Will violence continue to increase until Jesus comes?

For those whose eyes are open to the reality of what is taking place in our world, it is evident that we are witnessing an alarming trend toward an increase in brutal acts of violence. No area of life is immune from this disturbing trend. Violence is on the rise in our homes, workplaces, schools, communities, nation, and world. As we witness these acts of violence as they are reported on our daily news, some are asking if this is a passing tide of wickedness that will eventually subside, or will it only continue to increase until Jesus comes to establish His kingdom of peace upon this earth at the end of the Tribulation Period? The Bible does give us the answer to this question.

 

While answering the question of His disciples about the signs of His coming, Jesus warned them that the last days would be “as the days of Noahwere.”(Matthew 24:37) According to Genesis 6, the society of Noah’s day had departed from the Lord. Consequently, the Holy Spirit would “not always strive” with them. (Genesis 6:3) This means the people of Noah’s day had consistently resisted God and refused to respect Him. Therefore, He gave up on them, and allowed them to live with depraved minds that were void of His truth. With this absence of truth, they were not able to reason. They lived and acted in a way that appeared to be crazy, foolish, or mad. (Romans 1:18-22) This society had ignored its God-given conscience to the point that it was no longer functioning, as if it had been “seared with a hot iron.” (compare with 1 Timothy 4:2) In essence, Noah lived in a society that was self-destructing because the culture had effectively silenced their collective conscience. There were many spiritually wicked “giants”[spiritual giants for Satan], who were controlled by demons, and lived lives of total immorality, accompanied by violence. (Genesis 6:4-13) Carefully read God’s observation of that society, which was ripe for a supernatural visitation of His wrathful judgment. “The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”(Genesis 6:11-13)

 

Without question, our world is becoming more like the days of Noah with each passing day! Each day our world moves a little further away from God and His Word. Each day brings more immorality and violence. In 2 Timothy 3:1, the Bible warns, “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.”In the following verses, the Bible reveals that in the last days people who have a “form of godliness”will have no love or respect for human beings. They will be filled with brutal violence, and an unforgiving hatred. (2 Timothy 3:2-8; compare Romans 1:24-32) Furthermore, it is most important to observe that the original Greek word that is translated “perilous times” is found only one other time in the New Testament. In Matthew 8:28, this same word is translated “exceeding fierce,”describing the brutal violence of a man who was possessed by many demons. When one compares the revelation about the violence that will permeate the culture of the last days in 2 Timothy 3 with Genesis 6, it is very apparent that the Bible is revealing that the brutal violence and shameless immorality of the last days will be influenced or controlled by demons.

 

While we cannot and should not conclude that everyone who is filled with hate, violence, and immorality is demon possessed, we can and should conclude they are, in some way, being influenced by demons in their godless society! It is very revealing to note that the demon-possessed man in Luke 8:26-39 (see also Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-20) was violent toward innocent people just passing by his location. He was physically self-destructive and cutting himself (self-inflicted-pain). He was shamelessly nude, and comfortable living in the presence of death among the dead in the tombs. He was acting in such a way that he appeared to be mentally deranged. Note that after Jesus cast the demons out of him, it is reported that he was “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.”(Luke 8:35) Therefore, it is obvious that the actions of this man were caused by the demons that possessed him.

 

What restrains a person from carrying out evil thoughts that go through his mind? Only the Bible gives us this answer! God has given to each person a conscience, impressing upon their inner spirit what is right and wrong. (Romans 1:18-19) Everyone is born with a conscience that in some basic way communicates with the inner man right from wrong. He knows right from wrong because of his conscience. Romans 2:15 teaches that even the unsaved have the moral law of God “written in their hearts [mind], their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.”

 

The conscience should be viewed as a God-given spiritual warning system within man that instructs him to follow what is godly and right, so as to not self-destruct. With each thought or action, our conscience either accuses us, telling us it is wrong, or excuses us, telling us it is good. The Bible warns us that “the wages of sin is death.”(Romans 6:23)“For to be carnally minded [to follow the evil, sin-nature within us] is death; but to be spiritually minded[to follow the conscience, built up by the Word of God] is life and peace.”(Romans 8:6)

 

The Apostle Paul testified that he exercised himself “to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.”(Acts 24:16) Adam’s conscience was originally programed to function based upon the holy character and laws of God. However, after the fall of man the conscience was defiled. Consequently, people are not born with a perfect conscience. The conscience of every sinner must be built up, strengthened, and exercised on a daily basis. We must inform our minds, by examining the Word of God, who God is and what He says is right and wrong! When we do this, our conscience will more frequently and powerfully warn us of our own personal sin and the sin of others around us. This is what we call conviction, guilt, and shame! This is spiritually healthy, promoting a strong conscience that leads to holy living and pleasing God.

