Divide & Conquer

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”  Matthew 24:12

 

“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.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-5

 

Understand as this study begins that this is not speaking of everyone, note that the Bible says ‘many’ not all. 

 

There is a disease that started in this country some time ago.  I’ve spoken about it in the past, but the other day after hearing of some more problems, I thought about the horror of the way many people mistreat each other and was considering God’s Word, pondered a different angle, one that has to deal with end times events.

 

In a nutshell, most people should be able to understand that the love of many is already growing cold and this seems to be continuing to get worse as time goes on.  There is also a lot of unnatural affection, my mind always goes to the type of affection found via social media with a quick like, comment or emoji, but with no real substance many times.  In this there is affection and it is not traditional, therefore, can it be natural?

 

I had seen a study a few years back that young people, despite all of the technology and connections that they had with social media were actually more lonely than the ignored elderly who lived in nursing homes. 

 

There are families who simply hardly connect, neighbors often ignore their neighbors, without ever learning their names or barely any recognition that the other exists.  People can by and large be unfriendly in public settings, even when a small good gesture is done.  Friends often have forgotten about their friends and hardly communicate via the phone or in person.  For many, things are not the way they used to be and I have even heard of the old complaining that it happens to them with their elderly friends.

 

Just how this happened could be up for debate, I have some theories but assume it is multi-faceted.  Rather than blaming this or that for being the predominant factor, simply I am assured that the Bible prophesied that it would happen, it is happening and will continue to get worse.  However, has anyone ever stopped to ponder how this might align with the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), better known as the Tribulation.

 

Could it be that what we see going on will actually make things easier for the Antichrist world government system during those days?

 

“And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and put them to death.  And you will be hated by everyone on account of My name. But he who endures to the end will be kept safe.”  Matthew 10:21-22

 

Now this is not something that has not already happened in the past, as well as in places nowadays.  Should someone become converted in India, they might very well face this very scenario in today’s world, as well as in other places here and there.  In fact, those who truly follow Christ and keep His commandments are going to be hated by the world.

 

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  The Bible also says “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13).

 

During the Tribulation there are going to be numerous different things that will be happening that aligns with God’s just Judgment, as well as His mercy that is available to all.  A choice will have to be made by every individual who can make that choice (2 Thessalonians 2:11) and a dividing line will be drawn in the sand. 

 

Right now the enemy, Satan, is finishing up the sad fulfillment prophesied in the Bible:

 

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray”…  Revelation 12:9a  which correlates with the following regarding Israel:

 

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”  Jeremiah 8:20

 

A study of history will reveal that the divide and conquer has often been a tactic to facilitate major social and political changes throughout history, including modern history.  One can very easily sit back and see a culture war taking place in the United States and around the world between traditional conservative values and modern liberal values.  Enough said on that topic for now, a topic that will likely be addressed further in the future.

 

However, the Bible gives us a glimpse into the future attitudes of those who choose to deny God and go along with the throngs of the world, the Antichrist world government, during the Tribulation. 

 

“By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed; by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.  For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.  But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not do homage to demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which are not able to see nor hear nor walk.  And they did not repent of their murders nor their sorceries nor their sexual perversions nor their thefts.”  Revelation 9:18-21

 

“And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has authority over these plagues; and they did not repent to give Him glory.  And the fifth angel poured out his bowl onto the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.  And they blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.”  Revelation 16:9-11

 

A couple of things should be taken from the following passages of the Bible.  The first is that they did not repent.  What makes it even more amazing is that they acknowledge that it is God that ‘has authority over these plagues’ and they blaspheme His name.  In other words, they have made their choice, they chose to continue in their sinful ways, to follow the ways of the world, in align with Satan and the Antichrist world government system that will be thriving during those days.

 

Now consider with me briefly that during this timeframe there is going to be an edict that forces a choice to be made in regards to following God or not.  Rather, perhaps we could say that it is a choice between becoming a martyr of Christ, inheriting eternal life for those who accept the free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) or refusing to repent of one’s wickedness, despising good, while making a short term choice to have some of the things of this world, rather than Christ who died on the Cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). 

 

“And he leads astray those who dwell on the earth by means of those signs which he was granted to do in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  And it was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not do homage to the image of the beast to be killed.  And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, so that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”  Revelation 13:14-17

 

 

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not done homage to the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4

 

Here is the line in the sand:

 

“And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone does homage to the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His anger. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who do homage to the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.  Here is the perseverance of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”  Revelation 14:9-12

 

You see during those times, during the Tribulation, the division of the world will become a conquering (Revelation 13:7).  Neighbor will be against neighbor, family member against family member, government against citizen, you name it. 

 

Those who chose to repent towards God and by faith believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, thereby having their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27) will become martyrs for Him who died for them.  They will not love their lives unto death.

 

“And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and through the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death.”  Revelation 12:11

 

As what is presumed to be guillotines being used (however it might happen), as those who are captured or who willfully surrender are led away to death, these same people, family, friends, neighbors, government authorities, co-citizens, will be consenting to their deaths.

 

Now consider this, as you hear this show (or read this article) right now one can forsake all, repent and believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21; 17:30-31), serving Him.  You can still buy food, you can still hold a job, you can still have some family and friends who don’t necessarily forsake you.  You can still talk to your neighbor and tell them about Christ.  What about the future? 

 

If you will not take the time now to ponder these things, to consider the Gospel, to make an individual choice now to no longer serve sin, but to serve your Creator now, then how could one presume where the affliction is generally light (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared to when it is great?

 

“For then there will be great affliction, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”  Matthew 24:21

 

Amen!