn a person, group of persons, even governments, into uncaring people willing to do anything to steal, kill, and destroy for their benefit.
It Never Had to Be this Way
"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come (Romans 5:14). You see God, "according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). He gave to Adam, and gives us everything we need within him.. Adam had one condition or rather commandment to follow. "God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17). We also have a commandment. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34). And therein lies the problems; disobedience and no love for one another.
I Don't know Exactly When the End Is. No One Does (Mark 13:32)
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people (2 Timothy 3:1-5). We don't have to die in sin, because God Made a Way.
God made A Way
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17) "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36)