2 Timothy 3:1

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Introduction:

I have been hearing these words for so long. Ever since I was a boy. The last days, meaning the time before the world ends, will be categorized by perilous times. There will be wars and uprisings. Conflicts of all kinds. This will not be isolated, but will be widespread. It will affect not just communities, but nations. Men will be gripped by fear and face great uncertainty about their well being and their future. The social order that men had become comfortable in, the institutions in whom men have placed their trust and upon whom they have built their lives, will begin to fail them. Something is happening in our world. No one can deny that the very fabric of society is in upheaval. Today, there is not a part of the world that is not touched by some conflict, uprising or financial insecurity. None has escaped it.

What is of even greater interest though, is the recent trends in which movements of people have been rising up in revolution and expressing their discontent with their governments and rulers.

It Started in Tunisia

Twenty-six year old Mohamed Bouazizi had been the sole income earner in his extended family of eight. He operated a purportedly unlicensed vegetable cart for seven years in Sidi Bouzid 190 miles (300 km) south of Tunis. On 17 December 2010 a policewoman confiscated his cart and produce. Bouazizi, who had such an event happen to him before, tried to pay the 10-dinar fine (a day’s wages, equivalent to 7USD). In response the policewoman slapped him, spat in his face, and insulted his deceased father. A humiliated Bouazizi then went to the provincial headquarters in an attempt to complain to local municipality officials. He was refused an audience. Without alerting his family, at 11:30 am and within an hour of the initial confrontation, Bouazizi returned to the headquarters, doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. Public outrage quickly grew over the incident, leading to protests.This immolation and the subsequent heavy-handed response by the police to peaceful marchers caused riots the next day in Sidi Bouzid that went largely unnoticed, although social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube featured images of police dispersing youths who attacked shop windows and damaged cars. Bouazizi was subsequently transferred to a hospital near Tunis. In an attempt to quell the unrest President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali visited Bouazizi in hospital on 28 December 2010. Bouazizi died on 4 January 2011. (source: Tunisian Revolution Wikipedia)

This event was actually isolated, but because of the existence of Social Media websites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, the word quickly spread around the world of what had happened in Tunisia. After Tunisia, similar protests began in other middle eastern countries. Egypt, Syria and Libia just to name a few. Waves of people rising up with one voice and loudly proclaiming their discontent with the way they had been ruled and governed. The rest of the world looked on, somewhat indifferently because it was happening in the middle east. “They’re has always been unrest in the middle east.” Some would say. So today is no different. Western governments and their allies weighed in on the discussion, primarily because they saw an opportunity to get rid of hostile regimes that they saw as hindrances to their purposes, and to replace them with individuals that were more sympathetic to western interests. But still, it was a middle eastern issue. So most did not pay it much attention.

From the Middle East to The World

We then heard of uprisings and movements beginning to appear in Europe. All with the same theme discontent with the way the various establishments have governed the people. Greece was hard hit with violent protests. The government of Greece, desperately trying to avoid going into default, had made certain changes to it’s social programs. This created a difficult situation in the lives of many citizens, who responded by rising up in protest. Spain also saw movements of people demanding change. Then we saw riots in England, of people protesting inequality of treatment and racism. It seemed as though something was behind the scenes causing the populations of countries to rise up. Discontentment was the main theme and people were tired of living the way they were.

Occupy Wall Street

While all of this was going on in the rest of the world, the Western Hemisphere was largely untouched. That is until the Occupy Wall Street movement. My wife first brought the Occupy Wall Street movement to my attention when 700 of the protesters were arrested after the movement blocked traffic on the Brooklyn bridge. I remember thinking at the time, it was strange that such a large group had come together. Then I did some searching, and realized that the movement was quite large, and they were protesting “discontent” at the financial institutions on Wall Street who were responsible for the United States being in it’s current financial situation. As I continued to read up on the movement, it was hard for me not to see the similarities between this movement, and the rest of the movements I’ve just mentioned. Prior to this, the rest of the world was looking on at what was going on in the Middle East, but now the same thing had come to America.

The wave of discontent had made it’s way across the seas, and had reached the shores of the western world. There was an “uprising” in America. Individuals crying out for change, something different, fairness, equality, equity. They were tired of what they have been given so far, and were demanding change. Just like the other movements this one has continued to grow. Despite little coverage by the corporate media, and negative comments and resistance from those apposed to it, the movement has continued to grow. Utilizing various social media and other resources, they have continued to spread their message of a demand for change. One cannot deny that this movement is very similar to the others. What the end will be is uncertain. What the outcome will be, no one can tell. But for now it is safe to say that the voice of the population has risen up, just as in other parts of the world. Take a look at some images of these protests around the world, and even by the images you will see the similarities. Images include protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Libia, Syria, England, Greece, India and Occupy Wall Street.

For some of the images, you can hardly tell the difference.

My Personal Conviction

I believe with all my heart, that the Lord Jesus Christ is sovereign. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that happens in this world that is not according to His sovereign will and purpose. God has already told us that these times were coming, and now they are here. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that these uprisings all over the world are setting the stage for what is to come. The world has a whole has lost faith in it’s institutions, in it’s governments, in it’s financial organizations. The world has a whole has realized that their civilization, the order of things is breaking down. It is failing. This will cause them to look for, cry out for a solution. Or a person who has a solution. No they will not turn to God. They will not turn to the one who is the truth, the light and the way. They will turn to another who presents himself as the great problem solver. Who will enter the stage when all hope seems lost, and in a very charismatic way unite the world.

You have to admit that right now the entire world is in turmoil. The entire world is gripped by a spirit of discontent. There is so much uncertainty. Everyone is looking for something, someone to rescue the world from it’s spiraling decline. This is the stage onto which the man of sin will step. The one the bible refers to as the Antichrist. It is he who would come onto the scene and seem to solve all of the world’s problems.

It is my belief that the situation will not improve, the times will not get better. The discontentment will continue to spread. The uncertainty will continue to grow. The violence, wars, disease, crime, immorality and so on will continue to increase and multiply. I believe that the world will reject the Gospel, and would embrace this individual when he comes on the scene. They will flock to him as the savior of the world. He will win the world over with his charisma and power. He will do miraculous things before the world, that will cause all men to literally worship him. I believe this because the Lord Jesus said these things will abound in the last days. The scriptures in other places also say the same things.

2 Thessalonians 2

5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Look Up.

You have heard me say it before that when we see the signs of the times coming to pass, if we have trusted in Christ Jesus we should not be gripped with fear but a sense of great expectancy. Christ told us that these perilous things will precede His coming. So if the perilous times be fulfilled, then His coming shall also be fulfilled.

Luke 21:28

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

So we as children of God should not be discouraged, but encouraged. Our hearts should not be failing us for fear like the rest of the world, but our hearts should be full of faith in the words of Jesus as we look towards his coming. We should not get caught up in the worlds struggles either, for we are in the world but not of the world. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual and mighty through God.

These uprisings in the world are but the beginning of things yet to come. We who have trusted in the Lord and are looking towards His return, should take note of them, but we should not be distracted by them. We should stay focused on what God has commissioned us to do. We are to continue diligently in proclaiming the good news to those who would receive Christ unto salvation. We should continue to live lives of faith and unwavering trust in the God who has promised to be with us always even unto the end of the age.