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Signs of the 'end of the age' In Matthew 24:3: The disciples ask this question: "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" In Acts 2:17: Peter states, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." The dispensation of grace, the church age-the last day- started in Acts 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are living in the "last days" and since 2,000 years have already passed, we are living in "the last days of the last days"-maybe the "last moment" of the last days. Webster's dictionary defines-State, "a set of conditions; circumstances surrounding or characterizing a person or thing at a given time. At the "end of the age" there will be a set of conditions or circumstances that will surround or characterize people and things. The state of the world is seen in Matthew 24: 1-14: (1) false christs (2) rumors of war (3) fairness, pestilences, earthquakes (4) increased hatred and alienation (5) world-wide evangelism. This will be the "state of our world"-the conditions, circumstances that surround and characterize our world - at the end of the age - We are there!! The state of the people is seen in II Timothy 3: 1-5: (1) self-centered-this self-centered generation openly boasts of their dedication to personal pleasures, rather than to God and family. (2) covetous-a value system that honors money and possessions, elevating greed to a virtue in a corrupt and sinful society (3) boastful and proud-self-promotion is emulated, boasting is widespread, and pride is no longer despised (4) blasphemous-those who habitually use coarse, crude and blasphemous language are tolerated and even admired (5) disobedient-widespread disobedience to parents is an accepted practice despite its ban in the 10 commandments (6) ungrateful and unholy-an unprecedented lack of gratitude and contempt for righteousness pervades society (7) sexually perverted-public displays of immorality, sexual perversion and indecency are common and readily overlooked by society (8) dishonest behavior-the breakdown in personal righteousness and the loss of respect for honesty results in false accusers and contract breakers, excessive litigation and white-collar crime-shows the open contempt expressed for honest behavior (9) bankrupt values-loving pleasure more than loving God, a value system that appears to embrace godly ideas, but has no spiritual center, a society willing to betray itself and its beliefs for worthless pleasures and goods. Paul warned young Timothy and I warn you, turn away from such people that exemplify this sinful lifestyle, we are living in the last days. The state of the church is seen in Acts 2:16-18: "In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." Acts 2 was great and what has followed down through the centuries has been magnificent but you haven't seen anything yet! The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is about to have its finest hour, "let it come." The state of the world-the state of the people-is fulfilled and fulfilling but we have not yet seen or experienced Acts 2:16-18. The state of the church is breaking at our doorsteps-a spiritual flood of God's presence and power coming to counteract the state of the world and the state of the people. Come Lord Jesus-we await thee!
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