This Is The Last Hour

Do you ever just shake your head and wonder what in the world is going on? How did things get so bad? Is there any hope? We know that we are living in scary times when even our families, friends, and are churches can no longer provide a safe haven. What does this suggest about the future of humanity? The well informed Christian should not be caught off guard when living in these times. Jesus Christ warned us that in times of tribulation, violence and hatred would intensify as sin increased, He even warned about the false prophets who, through deception, would lead many people away from God as their love for God would grow cold. So when all of this is governing our world, why do so many Christians act surprised? John warns us, this is “the last hour.” The first century Christians lived in these times and so do we. The last hour is referring to a time between Christ’s first and second coming. It’s as if God has put His hand on the door knob and is just getting ready to turn it and welcome His family home. Just before that Heavenly door opens, He looks down from Heaven and see this, 2 Timothy 3:1-7 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
There is no question that we are living in extreme days and that is why with great urgency John writes, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” It is important to know that the word “anti” has two meanings, it can mean “against” or it can mean “instead of.” The Scriptures are very clear that at the end of the world there will be those who rise up against and those who come claiming to be Christ. The Bible tells us that us that a time is coming when the entire world through deception, will be united under an intimidating figure that possesses an advanced military and economic expertise. Wouldn’t the world just love someone who could step up from behind the scenes and promise peace to a world that is at war and find a solution for the financial crisis? The antichrist will be so convincing as an ally and deliverer that Israel will sign a pact with him to be their protector. Then he will turn against the nation and will occupy the throne in the rebuilt temple, which for Israel, will still symbolize the presence of God. He then will present himself to the world as God. I am not here to convince you that the Antichrist is coming, but to draw your attention to “even now many antichrists have appeared.”Because we live in a world that is filled with false teachers, idol worship, and where a fierce battle rages against the hearts and souls of man, do we have any hope? One of the answers is found in 1 John 2:27, “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” The word “anointing” reminds us of the Old Testament practice of pouring oil on the head of a person being set apart for special service. a priest was anointed, a king was anointed, and a prophet was anointed. A New Testament believer is anointed not with literal, but by the Spirit of God. It’s a picture of oil being poured over the child of God at the moment of salvation. We have an anointing of the Holy Spirit; not from man, but from the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you into all truth.

Pastor Paul

May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!!!