What did Jesus say
would be the condition of the world just prior to His coming?
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall
it be also in the days of the Son of man." Luke 17:26. (See also
Luke 17:27-30, and Matthew
24:37-39.)
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually." Genesis 6:5.
"The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled
with violence." Genesis 6:11.
According to the
parable of the wheat and tares, how long do the good and bad remain
together?
"The field is the world; the good seed are
the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked
one. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of
the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matthew
13:38,39.
"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and
bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my
barn." Matthew 13:30.
Did Christ tell us
that worldwide preaching of the gospel would result in world conversion?
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come." Matthew 24:14.
How did Paul
describe the last days?
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come." 2 Timothy 3:1.
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13.
How does Scripture
describe the state of international affairs?
"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the
mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your
plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak
say, I am strong." Joel 3:9,10.
What statement by
Jeremiah about conditions in his day equally applies to our own time?
"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people
slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."
Jeremiah 6:14.
Will talking about
world peace create a false security?
"Knowing this first, that
there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own
lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of the creation." 2 Peter 3:3,4.
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as
a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4.
What warning to
Isaiah to the faithful in his day should also be the Christian's reaction
to last-day conditions?
"Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall
say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid."
Isaiah 8:12. (See 1 Peter 3:14.)
"And when these things begin to come to pass,
then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth
nigh." Luke 21:28.