The End of Mankind Is at Hand!

 

Bible verse: "Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. And God said to Noah, 'I have determined to make an end to all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an Ark of gopher wood …to keep them alive" (Gen 6:11-20).

 

About more than 4000 years ago, this world of ours was devastated when God sent a continual downpour of rain upon it for 40 days and nights. It had long been told by Jesus Himself that this incident would take place and archaeologists had confirmed this to be true. The Lord said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man." "They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:26,27). The Lord has made known to us this terrible disaster. The purpose of this is to remind us that these are only a shadow of what is to happen before the Lord's Second Coming.

 

With reference to the abovementioned bible verses, we can understand the main reason for the destruction of mankind during Noah's time. "The earth was corrupt in God's sight" and so, "mankind was destroyed together with the earth". But God is Love, so before He sent this calamity upon the earth, He commanded Noah to build an ark, and to go forth to proclaim the Word, so that those who believed in God and turned from evil ways were allowed to enter the ark and to stay alive (cf: 2 Pet 2:5; 1 Pet 3:19,20). This major incident was an event of the past. The question now is, 'Is the existence of mankind coming to an end?' What will happen to us? Will God prepare a sanctuary for the people of the world as He did for Noah? These are the problems we must envisage.

 

I. IS THE END OF MANKIND AT HAND?

 

This question is directly relative to the escalating degree of wickedness in this modern era. Mankind, since the generation of Noah's three sons, has now enumerated to an estimated 3.6 billions and is having many different ideologies, each trying to promote prosperity, happiness and peace in the society.

 

But from God's point of view, the world of today is no different from that of the ancient Babylon, which became a dwelling place of demons and foul spirits. Their sins were heaped high as heaven and their ways were corrupted. Basing on a few examples of human transgressions recorded in Revelation 9:20-21, we realize that indeed the end of mankind is at hand (Rev 18:1-5).

 

a. Idol-worshipping and working of witchcraft

 

Worshipping of idols means worshipping of the demons (1 Cor 10:19-20). Those who practise witchcraft are an instrument of the evil spirit. They entice the people of the world to come under the control of the devil (Acts 8:9-11). In doing so, they have willingly made themselves the 'teeth' of the devil, opposing God (Jer 10:14,15; Acts 13: 6-1 0). The world today is mad over idol-worshipping. Man, whether rich or poor, kneels down before them. For their act, they will not be forgiven (Jer 50:38; Is 2:8,9). The Bible records, "Behold, the days are coming, I (God) will punish the images of Babylon, her whole land shall be put to shame, all her slain shall fall in the midst of her" (Jer 51 :47,52). Again, it says, "for the nation and kingdom that will not serve you (God) shall perish, those nations shall be utterly laid waste" (Is 60:12). Therefore it is clear that idol-worshippers will definitely end up in destruction.

 

b. Murderous deeds

 

The prophesies in the Bible mention that people of the last days will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive (2 Tim 3:1-3). Take a look at the present world. Even the relationship between parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, owing to trivial matters, end up in unpleasant disputes or even tragedies. For example, a man will easily turn to violence if his lustrous needs are not met with. People suddenly find themselves victims of violence and death. Worst of all, the manufacture of deadly weapons has been taken as a form of competition. Should any one come up with an invention of the most powerful weapon, he will promptly become a great and respectable person, benefactor to the country. He will also receive the highest glory and reward. The Bible says, "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they do not know" (Rom 3:15-17). Where then in this world of violence we can find peace? (Is 33:8)

 

c. Immorality

 

It is clearly stated in the Ten Commandments that 'Thou shalt not commit adultery' (Ex 20:14). The immoral and adulterous will be punished (Heb 13:4).

 

When the Israelites were dwelling in Shittim, they committed sins with the daughters of the Moabs, and as a result, there were plagues and twenty four thousand people lost their lives. Similarly in the days of Noah, the children of God (believers) married the daughters of men as they wished, thus provoking God and bringing calamities upon themselves (Gen 6:2,3,5-7).

