This month?s featured article is by Brother David Allen. The Bible gives us many clues to know what the condition of the world will be in the last days. We must know in what time we live, lest we fall under the same condemnation the Jews did in Jesus? day. He foretold great trouble for his people, saying that it would be "Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."

Brother David offers evidence that we are indeed in the last days. That means that Christ?s return is near: the time of OUR visitation. Let us not be ignorant of this, but, knowing the time, let us prepare for our Lord.

By David E. Allen, Bible Guy

It is evident from the scriptures that many things are going to point to what we call the last days. In fact, the Bible clearly shows us what the condition of people, in general, is to be at the time of the end.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim 3:2-5)

This is the passage that Christians should be looking at to determine whether we are indeed in that day, or should we be looking toward another time.

The very first thing we are shown is that it will be "perilous times." We, as Christians, act as if life is just grand and that we are in no danger and have nothing to fear. The truth is, there is danger all around us. Every day, the enemy is out there "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." We are his prey, he is our enemy. I believe he can and will use whatever means are at his disposal to destroy us. And believe me, saints, as the prince of this world, he has all things at his disposal. Why should we pretend that we are any safer than Job, who God said was "a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil."

Where are the haters of evil today? Where are those noble people who will separate themselves from the world? We are told in 1 John 2:15-16, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

In 2 Tim. 3:2-5, we have a list of things that Paul said would let us know when those perilous times would be. First on that list is men shall be lovers of their own selves. What generation has ever had to endure that? This one! To go along with that is the fourth one which is proud. And just what is the cry of homosexuals? "Gay and proud of it!" That alone should shock every Christian, but it doesn't. Instead, everyone wants to embrace them and bring them into the fold. God does not agree with that. He said in Romans 1:28, "God gave them over to a reprobate mind."

Another item on this list is without natural affection. It can truly be said of this generation that natural affection is at an all time low. We hear weekly, if not daily, of another child being murdered by "its mother?s boyfriend" or "male companion." There is no natural affection because there is no love. The is plenty of lust, adultery, and self satisfaction, but no love. God is love! If God was in these peoples lives there would be love, and if love, then natural affection.

Further on, we have lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Now, this is a sign that this generation cannot deny. Ever since the 1960's we have had what is known as the "me" generation. Everything is for "me." "If I don't look out for me, then who will?" "I don't care what others think, I'm going to do what I want?" One of the biggest hits of the late Frank Sinatra, and in fact it became his theme song, was "I Did It My Way."

One might argue that this passage could apply to many times in the history of man. This is true, but the real sense of this passage comes with the rest of the text. When, in the history of mankind, has the rest of this passage been so strong and evident? One could offer that this could be referring to the time of the Roman Empire. Most of it is applicable to those days...MOST. History shows that the Roman Empire did exhibit many of the above characteristics, but what it did not have was a form of godliness. It was militant, and full of lust and self pleasure. We all remember our history lessons which explicitly described the orgies which lasted for days on end.

The truth of the matter is, it is The United States of America that exhibits all of the above things we are to look for. Furthermore, it is showing all of these traits today. Christians need to begin to look at their own lives in relationship to all of these things unfolding before their very eyes. I cannot believe that our God would not warn us of the trouble to come. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." (Pro. 22:3)

We are truly living in the last days, and perilous times are about to befall all of us. Knowing this, we also have a great a hope. The Bible clearly shows that "The Church," "The Mountain of the Lord?s House," "The Holy City," shall be restored in troublous times.

In Micah 4:1 & 2 he says, "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

In order to see this come to pass we need to look to God our Father for His help and guidance so that we "may be able to withstand in the evil day..." (Eph 6:13)