They Will Not Endure

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, desiring to hear pleasant things, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4

 

“All Scripture is breathed by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

“For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.”  Matthew 5:18

 

The year is 2021 and we now live in a world where apostasy is full blown.  This apostasy was prophesized in Bible and is yet another prophecy being fulfilled that points to our world being in the last days.

 

Back in the 1990’s there was a lot of talk amongst more fundamental Believers about the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Antichrist, a one-world currency, the mark of the beast and numerous other things.  This was not just limited to the fundamental Baptist, but there were other denominations that preached and talked about these subjects. 

 

Numerous books were written by extremely popular authors who seemed to use some liberty to describe the events in the way they assumed they would take place.  While I haven’t read these books myself, I have seen a couple of movies regarding the events of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation or the Great Tribulation. 

 

On one hand they seem to underestimate the seriousness of the situation, things will eventually during that time get much worse than they portray.

 

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be kept safe alive; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”  Matthew 24:22

 

On the other hand they seemingly portray the events in a manner that the Bible doesn’t clearly stipulate.  Certainly, as will be seen in the chapter entitled The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, there are many things that can be known, some things where we simply won’t know and other things where the Word of God is simply silent.  Should we add or minus from these things?

 

“For I testify to everyone who hears the Words of the Prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add upon him the plagues that are written in this Book;  and if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book.”  Revelation 22:18-19

 

Clearly the answer is ‘no’. 

 

Yet now we are in the year 2021 and for those who have ‘eyes to see’ and ‘ears to hear’ we can see that these things are much closer to being fulfilled, but the churches are nearly silent on the issue.  In fact talking about such things has become taboo.  Why?

 

Well there are many reasons that seem to be the cause of this dilemma.  Let me try an address a few of them. 

 

Amongst many independent fundamental Baptist there is only brief mention of these sort of topics.  In my experience, if you make mention of these things a quick reply will be that our focus is to be on the Great Commission and to not worry about these things.  For some independent fundamental Baptist Churches that do not have a background in having discussed these things in the generation past, they simply are uncertain on what the truth of such things as the Rapture being pretrib or post-trib, so they tend to simply ignore those, saying that there are some who believe one thing and some who believe another.  For those the answer is simple:

 

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”  Philippians 2:1-2

 

“I do not pray concerning these alone, but also concerning those who will believe into Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”  John 17:20-21

 

For those Churches who are uncertain about such things, I would recommend that the elders and mature brethren search the Holy Scriptures and come to a sound conclusion, to be certain what God Almighty has spoken.

 

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things are so.”  Acts 17:11

 

For the others, I wholeheartedly agree that the primary focus of the Church, as a servant of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is to preach the Gospel to all men that they might be Saved.

 

“And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”  Mark 16:15

 

Yet from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we know that ALL scripture is profitable.  So wherein is the logic?  Bear with me a moment as I lay out a simple example of what I believe is a bit of hypocrisy regarding this issue.

 

All Will Stand is not an end-times ministry, though it is a ministry being done in the end times and oftentimes such things are talked about, as the Lord leads.  Yet the primary goal is the same, to preach the Gospel to anyone who is willing to hear. 

 

In nearly every article or perhaps every article that has ever been laid on my heart to write about, the Gospel is preached.  People are told to repent towards God and by faith believe into the Lord Jesus Christ to be Saved.  Truly something that many churches, even fundamental churches can not seem to get right…as they refuse to acknowledge or forget about the repentance portion. 

 

In lowliness of heart, I can proclaim that indeed All Will Stand has articles and radio shows that preach more Gospel than many churches would preach, whether or not they talk about end-time events or not.  As I said, bear with me a moment…

 

Clearly Genesis chapter 1 teaches that God Created the heavens and the earth, including mankind within six 24-hour days.  Just as well, Genesis clearly teaches that there was a worldwide Flood in which only Noah, his three sons and all of their wives were saved from, eight souls in all (1 Pet. 3:20).  Now associated with these things are ministries that focus on using the profitable Holy Scriptures to rebuke ideas, such as evolution, that try and turn the Truth of God into a lie.  Are they not part of the work that God has being done in order that mankind might accept His free gift (John 3:16)?

 

“And there are different distributions of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are different distributions of works, but it is the same God who works each and every work.  But the manifestation is given through the Spirit to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another a word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another works of power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another tongues of nationalities, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all immersed into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.  For also the body is not one member but many.  If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He intended.”  1^st Corinthians 12:5-18

 

There are many great ministries, like the Institution for Creation Research that provide ample material for both non-believers and Believers alike to see that God’s Word is indeed truth and can be trusted.  In fact there are numerous testimonies of people who were professors at universities or scientists, formerly atheists, who have become Believers through studying such information.  We have some of their material in our own home and some is written on a level that is easy to understand, but some also is written on a level where someone who is of the more intellect sort would also be able to read.  Now have you ever heard of fundamental churches criticizing such things as Creation research being taboo?  Of course not.  So why the double-standard in that issue?