 

In this present era, the morality of the society has declined steeply to such an extent that men have eyes on adultery and women delight in exposing their bodies (2 Pet 2:14). Both sexes freely gratify the desires of the flesh that this becomes a common phenomenon. How frightening and abominable is the heart of man! During the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, because of the immorality and perversion of the people, they suffered the punishment of extermination by fire. So how can this world of ever-declining morality escape the judgment of God? (Jude 7).

 

d. Robbing and Stealing

Stealing refers not only to theft without the owner's knowledge but also to illegal possessions. For example, a trader may dishonestly present imitation or fraud goods to his customers or on the pretext of refunding the money and declaring the winding of the business. Such actions are even worse, compared to those who steal in fear (Prov 20:1 0; 21 :6). Covetous civil servants, for the sake of personal gains, send up false reports or take bribes at every possible opportunity. Such activities are not different from robbery! (Is 1 :23) Though severe penalties have been imposed by the governments in many parts of the world and countless number of offenders have been punished, the morality of the society keeps on declining tremendously. The Bible says, "The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men" (Micah 7:2,3). Since the world has become the den of thieves, God will destroy it totally (Zech 5: 1 ,-4; Is 28:22).

 

II. WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE OF MANKIND?

 

The reason why we can foresee that the end of mankind is at hand is not only because of the increasing wickedness of this world but also because of the predicted great tribulation which is drawing nearer and nearer, before our Lord's Second Coming. We shall now discuss the future of mankind, touching only on the scene after the great tribulation and not further than the scene of the Last Day. The world thirsts for peace but sin deprives her of it (Is 48:22). Instead there will be great tribulation, such as has not been experienced from the beginning of the world (Mt 24:21 ,29,30). According to the Bible, this great tribulation refers to swords, famine, evil beasts, plagues and earthquakes, etc (cf: Ezek 14:21; Rev 16:18,19). Therefore this great tribulation which Jesus Christ mentioned was referring to the 'great battle' which will take place, followed by famine, plagues etc. This 'great battle' as being prophesied in the book of Revelation is the 'Battle of Armageddon' (Rev 16:12-16). The outbreak of this great battle is actually the result of the 'desolating sacrilege', as mentioned by our Lord (Mt 24: 15-21). This 'desolating sacrilege' shall exalt and magnify himself and shall blaspheme against God, persecute the church and deny the existence of God (Dan 11 :36,37; Rev 20: 7,8; Ezek 38:1-3; 39:1,2). Satan will give 'him' the authority and allow 'him' to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It will enslave every tribe and people and tongue and nation (Rev 13:2, 7).

 

This world of ours will turn into a desolated wilderness when this great tribulation breaks out (Joel 2:2,3). "All peoples of the nations will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burnt in the fire" (Is 33:12). ''Those slain by the Lord on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground" (Jer 25:32,33). Mankind, through destruction, will become even rarer than fine gold (Is 13: 11, 12). The Lord said that if those days are not shortened, no human being would be saved (Mt 24:22). This will result when nations rise up against nations with atomic and nuclear weapons. This unbelieving, adulterous and wicked world is predestined for this tragic destruction.

 

Ill. DOES GOD PREPARE A SANCTUARY FOR MANKIND?

 

God is Love, so before He carries out this terrible judgment, He will prepare a way out for mankind, just as He had prepared an ark for the people of Noah's era. Those who believed and entered the ark were not condemned (Gen 6:14-20). During the last days, before the outbreak of the great tribulation, God had also prepared a sanctuary for mankind. The Bible says, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse" (Mal 4:5,6). This great and terrible day is the day of our Lord's Second Coming and judgment. Elijah was the prophet who caused the rain to cease for 31f2 years. This prefigures that the True Church will appear in. the last days, directing the people of the world to turn back to the true God and to receive the Holy Spirit, if they believe and accept Him as their Savior.

 

In the book of Revelation chapter 7 verses 2 and 3, it is clearly stated: ''Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth and the sea, or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads". 'The seal of God' refers to the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). This is the prophecy that before the great tribulation comes, the church of the Holy Spirit will appear in the east. According to the prophecy, this true church will be a shade from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain (Is 4: 5,6). Not only will God give them eternal life, He will also keep them from the hour of trial, which is coming upon the whole world to try those who dwell in it, if they patiently keep God's word of endurance (Rev 3:10). The Bible has clearly stated that disasters will only harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Rev 9:4).

