Footsteps of an Approaching God Part 1

In Matthew 24, Jesus describes the future in response to a question from the disciples, “Tell us, when will these things be [destruction of the temple], and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” [last days].  The answer Jesus gave to the mixed up question is applicable to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, to the tribulation of the 1,260 years, and to the end times.  Indeed, in Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 120, we read: 

The ruin of Jerusalem was a symbol of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world. The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Jerusalem have a more direct application to the last days. We are now standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. A crisis is before us, such as the world has never witnessed.” Ellen G. White,

Notice the list of end-time events that Jesus presents in Matthew 24:9-11.  It is like reading the last chapters of The Great Controversy. 

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death” 

There will be a period of tribulation with martyrs before the death decree. 

“you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake” 

Sabbath keepers are blamed for disasters. 

All nations are involved (Revelation 13). 

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” 

GC 608 – Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the bitterest enemies of their former brethren. 

“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” 

Even Satan appears as an angel of light. 

“And because lawlessness [wickedness in NIV] will be increased” 

As God’s Spirit is withdrawn, Satan begins to control the hearts of the unconverted. 

“the love of many will grow cold.” 

the shaking 

I would like to focus on this part:  “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12, NIV).  Have we not seen this in the last two to three years at a rate not previously seen?  Certainly, most generations think the succeeding generation is more degenerate than their own; however, recently, the decline in morality has seen a supernatural decline.  Consider 1) the in-your-face rise of homosexuality and transgenderism, 2) the overt threats to “come for your children,” 3) the abandonment of law and order by both citizens and government, 4) warfare against Christianity, especially the Catholic church but Protestants as well, 5) complicit news media and entertainment industry promoting this decline, 6) abandonment of the Constitution (especially the first amendment regarding free speech), 7) the strong push to mutilate the sex-specific organs of children; 8) racial hatred, 9) the fanatical desire to kill babies, and much more. 

Values that civilized societies have held for thousands of years are now regarded as evil.  What good people thought was evil is now celebrated.  How do we explain this short of supernatural influence?  Up is down; right is wrong.  Even influential elements of the SDA church are promoting much of this wickedness. 

Jesus also said, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37).  What was it like in the days of Noah?  “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). 

In another place Jesus said, “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:28-30).  Can you imagine Sodom being any worse than things are today? 

Several other Bible authors have said the same thing.  Consider Paul’s warning to Timothy. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 

We have read all these quotations and Bible verses all our Christian lives, but we then had no idea of the magnitude of wickedness coming upon us.  Should we not pay attention now and recognize that this world condition is the strongest indication of them all that we are at the end of the last days and are potentially facing final events in our lifetimes?  We should change direction now and fully surrender, seeking ways to do our duty as Jesus outlined it for us. 

I think I hear the footsteps of an approaching God.