27/12/2025
Looking at 2026 and where we are going
As we look at this coming year there is a great deal to be concerned about. For most, it is difficult to envisage that it will be happy and prosperous, with world events unfolding in the way that they are. Paul, in writing to Timothy, warned of the decadent state of humanity that would exist in the latter days; describing them as perilous, or dangerous.
2 Timothy 3:1
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
In this same passage, he then continues by first revealing the root problem that brings such times about, and then goes on to describe the way in which this problem manifests itself.
2 Timothy 3:2-7
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
One may note the opening phrase of this listing, "for men shall be lovers of themselves"; this is another way of saying that, men and women will be totally given over to the satisfaction of self, with little or no genuine concern for others around them. It is noteworthy that Paul referred to the last days in the first verse of chapter three of this epistle to Timothy. Peter, in his second epistle refers to such wicked societies as being reserved for judgment.
2 Peter 2:9-10
9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Sadly, our world has, almost universally, become so evil that there is little hope for a return to what would have been considered normal in the middle of the last century; a time when family was considered important, and man and women would be willing to devote their lives for the welfare of their children.
Ephesians 6:4
4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
The most precious person, outside of the Lord, that a man has in his life should be his wife.
Ephesians 5:25
25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it;
Of course there is a reciprocal part to this; if a wife is to maintain the love of her husband, then he should be the object of her submission; not on a master slave basis but, as workers together in life's endeavors.
Colossians 3:18-19
18. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19. Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.
The kind of sacrificial love that would be required to fulfill the expectations of these texts, is rare in today's world. why is this? It is because of the same problem Paul mentioned in verse one of the third chapter of his epistle to Timothy "For men shall be lovers of their own selves". After the novelty of a new relationship wears off, the old spirit of selfishness asserts itself and the relationship can very quickly become a struggle for dominance; in such relationships, children are often considered more of a hindrance, than a blessing with around a third of all conceptions being terminated in the womb before seeing the light of day. when considering unintended pregnancies the figure is around two thirds, all to avoid the consequences that accompany promiscuous practices. What a contrast this is with revealed biblical principles wherein children are considered a blessing.
Psalms 127:3-5
3. Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.
4. As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth.
5. Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
There are a couple of other things that we can glean from the opening text used in this study; in verse three of the opening text, we see the expression "despisers of those that are good" Decent people, especially dedicated believers, are beginning to experience the hostility of, and rejection by, the public at large. This of course is nothing new and Christ warned his disciples to expect the world's hatred to be directed toward them.
John 15:18-19
18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
There are many, who are puzzled at the extreme hatred and ill will that societies direct toward the people of Israel; some even seeking total extermination of them as a people. The answer of course, is easy to give; the existence of Israel as a nation today, is in keeping with the prophecies of their ultimate return, as a people into the land promised to Abraham and his descendents; God reminded Moses of his promise to Abraham concerning the land they now live in.
Exodus 6:8
8. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I [am] the LORD.
The promise of the second gathering of the people of Israel into the land promised to Abraham's descendants, can be found in the eleventh chapter of the book of Isaiah. This second gathering would take place after the coming of the Messiah Isaiah 11:1-2,10.
Isaiah 11:11-12
11. And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
A similar prophecy can be found in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 11:16-17
16. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
17. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
The testimony of these occurrences, reveals several things; first that God is real, and has fulfilled his promise; then too, these events also reveal that the Messiah (the root of Jesse) has already come and provided deliverance for those who believe. If the world, currently under the control of Satan, could destroy the Israelites, then it would prove the prophecies, that have been fulfilled, and the ones yet to be fulfilled, were false and God would be proven to be a liar. The gospel message of Christ could also be seriously questioned.
Finally, the world is now bringing judgment upon itself; a judgment that will bring misery and suffering to all of humanity.
There is a religion that is dogmatic, aggressive, and potentially violent; a religion that has already declared its intention to establish world domination; by force if needed. This is in keeping with the principle, already practiced, noted by Christ in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 11:12
12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Sadly, as noted by Paul in his epistle to Timothy, what passes for Christianity in the world today, has little in common with the Christianity of the early years.
2 Timothy 3:5
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The world is being prepared for the coming of the antichrist, the one world ruler, who will rule in a completely totalitarian system and, whose practices are similar in nature to the religion that is now beginning to take over the world. As we noted the events surrounding the restoration of the nation of Israel, not only reveal that God is real but, also that the messiah has come and given himself as a sacrifice for sin; he is still inviting men and women to believe in him and receive the gift of eternal life.
John 3:16
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Sadly, for people who engage in the selfish philosophy of hedonism, where self is all important and that there is no room for the God of the universe, there are some very sad days on the horizon