 

The True Jesus Church, basing on the prophecy that she will appear in the east, is the ark of the last days. She builds herself upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the corner stone. Just like Noah, she does everything according to God's commandment (Eph 2:20; Gen 6:22). The Lord Jesus grants the baptism of the Holy Spirit and miracles and wonders to all those who believe. He testifies that the truth she preaches is truly the Gospel of Salvation (Eph 1: 13,14; Acts 2:38; Mk 16:20; Acts 14:3). Therefore he who believes in the Lord Jesus and has entered the true church will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned; because he does not believe that the true church, established by. God, will bring salvation to mankind (Jn 20:21-23; Lk 1Q:16; Mt 18:17,18).

 

IV. WHAT THEN MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?

 

The great tribulation and the subsequent Last Day are drawing closer and closer. Yet many people, whose hearts and minds are geared towards heaping up wealth and treasure, are ignorant that death is crouching in wait for them (Jas 5:1-5). But there are some who live in fear, being aware of what is befalling upon the world (Lk 21 :26). There are yet others who indulge in drinking, eating and entertainments, giving up all hope. Having envisaged this, then what must we do to receive the divine approval, to escape the wrath of God and to receive eternal Salvation?

 

1. BELIEVE IN THE SAVIOUR, LORD JESUS (ACTS 16:30, 31)

 

We must completely reject idolism and atheism, and wholeheartedly believe . that Christ Jesus is the only Savior (Acts 4:12). We should also believe that, in accordance with the prophecies in the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ was conceived by a virgin called Mary; that He died for us on the cross for the remission of our sins, was resurrected on the 3rd day and after 40 days, ascended to heaven; and now, through His church, He wants to bring salvation to those who believe in Him; that very soon, He will descend again to bring judgment upon all mankind, after which the evildoers and the non-believers will go away into eternal punishment, while the righteous into eternal life (Mt 1 :18-23; 1 Cor 15:3,4; Acts 1 :3,9; Mt 25:31-46).

 

2. BE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT (JN 3:5)

 

Even after believing and accepting the Lord, we must repent and be baptized by full immersion in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22: 16; Mk 16:16); and must pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (we will speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit dwells in us) (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6; 2:4; 1 Cor 14:2). Only then will we have life in the Lord Jesus (Ezek 37: 14; Rev 22:17; 1 Jn 5:11,12) and the seal of salvation (Eph 1: 13,14; Rom 8:9,16). According to the scriptures, 'He saved us not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit' (Tit 3:5).

 

3. STRIVE FOR HOLINESS (HEB 12:14)

 

Without holiness, no one can see the Lord. Therefore, by our Lord's grace, we must keep our spirit, soul and body sound and blameless after we have received the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:23). To achieve this, we must not neglect to attend church (Heb 12:25). We must be diligent in scripture reading and in listening to the word of God (1 Pet 2:2). We must continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to be with us, and discontinue our old way of life, we strive to be blameless and without blemish so that we can be at peace when we meet the Lord (2 Thess 2:13; 1 Sam 10:6; 2 Pet 3:14).

 

4. BE ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD (1 COR 15:58)

 

For the love for God and fellow mankind, every Christian ought to be concerned over our Lord's divine work of salvation (2 Cor 5:14,15; Jn 21 :15-17), especially during this period of the last days when the true gospel has been perverted. We must 'earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints' (Jude 3). We should preach the sound gospel of salvation to those Christians who are zealous in seeking eternal life but who actually have not attained it (Gal 1:6-9; Rom 10:1-3). At the same time we should preach the gospel to staunch idol worshippers and non-believers (Acts 17:22, 23; Rev 14:6,7).

 

For this great divine work, we, the chosen people and children of God, should fully utilize the gifts given to us according to the grace by offering our wealth, talent, time, body and mind. Only in this way can the True Church of the last days accomplish this great lifesaving commission, to meet our Savior when He comes again and be able to share the everlasting glory in the Heavenly Kingdom (Rev 7:2,3;. 2 Tim 4: 7,8).