ARE THESE REALLY THE LAST DAYS? - Other Features of the Sign

War is only one aspect of the sign Jesus mentioned.  He also warned that there would be food shortages."   (Matthew 24:7)  And so it has been, though paradoxically the earth is producing more food than is needed to feed all mankind, though agricultural science is more advanced than ever in human history, though speedy and efficient transportation is available to transport food anywhere in the world.  Despite all of that, about one fifth of this world's population goes hungry every day.

Jesus also foretold that "in one place after another" there would be "pestilences."  (Luke21:11)  Again, our age has  seen a strange paradox-better medical care than ever.  (not in Oklahoma) technological breakthroughs, vaccines to prevent many common diseases; yet pestilential diseases have made unprecedented strides as well.  The Spanish influenza followed swiftly on the heels of World War I  and claimed more lives than the war did.  So contagious  was this disease that in cities such as New York, people could be fined or jailed just for sneezing!   Today, cancer and heart disease  claim millions of lives each year-veritable pestilences. And AIDS continues  to strike down lives, basically unchecked  by medical science.  Whereas Jesus discussed the last days largely in terms of sweeping historical and political conditions, the apostle Paul put the focus more on social problems and prevalent attitudes.  He wrote, in part:  "Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.  For men will be lovers of themselves, . . .disloyal, having not natural affection, not open in any agreement, . . .without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, loves of pleasures rather than lovers of God." -2 Timothy 3:1-5.  

Do those words strike a familiar chord with you?  Consider just one aspect of social decay in today's world-the disintegration o the family.  The flood tide of broken homes, battered spouses, abused children, and maltreated elderly parents-how these show that people have "no natural affection," are "fierce," and even "betrayers,"  "without love of goodness"! Yes, we see these traits on an epidemic level today.

Next time:  ARE THESE REALLY THE LAST DAYS? - Is Our Generation the One Foretold?

The Watchtower, 1997