The signs of the times tell us that the Lord is coming back soon. The Second Coming is truly the culmination of our faith. Angels (Acts 1:10-11), the Apostle Paul (1 Thess. 4:16-17), and Jesus Himself (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20) bear witness to the Lord’s return.

Paul said that before Jesus returns, He who restrains will no longer restrain (2 Thess. 2:6-7). The Holy Spirit has been restraining evil, but as we are approaching the end of this age, the Holy Spirit is taking His hands off and allowing the chaos of Satan to abound more and more. The evidence of this is everywhere…

First, we saw prayer taken out of schools. Now, the 10 Commandments have been removed from Government and Judicial Buildings. The sacred institute of marriage is being destroyed by divorce and the legalization of homosexual marriages. Today’s society has adopted the Nike slogan of, “Just Do It” regardless of the consequences. A civilization that builds its foundation on anything but God will reap lawlessness.

Our culture has become lawless: pleasure seeking, rebellious, materialistic, and full of demonic pride. “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Daniel’s end-times prophecy of the increase of knowledge and travel has come to pass (Dan. 12:4). Technology has advanced and frequent flier miles have piled up, but have we really come that far? Stress and busyness occupy us as we attempt to “make ends meet.”
Many main line churches today are about scratching people’s backs; trying not to offend anyone with the truth. They emphasize that you can achieve wealth, but they exclude some of the important Biblical foundations of our faith.

We have seen some of our teachers, who are considered heroes of the faith, compromising. When being interviewed by secular media and asked, “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?” they give an answer like, “I don’t want to exclude anyone.” The Bible warns against this type of thing in 2 Peter 2:1, saying “there will also be false teachers among you… even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

We need to cultivate an awareness of His return and become proactive. We must stay in a state of expectation; remaining vigilant and avoiding complacency and compromise, which are snares of the enemy. As we focus on His return and fix our hope on Him, we will purify ourselves, just as He is pure.