 

Finally let me address how this lack of interest is actually a sign that we are even closer than we were before.  For back when there was all of this interest going into the early 2000’s, if one where to sit back and think about that, right there could easily have been a sign that the ‘time’ wasn’t quite yet.

 

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation.  For of this they are willfully ignorant: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.  But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  But, beloved, do not be unaware of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with intense burning; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, of what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness, looking for and earnestly hastening unto the coming of the Day of God, through which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements will melt with intense burning?  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”  2^nd Peter 3:1-13

 

We as part of the body of Christ must be careful not to be carried away with the majority and fall into error ourselves.  For certainly there were a lot of people who got carried away with the exact year of 2000 being a perceived starting point (Hosea 6:2), as well as many who thought of 2005 as the start of the Tribulation (thinking of the 2012 so-called end of the world Mayan calendar and minus seven years), well obviously both of these groups were wrong. 

 

Of course there are many people out there who have said that we were in the Tribulation, in fact I knew of one who thought we were in the Tribulation (despite the fact that the Rapture hadn’t happened).  I would add the over stimulation of the entertainment industry has probably added to talking about the events of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) seemingly more like Hollywood fiction than the reality that it will be. 

 

The focus of every Believer or Church is to be focused on Christ.  For we are Christ’s (Eph. 5:27).

 

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

 

Just as a godly pastor will have laid on his heart what to preach, so too there are times that a Christian will have the Holy Spirit lay on their heart to speak to someone about Christ.  Nonetheless, of what value is it to preach to those who are unsaved about the Rapture or the Tribulation?

 

Well, the opening verses states:

 

“All Scripture is breathed by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

Note that all Scripture is profitable that the man of God may be complete.  Those who are unsaved do not just need to hear about such things, they also need the Gospel preached to them.  When articles are written for the website, irregardless of what the topic may be, in nearly every instance the Gospel message is preached, for this is our duty to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

“Go therefore and instruct all the nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”  Matthew 28:19-20

 

Until the end of the age, that is the Church age (Rev. 4:1), we are to preach the Gospel, that men might be Saved.  Nevertheless we should not shy away from talking about the entire Word of God or neglect preaching about these things just because of naysayers. 

 

To speak of these things, to tell those who might be interested what Truths are known regarding the end times is of no value if we do not also preach repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).  For what value would it be to tell a man who questions if we are in the end times (many do), but not explain why these things will come to pass, as well as point them towards Christ?

 

“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank out of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for they were scattered in the wilderness.  Now these things became examples for us, so that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  Neither become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them prostituted, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us test Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  1^st Corinthians 10:1-11

 

Without some good preaching on end times subjects, the world has hatched many different interpretations of what is going to take place in the future.  Of what value is it when there are even independent fundamental Baptist Churches that do not know whether or not the Rapture will happen before or after “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7)?  Of what value is it when people turn to the internet to ‘look into’ these things that they never hear from the pulpit?  Where shall those who are interested, as many are, turn to in order to hear the Truth of the matter from the Bible?

 

Just as a Believer or a pastor should be equipped to at least point someone in the direction of reliable Christian teachings regarding the hoax of evolution verses the reality of God’s Creation, so too these things should be able to be answered, whether or not you do the answering yourself.  People should flock to biblical Churches across the world in order to hear the Word of God and be Saved, then growing thereafter, not for just what is presumed to be a ‘free ticket to Heaven’.   

 

Now there may well be many who read these things and simply desire to learn more and take tidbits, but have no interest in repenting and accepting the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ.  They might very well even proclaim to be Saved, yet do not realize or have hardened their hearts and are still unregenerate.  To them, of what value is it if you are not really Saved to understand these things?

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning, but never able to come to the full true knowledge of the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:1-7

 

For those who only read such things, just of pure interest with no intent to repent of their sins, but they simply are fascinated and wait to see these things come to pass…

 

“Woe to those who desire the day of Jehovah! Of what good is this to you? The day of Jehovah is darkness, and not light.  It is as if a man fled before a lion, and a bear met him. Or he goes into the house and leans his hand against the wall, and a snake bites him.  Is not the day of Jehovah darkness, and not light; even very dark, and not any brightness in it?”  Amos 5:18-20

 

Amen!