(November 1983 newspaper article)
As I sit and read news articles or watch the news on television these days, I am amazed at how many events seem to be fulfillments of Bible prophecy. For instance, in Matthew 24, Jesus mentions several signs that will transpire on earth near the time of His return. He said in Matthew 24: 6-7: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
Now it is true that these things have occurred from time to time throughout the history of the human race. However, they have never occurred simultaneously and with such magnitude as they are today. This appears to be the evidence by which we may know that the coming of Christ is near. Jesus said in Matthew 24:33: “…when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Have you noticed that the events predicted by Jesus are occurring at the same time? This is why students of prophecy sincerely believe that the coming of Christ is near. The apocalyptic signs of war and rumors of war. I continue to be amazed at the number of news articles appearing every day which accurately reflect or fulfill the prophecies of the Bible. For instance, it was in Matthew 24:12 that Jesus said: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Iniquity plagues America. I read an article from the US News and World Report that once carried a special article entitled “Ripoffs – the New American Way of Life.” In it, they said, “Americans are waking up to the unsettling discovery that they are living in a ripoff society. Hardly a day passes without the disclosure of consumer fraud, political corruption, and tax cheating. Theft is booming. Supermarkets alone lose a billion dollars annually to shoplifters and pilfering employees.”
There are securities crimes, insurance frauds, oil company bribes, payoffs, campaign finance violations, and many, many other crimes raging across America. In this, it seems young people are at the helm. Stealing and violence have become a sport. From the rich, as well as the poor.
The real answer can be found in the wickedness of the human heart. It was Jeremiah who said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Every member of the human race is born with a depraved nature. We do not become sinners because we steal; we steal because we are sinners.
In Ecclesiastes 7:20, the Bible says,” For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
We need a new nature, the kind that can only be received when one is born again. America has become increasingly wicked over the past few generations because men, women, and children have refused to believe and obey the teachings of the Word of God. If only the American public would return to theism of the Bible. If only people could learn that there is a God before whom we must stand one day to give an account of the way we have lived. If only men, women, and children could be led to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There would be a transformation in the lives of Americans and around the world.
I also believe the degrading influence of Hollywood films, television, rock music lyrics, and dirty literature has all had their part in targeting the rising crescendo of wickedness. We live in an age of blood and sadism. Virtue is unrewarded, and vice is made attractive. The ultimate irony is that America, now drowned so long in sex, has begun to forget its meaning. Kinkiness is in. If you don’t think I am correct in saying that, listen to the new reports. This runs in all circles of society, the rich, the middle class, and even the poor. This has infiltrated the family by brainwashing all of them, right in their own living rooms.
The music industry must share in the blame for the depravity that exists within our nation. It too has had its place in producing immorality and degeneracy. Music, once said to be the way to soothe the savage beast. The greatest picture of this is in 1 Samuel 16:23: “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
Today is the opposite. Yes, music has the power to soothe, but in today’s music, it is proving to be much more violent and sexual. With this, we have had a rise in suicides and crimes of passion. If you look at the reports, you will see it has affected men, women, and children who are listening to violent and sexual music.
In Matthew 24:12, the Lord Jesus Christ presented another link in the chain of signs. He said: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Surely, every intelligent person knows that wickedness is the rage of the hour. There is nothing in the annals of history to equal the depravity of today’s society. Unless there is a revival within our own hearts and in our nation soon, we will collapse, for the psalmist wrote in Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Again, in Romans 2:11: “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
And Psalm 45 says that God loves righteousness and hates wickedness. God, who is holy, judges nations according to their morality. Proverbs 14:34 declares that “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Dear friends, wickedness floods the nation and the world. The pornographic capital of the world is no longer Denmark, but America. With more theaters now showing X-rated movies, more TV’s and computers available 24 hours every day. Every immoral act in every conceivable manner is portrayed on all the screens. Also, the printing industry has exploded with magazines picturing every debauched, debased, degraded, and depraved method of committing fornication, adultery, and homosexuality are sold in adult bookstores, numerous drugstores, many gas stations, and even in the airports. While ecologists fight environmental pollution, the churches of Jesus Christ twiddle their lethargic thumbs. Books by prostitutes have become best sellers, and this trash has captured the minds of millions of men, women, and, yes, even children. Have you seen the trash in the libraries, even school libraries?
Time is short, as in the days of Noah. But God promised not to flood the earth again. But with that said, I strongly believe a nuclear war is ahead, because the Bible predicts a fire of global proportions during the Tribulation. For instance, in Psalm 97:3 the Bible says: “… before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.”
In Isaiah 66:15, Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.”
In Ezekiel 20:47, the Bible records: “… the flaming flame shall not be quenched, …”
In Zephaniah 1:18, the Bible reads: “…the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: …”
In Malachi 4:1 the prophet wrote “…that shall burn as an oven; …”
In Revelation 8:7, the Scripture prophesies: “ … the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.”
And from Revelation 9:18, we learn: “By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone…”
Dear friends, the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction will fail to prevent nuclear war because Satan, the god of this world, is a mad, demented, diabolical demon. The devil is as a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour, and his insanity increases as the end of the age approaches.
The prophecies of Revelation 12:12 give this warning: “…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”
As we see the developments on every hand today, we realize that Jesus’ return is very near. There is only one escape. Jesus is the only answer. If you know Him as your personal Savior, then get busy and win as many people as you can to Christ, for the time is short. If you do not know Him as your personal Savior, pray and ask for salvation, for salvation is only a prayer of faith away.
The problems of our world are beyond us. Jesus alone holds the key to true happiness and peace. He alone can provide world peace. Mankind’s only hope lies in Him. I can understand how sinful people could be filled with fear. They ought to be fearful, but they don’t have to be. Jesus Christ holds the answer.
If you do not know Him as your personal Savior, or if you cannot say with assurance in your heart, “I am a believer and follow Jesus Christ, and I know He is my Savior! If I died today, I would go to heaven. If Christ came today, I would be called home.” If you cannot say that with assurance, then I encourage you to pray right now a simple prayer of repentance from your sin and ask for Salvation. Jesus stands ready to give you eternal life with Him.
To every man, woman, and child, Jesus is the only way to escape and exchange this earthly life for a heavenly future.
- Admit that you are a sinner (Roman 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
- Know that God has already provided for salvation (John 3:16) “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.”
- Know that you cannot save yourself (Titus 3:5) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, …”
- Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3) “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Ask Jesus Christ to save you (Romans 10:13) “ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” and (Acts 16:31) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,”
