Four Steps to the End

by PePeter T. Timminster

Numerous places in Scripture, both OT and NT,  tell us that even though we may not know exactly when the Rapture and the Tribulation will happen, we can still get a good idea of how near we are by events gaining speed and growing in intensity.  Nothing new in that, we have known this for over 2000 years.  My goal in this article is to show one of the indications from Scripture, Romans 1: 18-32, that points out how we are extremely close to hearing theArchangel blowing the Shofar to call us home and the beginning of the Tribulation. 

I believe these passages lay out an introduction, four types of events or conditions in sequence, and a culmination or conclusion. I see this as a long term plan that began before the reforming of Israel in 1948.  I also will show how the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24 is a shorter time period focusing on post 1948 events, and how these two passages complement each other.  I, like many, see Matthew 24: 4-8, and 36-51 as pre- Rapture, with vs. 9- 35 as post Rapture. The target audiences for these two prophecies are also different. 

Romans is intended for the church whereas the Olivet Discourse is targeted mainly toward the Jews. That does not mean that one group can’t discern the meaning behind the prophecy aimed at the other. These two prophecies compliment and augment each other and when viewed in this manner help us to get a better understanding of the nearness of the Rapture. The events of Romans 1: 18-32 are nearing completion, as I will point out below, and all one needs to do is watch the news to see that Matthew 24:4-8 is happening all around us. As these events have unfolded in sequence the subsequent event stems from and builds upon the prior with all continuing to occur and grow in strength.

Romans 1:18-20 serve as the introduction:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” 

In this passage God, thru Paul, is telling us that He has shown us all the proof we need for His existence, meaning all of creation, and because of that no one has an excuse. Verse 18 also points out to whom He is directing this against; those who hold the truth in unrighteousness or in other words, those willfully ignorant of Him.  This point is the set up for the first event type.

The first event type is found in verses 21-23: “ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” 

This actually began in earnest in 1859 when Darwin published On the Origin of Species. Darwin’s theory was not really anything new. What he did was take a number of different ideas from others and piece them together into a “logical” form.  As believers we know that even though it may be logical, it is still incorrect.  Today, mainstream science requires the belief in this false theory.  

It has become their religion and sacrifices the unbelievers. Those who don’t bow down to it are ostracized and find themselves on many occasions looking for other employment.  If you ever have an opportunity to talk with the adherents of this satanic idea and let them know you believe the Bible’s version of creation you are ridiculed as being ignorant, superstitious and uneducated, while they are to be believed because they happen to have half the alphabet after their name. 

The root cause of this is verse 21 and it leads directly to their superior attitude found in verse 22, the result of their rejection of God.  Verse 21 also points out that most of the early intellectuals that followed and advanced the ideas of evolution were in fact Christians, with many of them Biblical scholars; i.e. they knew God and not only did not glorify Him but in fact rejected Him. 

The result of verses 21 and 22 is verse 23, Darwinism.  The creation when initially made was without corruption because there was no sin.  Adam introduced corruption by way of original sin.  Darwinism teaches the opposite, that death (corruption) has been a part of the creation from the beginning. Darwinism replaces God with the ideas of Man, as foretold in verse 23. Darwinism’s true main purpose, as designed by Satan, is to deny God’s existence and to remove Him from creation.  If God doesn’t exist then He could not have created us. If that is true then Darwinism teaches us we are in fact gods ourselves.This leads directly to the second event type as laid out in verses 24 and 25:

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” 

Since in their warped views God doesn’t exist then there are no moral absolutes except those the individual places on himself. Morality becomes relative, especially sexual morality. Since the late 1940s the divorce rates have skyrocketed. So has marital infidelity, sexual promiscuity, children born out of wedlock, occurrences of STDs, etc, etc, etc. This moral collapse is exactly what verse 24 is pointing to. Stemming directly from this is the modern equivalent of the ancient Canaanite practice of passing their children thru the fire to Molech; abortion. 

We also see today many who profess to be Christians that not only condone this abomination, but actually encourage it in the name of “choice.” This breakdown in the moral code is exactly what Satan wants and encourages. It allows him to worm his way in slowly and stealthily. Since there are no moral absolutes it frees the individual to do whatever they think is right at that time. Talk about a wide, easy path to follow!  I spent over 27 years in the US Army and I don’t like being told what to do as much as the next guy.

However, I do know that without a clear cut chain of command and clear and concise orders you have a recipe for failure. That is what Satan is striving for since that means the adherents of this philosophy will default to him. Verse 25 refers back to and ties this to the prior event type of removing God from our lives. It also points to the growth and expansion of the first event because of the second.  Basically, they feed on each other and expand concurrently.

The third event type follows hard on the heels of the second and is found in verses 26 thru 28:

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