Moral Signs of the Last Days

Scripture also speaks of moral signs that will emerge during the future tribulation period.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied is power.  Avoid such men as these.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB)

Notice that in the last days, people will love self (we might call this humanism), money (we might call this materialism), and pleasure (we might call this hedonism).  It is significant that humanism, materialism, and hedonism are three of the most prominent philosophies in our world today, and they complement each other.  Jesus Himself gave this warning:

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold…For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:12, 37-39)

This passage specifically refers to the future tribulation period, but we see the attitude Jesus described in our own day.  People are merrily going about their way, seemingly with no concern for the things of God.

Without a doubt, America is engulfed in a moral crisis.  This moral fiber of this country is eroding before our very eyes, and if the trend continues, it is only a matter of time before the country capitulates.

Today there is widespread acceptance of homosexuality.  Abortion—even the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion—continues to be widely practiced, with some 50 million unborn babies having been murdered since the enactment of Roe v. Wade in 1973.  Pornography is pervasive and freely available on the Internet, enslaving millions as sex addicts.

Drug abuse and alcoholism are pervasive as well among both teenagers and adults.  Promiscuity, fornication, and adultery continue to escalate to ever new heights, bringing about the carnage of sexually transmitted diseases.

Meanwhile, the family unit is disintegrating before our eyes.  The divorce rate is around 50 percent, and many today are living together outside of marriage.  Out-of-wedlock births have escalated to new highs, with 40 percent of women not being married when they give birth.  As well, gay couples are adopting children, raising them in a homosexual atmosphere.

People are far more interested in happiness than in holiness.  They yearn more for pleasure than for praising God.  Humanism, materialism, and hedonism reign in the end times!

Ron Rhodes, The End Times In Chronological Order, p.102-104