Understanding the Times
(Part 1)

1 Chronicles 12:32
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Brethren this world is gradually coming to an end. How do we know? This is because the Bible has said so. How? The signs that the Bible talks about are here with us. Biblical prophecies concerning the end time are being fulfilled on a daily basis. In part 1 of this message we shall take a look at some of these signs. We will consider them as prophesied in the Bible and compare these prophecies with what is going on presently in today’s world.

1. Rise in the number of False Teachers and False Teachings
Christ begins His teaching on the signs of the end of the age with a warning. Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

The first major sign to show that the end of the age is near is that religious deception will be rampant. False teachers, pastors, evangelists, bishops etc will be prevalent. People who profess to be believers will accept such false teachings and ‘new revelations’ that run contrary to the revealed Word of God in the Bible. A lot of church people will oppose Biblical truth, while accepting errors.
1 Timothy 4:1
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.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
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;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables

Our world today is filled with ministers who preach distorted gospel. Most are prosperity gospel ministers who preach just enough truth to lull the unlearned mind into following their apostasy. These ministers are very popular and have a lot of followership among professing believers. Most occupy prominent positions in denominations and in theological schools. They deceive and mislead a lot of people in the church with messages that tickle the fancy; messages that do nothing in preparing people to meet their Saviour. Outside of the church, millions in the world are involved in the occult, spiritism, astrology, witchcraft, satanism etc.

2. Unbridled Lifestyle of Wickedness and Immorality
The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 24:12 that one of the things that will characterise the last days is that ‘iniquity shall abound’. There will be an unbelievable increase in immorality, shamelessness, rebellion against God and a casting off of moral restraints. We have in our world today a very high rate of sexual perversion, incest, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, pornography, masturbation, drugs etc. Ungodly music and lustful entertainment are no longer the preserve of the world; we have them in our churches too.
This generation is like the days of Noah when ‘every imagination of the thoughts of his (man’s) heart was evil continually.’ (Genesis 6:5). Let us remember that if God judged the people in the days of Noah because of their wickedness which includes but not limited to homosexuality, lesbianism and all kinds of sexual perversion, He will definitely judge this generation as well (2 Peter 2:1-9).

3. Love for God and Fellow Human beings will be in very short supply
The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 24:12 ‘And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.’ As a result of the increase of iniquity in the end time, many:
i. Will fall away from the faith
ii. Will not want to be associated with believers who stand for the truth of the gospel
iii. Who have fallen away from the faith will persecute those who remain faithful to The Lord Jesus Christ
In addition to all these, there will be the loss of true love in the world. My brothers and sisters love for God and our fellow human beings is fast disappearing. Have we asked why many who profess to serve God are not doing so because they love Him but because of what they stand to gain from Him?

2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

Are we still wondering why South Africans are hacking their fellow human beings to death for being foreigners in their midst? Do we now see why some white policemen in USA take pleasure in shooting black people for no just cause? Are we still wondering why we have Boko Haram, Isis, Al-Shabab bombing, killing and maiming their fellow human beings? Brethren wickedness shall abound at the end of age. Life will mean nothing to the people of the world.

4. Lust for wealth, fame and power
In the last days covetousness or the love for money will increase. Ministers will distort the Gospel to attract more unrepentant believers into their fold. Their focus is never to make disciples for The Lord Jesus Christ, but to expand their own kingdoms. This lust for wealth, fame and power they will inculcate into their members. The more the members, the more the money made from tithes and offerings to meet their insatiable lust for material acquisitions and ostentatious lifestyles. Paul the Apostle describes such pastors and members as the enemy of the cross of Christ: ... whose god is their belly.... who set their minds on earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19).

5. Denial of the Lordship of Christ
Many in the last days will deny the Lordship of Christ and proclaim themselves as Christ. The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Aside the false religions and groups that do not accept Christ as the Messiah, there are many pseudo-Christian cults in many churches these days. While claiming to be Christian Churches and true Christians, they actually distort and deny the foundational and distinctive doctrines of the Christian faith. One of such cults is the new age movement that has walked in unaware into the church.

Jude 4 (NKJV) says
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God[b] and our Lord Jesus Christ.


They propagate the philosophy of “you are like God or man is in himself God”. It is a philosophy that is centred on self –all you need is within. They have no defined order of sin, repentance or salvation. They tell you that sin and evil don’t exist. Peace and love are the ultimate realities.

They teach that Jesus was not and is not the only Christ, nor is He God. For them there have been many Christ, Jesus Christ our Lord being one of them. When they call Christ, they are not referring to the One Only Begotten Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Aside this, we have in the churches as well many preachers who though have not outwardly denied Christ but through their actions and utterances deny the Lordship of Christ. These men will usurp the authorities of Christ and arrogate to themselves what is beyond their capabilities. For example, one bishop said recently that he will open the gates of hell against all those who will oppose a sitting president in one of the biggest Africa countries who is seeking re-election. Thank God that this preferred candidate of this bishop lost that election woefully. Otherwise this bishop would have been provided with an opportunity to bask in the genteel applause of his faithful followers. Let the bishop now go and open the gates of hell against all those who voted against his candidate.
Let us state unequivocally that nobody has the power or authority to open the gates of hell against anybody. Neither does anybody have the keys of hell. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only One Who has the keys. The power to cast into hell belongs only to The Lord Jesus Christ, The KING of Kings and The LORD of Lords.

Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 20:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.[a] 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Luke 12:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Brethren we should be very mindful of our utterances. Most of what we say is a reflection of the state of our minds (Proverbs 23:7). Our Lord Jesus says in Matthew 12:25
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Anybody arrogating the authority of Christ to himself is denying the Holy One of God His glory. Such a person is walking in pride. Pride is not of God. It is the spirit of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Conclusion
Men of Issachar we are told had an understanding of the times. That is, they knew the temper of the times. Spiritual understanding is a product of one’s depth of spiritual knowledge. In the same light, spiritual knowledge is attained via one’s acquaintance with God. One becomes acquainted with God when one cleaves to Him through obedience to His Word as seen in the Scriptures. True wisdom is gotten through the knowledge of the Bible based on the spiritual insight given by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). It makes those who possess it to fear God and live in awe of Him (Job 28:28; James 3:17). The acquisition of these three very important spiritual skills: knowledge, wisdom and understanding will liberate a believer from error (John 8:31-32). Deliverance from error leads to eternal life (John 17:3)
Deuteronomy 4:4-6
4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.


Knowing that the second coming of The Lord Jesus Christ is at the door how should we react to it and prepare for His return? This we will look at in part 2 of this message by the grace of God.
My dear reader, can I ask you these very important questions? Are you born again? Are you walking in the Spirit? Should you die now or should Christ come now, will you be with Him glory? Think about these and take appropriate actions.

Till we meet again on this platform, God bless you in Jesus’ name, Amen.