Are we living in the last days?

I have heard many preachers suggest that we are one of the generations leading up to the Tribulation period described in Revelations. How can we verify this using the Bible and the patterns God has set forth in his word?

What were some previous generations that led up to Gods judgment? The Noah's flood generation, The generation living in Sodom and Gomorrah, and the generation under the rule of Kind Solomon (destruction of the first temple) , the generation after Jesus's resurrection (destruction of the second temple) to name a few.

In general we could say these generations went against God but what characteristics or patterns did these generations specifically share to identify them?

For one these generations were known for persecuting, silencing and/or mocking the righteous people of God and rejecting His word or belief in Him. (Mocking Noah, threatening Lot, Non-Jews persecuting Jews, Persecution of Christians)

While more people began denouncing our God, these generations were openly welcoming alternative religions whose influence grew in these regions, further blaspheming God.

These pagan beliefs openly allowed and supported abominations. The customs of those pagan religions approved such actions as newborn child sacrifice and homosexuality. The spilling of innocent blood and homosexuality being called abominations by God. They also allowed other immorality but "sexual worship" and "first born child sacrifices" were arguably their hallmarks.

When God would send prophets and preachers to call these people to repent and turn back to God they mocked, denied and sometimes even killed Gods messengers. Further hardening their hearts as described in the first characteristic, creating a cycle of continually drifting from God.

How long were these generations warned of destruction and called to repent? Noah was given 120 years, Lot was given 48 hours, Amos and Hosea called Israel to repent 60-40 years before destruction of the first temple. Jesus predicted the destruction of Israel 70 years beforehand.

The generation leading up to the end times is compared to being like these past generations before destruction. Does the world today look starting to look like these generations? Personally I believe so.

When preachers first began teachings more focused on warnings of the end times and how long God has allotted before destruction I don't believe any man can answer. But we are called to always be watchful and ready for His second coming, lest we find ourselves spiritually asleep when he arrives.

Thoughts, comments, concerns?

My advice to believers regarding Christian eschatology would be to always be vigilant, but at the same time, don't get your hopes up. And don't trust people or websites that claim they know the day Jesus will return, say they know who the Antichrist is, etc.

I will admit there was a time in my life when I obsessed over this stuff. But if you take someone's else word regarding when or how Biblical prophecy will be fulfilled, you will likely be disappointed. That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

Our spiritual births are extremely close...

And not even the angels or Jesus knows when. Only God knows.

My argument was not that anyone knows the day or the hour, but that "day" and "hour" are relatively short spans of time by most definitions. The Bible compares several other generations to being like the generation of "the last days". The Bible also has descriptions of those generations before destruction. It was a question of if the description of those generations in your opinion matches this generation and as a result should we be even more watchful and vigilant in seeking God then maybe past generations?

James5086
I'm 71yrs old. Throughout my life I've pondered that question at least a thousand times. The fact is we are all living in our last days because each day we live is one day closer to our inevitably end. Death of course. But we know that we don't really die because in Christ we have gained the resurrection. Oh death, where is they sting?! Oh grave, where is thy victory?! The question is, Will we even know that we have died? I think our journey (life) will be an experience of many lifetimes. I'm a slow learner and it will take me at least a thousand years to even get close to perfection.

**** be prepared--- Jesus said there would be much deception in the Last Days--- He said to Watch---- and Christ gave a parable of 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins (Matthew 25)--- key--- bring extra oil----a lot of preachers these days don' t talk much about extra oil----many Christians have stale oil...

This is a bit of a blog I did on this subject...

I've been alive and aware since the 70's and I do feel we are in the last days. People can say oh its no worse than it ever was, but it is worse. I've been following news, economies and world events daily for the past 15 years and we are in the most ungodly time ever right now. I'm not just talking about crime and the denial of God, but how we have a young generation of brainwashed, liberal narcissists who think they know better than the rest of the world and couldn't care less if someone was dying or needed help on the street.... they'll just whip out their phones and start taking a video!



Anyway, I think 2 Timothy 3 describes this society perfectly...

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. [SUP]2 [/SUP]People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [SUP]3 [/SUP]without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, [SUP]4 [/SUP]treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— [SUP]5 [/SUP]having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

............

But anyway... the more important thing for us to do is worry about OUR OWN last day.