Continue with FEATURES OF THE LAST DAYS
"Disobedient to parents." (2 Timothy 3:2) Present-day parents, teachers and others have firsthand evidence that many children are disrespectful and disobedient. Some of theses youngsters are either reacting to or imitating their parents' misbehavior. Increasing numbers of children are losing faith in-and rebelling against-school,the law, religion and their parents. "As a trend," says one veteran schoolteacher, "they seem to have very little respect for anything." Happily, though, many God-fearing children are exemplary in behavior.
"Fierce." (2 Timothy 3:3) The Greek word translated "fierce" means 'untamed, wild, lacking human sympathy and feeling.' How well this fits many perpetrators of today's violence! "Life is so traumatic, so bloodied with horror that it takes a cast-iron stomach to read the daily news," said one editorial. A housing-p0licew sergeant noted that many youths seem to blind themselves to the consequences of their actions. He said: "There is a feeling that, 'I don't know about tomorrows. I'll get what I want today.' "
"Having no natural affection." (2 Timothy 3:3) This phrase is translated from A Greek word meaning "heartless, inhuman " and denoting a "lack of natural , family affection." (The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology) Yes, affection is often missing in the very environment in which it should flourish-the home. Reports of abusive treament of marriage mates, children, and even of elderly parents have become disturbingly common. One research team commented: "Human violence-be it a slap or a shove, a knifing or a shoot-out-occurs more frequently within the family circle than anywhere else in our society."
"Having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power." ( 2 Timothy 3:5) The Bible has the power to change lives for the better. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Yet, many today use their religion as a screen behind which they carry on unrighteous activities that displease God. Lying, stealing, and sexual misconduct are often condoned by religious leaders. Many religions preach love but support warfare. "In the name of the Supreme Creator," observes and editorial in the magazine India Today, "human beings have perpetrated the most abominable atrocities against their fellow creatures." In fact,the two bloodiest conflicts of recent times-World War I and II -erupted in the heart of Christendom.
Next time: Continue with FEATURES OF THE LAST DAYS!
The Book -KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995
Showing posts with label Features of the Last Days. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Features of the Last Days. Show all posts
10.31.2011
Chapter 11 -THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS!
FEATURES OF THE LAST DAYS
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:4) Writer Ernest Hemingway called World War I "the most colossal murderous, mismanaged butchery that has ever taken place on earth." According to the book The World in the Crucible -1914-1919, this was a new scope of war,the first total war in the experience of mankind. Its duration, intensity, and scale exceeded anything previously known or generally expected." Then came World War II, which proved much more destructive than World War I. "The twentieth century," say professor of history Hugh Thomas, "has been dominated by the machine gun, the tank, the B-52, the nuclear bomb and, finally, the missile. It has been marked by wars more bloody and destructive than those of any other age." True, much was said about disarmament after the Cold War ended. Still, one report estimates that after proposed reductions some 10,000 to 20,000 nuclear warheads will remain -more than 900 times the firepower used during World War II.
"There will be food shortages." (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:5, 6, 8) Since 1914 there have been at least 20 major famines. Afflicted areas include Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan. But famine is not always caused by a lack of food. "The world's food supply over recent decades has grown faster than its population," concluded a group of agricultural scientists and economists. "But because at least 800 million people remain in deep poverty, . . . they are unable to purchase enough of the abundance to life them out of chronic malnutrition." Political meddling is involved in other cases. Dr. Abdelgalil Elmekki of the University of Toronto cites two examples in which thousands starved while their countries were exporting massive amounts of food. The governments seemed far more concerned with raising foreign currency to finance their wars than with feeding their citizens. Dr. Elmekki's conclusion? Famine is often "a matter of distribution and government policy."
"Pestilences." (Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:8) The Spanish influenza of 1918-19 claimed at least 21 million lives. "The world had never in history been ravaged by a killer that slew so many human beings so quickly," writes A.A. Hoehling in the Great Epidemic. Today, pestilences rage on. Each year, cancer kills five million people, diarrheal diseases claim the lives of more than three million. Respiratory infections, mainly pneumonia, annually kill 3.5 million youngsters under five years of age. And a staggering 2.5 billion-half the world's population-suffer from sicknesses that stem from insufficient or contaminated water and poor sanitation. AIDS looms as a further reminder that man, despite his significant medical accomplishments, is incapable of eradicating pestilences.
"Men will be . . . lovers of money." (2 Timothy 3:2) In lands around the world, people seem to have an insatiable hunger for greater wealth. "Success" is often measured by the size of one's paycheck, "accomplishment" by how much one owns. "Materialism will continue to be one of the driving forces in American society . . . and an increasingly important force in other major markets as well, declared the vice president of an advertising agency. Is this happening where you live?
Next time: Continue with: FEATURES OF THE LAST DAYS
The Book -KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:4) Writer Ernest Hemingway called World War I "the most colossal murderous, mismanaged butchery that has ever taken place on earth." According to the book The World in the Crucible -1914-1919, this was a new scope of war,the first total war in the experience of mankind. Its duration, intensity, and scale exceeded anything previously known or generally expected." Then came World War II, which proved much more destructive than World War I. "The twentieth century," say professor of history Hugh Thomas, "has been dominated by the machine gun, the tank, the B-52, the nuclear bomb and, finally, the missile. It has been marked by wars more bloody and destructive than those of any other age." True, much was said about disarmament after the Cold War ended. Still, one report estimates that after proposed reductions some 10,000 to 20,000 nuclear warheads will remain -more than 900 times the firepower used during World War II.
"There will be food shortages." (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:5, 6, 8) Since 1914 there have been at least 20 major famines. Afflicted areas include Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan. But famine is not always caused by a lack of food. "The world's food supply over recent decades has grown faster than its population," concluded a group of agricultural scientists and economists. "But because at least 800 million people remain in deep poverty, . . . they are unable to purchase enough of the abundance to life them out of chronic malnutrition." Political meddling is involved in other cases. Dr. Abdelgalil Elmekki of the University of Toronto cites two examples in which thousands starved while their countries were exporting massive amounts of food. The governments seemed far more concerned with raising foreign currency to finance their wars than with feeding their citizens. Dr. Elmekki's conclusion? Famine is often "a matter of distribution and government policy."
"Pestilences." (Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:8) The Spanish influenza of 1918-19 claimed at least 21 million lives. "The world had never in history been ravaged by a killer that slew so many human beings so quickly," writes A.A. Hoehling in the Great Epidemic. Today, pestilences rage on. Each year, cancer kills five million people, diarrheal diseases claim the lives of more than three million. Respiratory infections, mainly pneumonia, annually kill 3.5 million youngsters under five years of age. And a staggering 2.5 billion-half the world's population-suffer from sicknesses that stem from insufficient or contaminated water and poor sanitation. AIDS looms as a further reminder that man, despite his significant medical accomplishments, is incapable of eradicating pestilences.
"Men will be . . . lovers of money." (2 Timothy 3:2) In lands around the world, people seem to have an insatiable hunger for greater wealth. "Success" is often measured by the size of one's paycheck, "accomplishment" by how much one owns. "Materialism will continue to be one of the driving forces in American society . . . and an increasingly important force in other major markets as well, declared the vice president of an advertising agency. Is this happening where you live?
Next time: Continue with: FEATURES OF THE LAST DAYS
The Book -KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995
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