 

We cannot rely upon our ability, or someone else’s ability to reason what is right and wrong. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Speaking to the nation of Israel long ago, our Lord revealed to them His holiness and gave them His moral law. With this written revelation as their guide, He declared, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life.”(Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

 

Because God does not change, His moral laws of right and wrong never change! (Malachi 3:5-6) Sin is always offensive to a holy God. The moral laws of God may be old, but they are never out of date with God!

 

When people say no to their conscience and attempt to silence it, they weaken it. (1 Corinthians 8:7) They ignore God and His Word; their conscience grows weaker and weaker, gradually leading them to a point of self-destruction, opening the invitation for demons to move in and take control to promote Satan’s hellish agenda.

 

Those who travel down this path of self-destruction, resisting God and ignoring their conscience, feel safe and normal as they move deeper and deeper into spiritual darkness. Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”(John 3:19-21) It is the natural and normal sinful tendency for all of us to resist God. In this sinful foolishness, we reject His revelation (light) about Himself and His holy commandments and laws. It is natural and normal to resist our conscience that is telling us sin is wrong. We then, proceed down a path of self-love to please ourselves because we have been deceived into believing that what we are looking for is not found in God, but in the pleasure, power, popularity, and prestige offered by a lifestyle that is wrapped up in a world system that ends in despair, distress, depression, destruction, and death.

 

Those who commit the ultimate act of violence, murder, have one thing in common. They do not wake up one morning and decide to go out and violently kill innocent people. They said “no” to their conscience long before they murder a person created in the image of God. They have consistently resisted the God of the Bible and His moral laws. They have rejected the light of God and filled their minds with an acceptance of rebellion and violence that is constantly promoted by the music and entertainment industry in their culture. This culture has captured the minds and souls of this youthful generation.

 

The Islamic terrorists in the Middle East have rejected the revelation of the God of the Bible and have replaced it with an Islamic system that promotes hatred of all non-Muslims. They excuse their consciences so there is no shame or remorse for killing innocent people. In their deception, they actually believe, as they have been taught, that they are doing the will of Allah, their god. Long ago, Jesus warned His Jewish disciples about this kind of hatred. He told them, “the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2)

 

Violence, hatred, intimidation, vengeance, persecution, and murder are not God’s way! Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle provides us with the God-given path of life and godliness. Read Matthew 5:1-12. After hours of both verbal and physical abuse at the hands of the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, Jesus did not lash out at them or threaten revenge upon them, but instead prayed, “Father, forgive them,; for they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:34) This is God’s way for those who follow Him! The message of the Bible is loud and clear! All those who are filled with hate, violence, and murder are acting like their spiritual father, Satan. (1 John 3:7-15)

 

As more and more people depart from the light of God, His revealed nature, and His laws recorded in the Bible, we will witness increased hatred and violence on a global level. This departure from the Word of God is taking place even in traditional conservative evangelical circles! 1 Timothy 4:1-2 is being fulfilled TODAY: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of [demons]; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron …”

 

When the true church is physically removed from this earth in the Rapture, violence will abruptly move to an unprecedented hellish level. The Holy Spirit’s restraining influence is deposited in the body of Christ, as the salt and light (moral restraining influence) of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16) As the professing church gradually departs from truth (2 Thessalonians 2:3), we are simultaneously witnessing the gradual withdrawal of the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence through the church in our world. When the lifestyles of believers are the same as those in the world, the church has ceased to be salt and light. This is producing and promoting the growing climate of hatred, violence, and immorality that we are witnessing on a global scale at this hour!

 

When the true remnant of believers in Jesus Christ have been raptured, the remaining restraining influence of the Holy Spirit will suddenly depart with the church. Then, the lawless one, the Antichrist, will be revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) Jesus has warned us that the following period, known as the Tribulation, will be a time of hatred, violence, and wars and rumors of wars. The Tribulation will be a time of great carnage with a total breakdown of all submission to the authority of God invested in the home and human government. (Matthew 24:6-13; Luke 21:9; Revelation 6:1-8)

 

The only hope and peace for this world is found in the return of the King of Kings to establish His kingdom of peace upon this earth for 1,000 years. (Isaiah 2:1-4) Peace will reign upon all the earth. Speaking to Israel, the Lord has promised: “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy boarders; but thou shall call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.”(Isaiah 60:18) The historical future of the world for 1,000 years will never experience any military conflicts. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”(Isaiah 2:4) Until this kingdom comes, violence will increase at an unprecedented level.

 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”(Revelation 22:20)“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”(Matthew 6:10)

 

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