Living in the last days

Proverbs 24:24-25

“Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.  But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.”

The prophet Isaiah spoke about such people in Isaiah 5:20-21, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”

When someone makes the statement, “We are living in the last days” it is my understanding that is one hundred percent correct.  May I explain why, on the cross, as Jesus was about to die, His last words to us were; “It is finished.”  What was finished He conquered death, sin, the grave, but also all that was written about Him in the prophets and in the Law of Moses had come to pass. 

Do you recall in Acts of the Apostles we find these encouraging words from two angels; “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  He is no longer on a cross, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, and He is a promise keeper, He is coming back!

A quote from our lesson last week in adult Bible Study from Hebrews 8:1, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”  “Do you know what Jesus is sitting at God’s right-hand means for us?  It means His mission is complete.  His work is finished.  There is nothing left undone.  He has offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins.  There is nothing we have to pay, no wrath we have to bear.  If we are united in Christ, nothing can take our complete forgiveness away from us.  Nothing can stop God’s project to transform us more and more into the image of our Savior.”  (Author unknown)

So as you explore the Revelation to John, you will see we are in such a time for Jesus’ soon return, but it has been that way for many years.  I’m sure you have noticed that the world is not improving, never have we in the United States of America seen such evil.  And you have seen it from the leadership, from the President down not all but in my life beginning with Nixon, many have become evil men who call good bad and encourage evil.  If I started to list names, it would do no good for many people, both male and female have allowed money and power to make them into tools of the devil.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice