This post is in response to a friendly discussion with Peter Lopez from Beauty of the Bible, another excellent biblical blog. We are hoping to simply engage the subject and remain friendly while doing so. I believe that it will be easy, as this is not a truly doctrinal worry, and frankly, for my children’s sake, I hope that he is right.
Let us lay the foundation for the negative:
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. (2Ti 3:1 NLT)
Cyprian, commenting on this passage in his first Treatise, states,
Whatever things were predicted are fulfilled; and as the end of the world is approaching, they have come for the probation as well of the men as of the times.
Cyprian was echoing the Tradition which he learned from Tertullian, who in the first part of his work, On Modesty, writes,
But as the conquering power of things evil is on the increase—which is the characteristic of the last times —things good are now not allowed either to be born, so corrupted are the seminal principles;
The early Church writers are here shown only to show that the early Tradition is that the world will only get worse.
Again, from the Scriptures,
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons (1Ti 4:1 NLT)
Athanasius, writing in his Disposition of Arius connects 1st Timothy 4.1 with Luke 21.8
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. (Luk 21:8 NLT)
Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed– the one who brings destruction. (2Th 2:3 NLT)
In verse 9, we are told that this person will come with great signs and wonders.
Scripture tells us that in the last days, humanity will grow worse, turning upon themselves, and allowing people to rise to lead people in rebellion against God, claiming the name of Christ. In answering the negative, I believe that Scripture is clear that this world will spin into an open rebellion against God.
Some will refer to the prophecy in Joel 2:
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28 NKJV)
Yet, Peter, standing on the day of Pentecost applies this portion of prophecy not to the End Time Revival, but to the days which he lived:
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: `And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. (Act 2:16-17 NKJ)
Again, from Peter,
That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 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 creation.” (2Pe 3:2-4 NKJ)
While Peter does not apply anything from the OT to the NT here, he does concur with the Pauline speech that in the last days, people will rise up against Christ instead of participate in a great world wide revival.
Granted, there is evidence that during the End, a remnant of the Jews may turn to Christ (not the regathering of Israel, but the remnant according to Grace) and that I will allow.
