Heartlessness and The End Times

By Ron and Nathele Graham

Ron Graham was called home on March 14, 2013. He began writing this commentary before his death and had asked me, Nathele Graham, to continue his service to our Lord by finishing what he began.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mathew 24:12).

Some of the disciples had asked Jesus about when the end of the world would be and this is one of the signs given to them. “…Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3b).

They were asking about Jesus’ Second Coming and the end of the “aiōn”, which means a period of time or age. They weren’t asking about the Rapture and Jesus’ answer was pointed toward a time known as Daniel’s 70^th week, which is a seven-year time period sometime after the Rapture. Interestingly we can already see this prophecy coming to pass. Jesus told His disciples that this period of time will be unprecedented in human history and that men’s hearts will turn toward so much evil that love shall wax cold.

Paul also wrote to Timothy about the heartless mindset of people in the last days.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

Paul’s words are becoming reality as we see people are becoming more and more heartless. News headlines are filled with cold hearted murders and torture. People’s hearts are growing colder each day and it seems that hatred abounds in every sector of our society. Where will it end? It will end in judgment.

As Daniel’s 70^th week draws near Christians will undoubtedly be victims of much heartless behavior. This hatred is inspired by Satan and his minions; he hates Christians because we represent Christ. Long ago there was a young man who hated Christians and did all he could to destroy them. His name was Saul. He obtained orders to persecute Christians and hauled them off to jail and worse. One day as he was off to Damascus to cause more havoc amongst the Christians, Saul met Jesus. A light from heaven shined all around him:

“And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4).

Saul was more than a little confused “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5).

Saul thought he was going after Christians but in reality he was persecuting Jesus. This encounter left a lasting impression on Saul. That day he met Jesus and his life was changed. He began working for Jesus rather than against Him. We know him better as the apostle Paul. As time draws short, Christians are again feeling Satan-inspired hatred. Many Christians today are being tortured and killed because of their faith, but it is Satan’s hatred for Jesus that is behind this evil.

Hatred, bloodshed, and death have been around since Cain killed Abel. World wars and more have put multitudes of folks in graves, but what’s coming is far worse than anything previously seen on earth. One day Christians will be raptured and the Restrainer will be taken out of the way.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

The Greek word “katechō” is translated “letteth” and means “to restrain, hinder – that which hinders Antichrist from making his appearance.” Once the Ekklesia is raptured the evil forces of Satan will not be restrained. There will be no let up of blood being spilled as most humans will be open to serving Satan. This is the scenario of the last seven years before Christ’s Second Coming. Paul said the “mystery of iniquity” was already at work when he wrote to the Thessalonians. We are even closer to Daniel’s 70^th week and can see evil permeating our world. It will only get worse.

There are many indicators exploding on the scene that prove we are in the end times but this lack of love is certainly one of the most frightening. Why isn’t more being said about it? How many sermons are being preached about prophecy and the fact that it is being fulfilled daily? Are preachers scoffers who don’t really believe prophecy? “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

I suspect that very few preachers want to jump into prophecy because they don’t want to be alarmists. We are much closer to the end of time than Peter was and things are worse so it would be a good thing for Christians to be alarmed. Maybe that would spur the lukewarm Christian to action. There are scoffers, but that should not stop us from looking at prophecy and being aware of its fulfillment. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all spoke about the end times. We have been in the last days since Jesus ascended to heaven, but the birth pains are getting closer. Heartlessness is growing.

read more at Rapture Ready:

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/g330.html