The Last Days compose an era of unspecified time which refers to the times that end the era preceding the return of Jesus Christ in the Second Coming

The Last Days are noted for certain specific characteristics by which we can identify these times as different from other times

The ancients viewed prophecy as circular, not linear› They believed in life coming full circle, prophecy

coming full circle, and things standing restored

› In the beginning was God, man, and order; in the end will be God, man, and order; to get there, there must be a time of uproar and disruption

› The Last Days prophecy does not refer to a literal explosion or cataclysm totally destroying the entire world, but a series of events that shall disrupt and get the attention of people

In the last days, people shall be deceived on all different levels, including through false prophets that deceive people about God and about themselves

There shall be an increase in wars, rumors of wars, and numerous natural disasters in different places within the world

True believers of the Lord shall face hatred, betrayal, familial problems, hated by the world, and face offense

Sin is a prominent feature of the Last Days, with many hating one another

He who survives through the times shall be saved

A key prophecy of the last days is the

preaching of the Gospel into all nations

› What this tells us about the last days

People will be seeking answers about life and

where it’s at in the face of all the deception and

lies – it does not, however, say that everyone will

accept the Gospel

God shall make the truth available to all, whether

they accept it or not

When the Lord returns, everyone will know Who is

returning because they will have heard of the

Gospel

Television – Television is a prominent feature in the majority of the world for information and communication. Due to satellite technology, people can watch television all over the world, in a language familiar to them; the Gospel can be communicated using television into the entire world

Radio – While traditional radio has ceased in popularity within the United States, radio still remains a prominent means of communication in foreign countries. In the United States and other more developed nations, satellite radio also provides a popular means to communicate the essential message of the Gospel in our day and age

Internet – The internet – with its good and bad points – has

changed the way the entire world communicates. Now at the fingertips of people, the entire world, communication, cultures, and endless information is available to people in their own homes, right from their own computers

Mass communications and gatherings – It is easier than ever to convey announcements about events and to hold events of a large or substantial gathering than it ever has been in history

Travel – Now we can be in one country in the morning and in another by evening thanks to easier methods of travel, both nationally and internationally

The Gospel will be preached as a witness

to all nations

› As a result there will be great signs and wonders (Joel 2:20-22)

Revival is a part of the last days, in contrast with

the great apostasy and difficulties

A promise of the greater promise that is to come

as the coming of Christ is near

Despite the deceptions of the world, the Gospel

will be there to proclaim the witness of truth

› God’s true Kingdom believers live as a witness,

by the truth and evidence God’s ways lead to

life and work

The end does not come until all the signs previously mentioned come together and complete their cycle – including the proclamation of the Gospel into all the world and God’s complete last days revival› We cannot speed up the timetable

› Trying to provoke events, stir up controversy or hate will not make Jesus return any faster

› We must participate in prophecy even on the Lord’s side in bringing forth His revival or in being a part of the problem

If we understand prophecy as cyclical, we understand the last days as the beginning of a new cycle; the clashing of the end times is between the new paradigm to come and the old paradigm trying to remain in control

Abomination – Has the understanding of something being unclean in the sight of God

Causes desolation –Causes a deficit, an emptiness, a presence of something without as a result of the unclean thing that is to come

Spoken by Daniel the Prophet – This abomination that causes desolation was prophesied by the Prophet Daniel

It stands in the Most Holy Place – In the Old Testament, nothing impure or unclean was allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place; so for this unclean thing that causes emptiness to be within God’s holiest place signifies a destruction of sanctity –it is something that is somewhere where it should not be and it does not belong, not under any circumstances

Let the reader understand – If the reader is to understand, that indicates the reader must study the prophecy carefully, because there is an implication within it that may not seem obvious on the surface; the reader must understand beyond the obvious in order to understand God’s message as to what the abomination that causes desolation is and how it pertains to the last days

There are many interpretations of what exactly the abomination is› Some believe it was the besiege on Jerusalem in 70

AD and the destruction of the temple

› Some believe it is a future besiege on Jerusalem to come; if we truly understand end times prophecy, this is not necessarily the correct interpretation

Understanding the abomination› A reference to the presence of antichrist being

present in the church and misleading the church in this day and age People claim to be followers of God but are not in

actuality following God because they are deceived

The influence of unholiness as present in the church and that unholiness as a part of “church life”

› The unholiness of people who claim to be believers within

If believers today are temples of the Holy Spirit

and we are the building of God, then we

should be holy people within

If we are living contrary to God and we are

claiming to be of God, we are an

abomination before God – we are not

reflecting what He asks of us

The bottom line of the abomination that

causes desolation: it leaves a void and a

spiritual emptiness within those who are

attempting to seek God in this day and age

Lack of God’s precepts within the church› The church brings in false teaching and adheres to

false precepts as popularized by false prophets and leaders The offering made by people is therefore not pleasing to

God and not acceptable

They are not right with Him

› There is a notable contradiction between how people worship God and how they live and how God requires them to live

Lack of teaching so people can understand the signs of the times› If the reader is to understand the prophecies, that

means they must be taught the prophecy and its understanding because incorrect interpretations are possible

People do not honor the requirements of God upon their lives› There is no respect for the calling of God on

people’s lives

› People do not honor the image of God within them and the requirement to live by God’s precepts God’s precepts lead to life and empowerment

The commandments of God are not burdensome, which means if we are wrestling that much, we need to assess what is God from what is not in our lives

› People don’t strive to be different and a different representation as a believer in this world If God is within us and we are a part of the

Kingdom of God, something should be different about us

Don’t have respect or reverence for the

things of God

› It’s not enough to just claim to believe in

God – we must also display our belief in the things of God

We must live the Gospel as a witness

We must show others that we are serious

about God and where God would have us to

be

We should be an encouragement to one

another to do the right things rather than

encourage one another to the wrong things

Preparing for tribulation

› In living in the last days, we must understand

the preparations for tribulation that every

believer should recognize and prepare for

› Why are the days shortened – why would no

one be able to survive if the days had not

been shortened – and what does this mean

for the believer?