I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and they neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Isaiah 48:3-5
In part one, we began to look at the condition of the world and its inhabitants signifying that we are indeed in the last days. Let's now look specifically at the condition of Christianity in the last days. What does the Bible say will be the condition of those claiming to be off the faith.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1 Timothy 4:1-2
Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: ...Ever learning,
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ...But evil men
and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2
Timothy 3:5, 7, 13
...there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, ...And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:1-2
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. 1 Timothy 6:20-21
Many claiming to be of the faith will be seduced by false teachers and preachers who will tell the nominally converted what their wicked hearts want to be true. Many will be seduced by worldly reason (philosophy and unbiblical science). We are thus warned to keep to the faith, the truth as presented in God's Word as our only safeguard from being deceived.
Many of today's self-professed Christians will be so deceived, that despite straying from the faith, and guilty of great wickedness, they will think they are doing God's will when persecuting his true church.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:2
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in they name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (transgress the law). Matthew 7:22-23
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
Because these apostate Christians, preferring lives and fables, gather to themselves false teacher and prophets, they will ultimately exhibit the same characteristics of the worldly wicked. God will give them and their wicked, unconverted hearts what they want. God will allow them to be deceived.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptable man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Romans 1:18-23
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:24-25
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Romans 1:26-27
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient, being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, convetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:28-32
Rejecting God, and rejecting the truth, eventually leads to spiritual and intellectual darkness, prideful self exaltation and idolatry (verses18-23). The hedonistic pursuit of all sorts of lust, twisting the truth into a lie and lies into truth and worship of the creation: Mother Earth worship, sun worship, pantheism etc. (verses 24-25). Homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality, transgenerism etc. (verses 26-27).
And the enjoyment of every other conceivable vice as well as enjoying the company of fellow reprobates. These same sins will be increasingly practiced, encouraged, and even celebrated among so-called Christians along with the world. But where is God's true church during this critical time?
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm. and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:14-21
Using the wickedness of the worldly and unbelieving and apostate Christians as a sort of "skinny mirror", even God's true church have fallen into a self-righteous apathy and are unaware that, while they may not indulge in the same vile practices of the "ungodly", they are no more right in the sight of God nor prepared for Christ's return. Christ himself in pictured outside of the church, knocking and seeking to be let back in.
Click here for part one of the Signs of the Last Days
Click here for a quick reference guide for Signs of the Last Days