Christian Behavior in the Last Days

The last days are here. We are no longer waiting for it or looking forward to it. The days Jesus referred to in Matthew 24 are visible to anyone who has read this passage of scripture. Jesus’ warning about the last days were intended to help His people be prepared for what is coming and to give hope. Christians are to be encourage through the hardships because Jesus’ return is soon to follow.

Matthew 24

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

These events are inevitable because Jesus said they will occur. Most of the events in this scripture are already happening somewhere in the world. The ones that haven’t happened will occur in more places around the world and greater frequency. We have to accept the fact that if turbulent times never came then Jesus wouldn’t need to come back. But because of sin, mankind’s increasing desire to do evil, and God’s unavoidable judgement of evil, Jesus must return. He will redeem everyone who has accepted His sacrifice. Everyone and everything else created by God must be judged by God.

The voice of sceptics is much louder than the voice of the believers today. The sceptics view is voiced daily on TV media, educational institutions, and even churches. Universities and public-school systems teach secular humanism, which is a form of atheism. Our youth are being given an education system of secular humanism that denies the very existence of God. Science, which is the study of the result of God creating the universe, is taught from the perspective of a random set of events which explains our existence. Most scientific explorations begin with the bias of denying the existence of an intelligent creator. This has lead to errant assumptions which are repeatedly proven to be false. God created the universe with great precision and purpose. All effort to prove otherwise leads to more unanswered questions and denial of the truth. Our society, in the US, has been on a long journey away from God and Biblical standards as a result of the Godless reeducation of our youth. Many people call themselves Christians and are on the same journey as society.

In the last four years I’ve seen Christian’s behavior toward President Trump reflect the same hatred as his political enemies and the mainstream media. Hateful and negative comments have come across pulpits in many churches. Some pastors even repeated quotes from the news that turned out to be false. The behavior of Christians should never reflect the negativity and hatred in the media. People of the world and God’s people have different standards when it comes to speech and behavior. Our standards of behavior are found in the Bible and we should be examples to the world when they’re displaying characteristics of the devil. No matter who sits in the White House we should respect and pray for them the entire time they fill that office whether it’s Pres. Trump, Pres. Biden, or whomever. No one sits in the White House without God allowing them to do so. God puts world leaders in place, and He removes them as He sees fit.

Daniel 2

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Christian who are against Pres. Trump should be praying for him that God would influence and bless his decision making in regard to the United States. Christians who are for or against Pres. Biden should do the same. We must be Christians first, before we are part of any other affiliation. Our ways are not the ways of the world but should reflect the character of Jesus Christ. In the last days we’re living, we will leaders and government showing animosity and persecuting the people of God, that is our primary measuring stick. As time moves forward, the enemies of God’s people will take off their sheep’s clothing and reveal who they truly are. Christians are true targets of the evil in governments and the coming one world government (NWO).

How Shall We Live

One of the 1st churches the Apostle Paul founded was in Philippi. It was the 1st church established in Europe. It was named after “Alexander the Great’s” father, Philip II of Macedon. He renamed it after himself after a great battle had taken place near the city of Crenides. Philippi was located near gold mines and a trade route which brought people from many lands. This made Philippi an ideal location to start a church. The city was a place where hardened Roman soldiers would go to settle and retire after years of war. The city was wealthy and had many resources, but the government was corrupt. Pagan religions were dominant shaped the culture in Philippi. The leaders were corrupt as well as anyone who had influence. The tough heartless mentality of the former soldiers made the culture apathetic and cold. The paganism of Philippi made social life perverse and Godless. The only way to survive or obtain wealth in that city was to become part of the corrupt Godless system of society and government. The newly founded church in Philippi was poor and heavily oppressed. They lived under the persecution and consternation of the pagan society. The believers in the new Christian religion of the day were struggling under the conditions in Philippi. Paul was imprisoned in Philippi for approx. 4 years with Silas, as recorded in Acts 16. In the midst of these harsh conditions for the church Paul gave the church of Philippi a letter reminding them of who they were and how they were to conduct themselves. The Christians in Philippi were to behave as follows:

How to behave:

· Be strong in the Lord in the face of Godless men. The Lord is your strength not your strength, not of yourselves.

· Do not fear death while serving God. Living in this world is service to Jesus. To die is to gain the eternal reward for our labors.

· People of God hold display the love and character of Jesus despite the conditions of life, government, health, or society.

· Don’t complain and mumble about the conditions and hardships. Serve Jesus faithfully without complaining.

· Focus only on the good things of the Lord while enduring persecution. Thing on them continually.

· Christians lives should always reflect the life and will of Jesus. In all things WWJD (What would Jesus do) is the reality.

· View the acceptance of society and high social status of society as “dung” and acceptance of Jesus as more precious than anything in this world.

Who we are:

· We are citizens of Heaven not of this world.

· The politics of this world are for this world. The politics of Heaven have only one ruler, Jesus Christ. Everything created is under His authority (Hebrews 1).

· Standards of behavior are governed by the Word of God and Jesus Christ not the laws of this world.

· Christians are a people who aspire to a higher calling of life and behavior that people in society.

Philippians 1

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Philippians 2

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Philippians 3

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

Philippians 4

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It is important to remember that Paul was demonstrating the behaviors a characteristics of Christians to those people he was writing. Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians and other books of the new testament while he was sitting in the Philippian jail. While he was imprisoned, he witnessed to his jailers, other prisoners, and anyone else under the sound of his voice. He did not set his heart and words against his oppressors but witnessed to them. Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to the other prisoners and jailers. God caused the earthquake that loosened his shackles and opened the doors to the prison. When Paul was faithful and praying to God and allowing God to judge the people that He put in power opened the door for Paul’s message to spread all over the region. It also opened the opportunity for Paul to go to Rome. The church in Philippi expanded and spread all over Europe as a result.

Imagine if leaders in the church and the people of God had lead the marches of protest after the murder of George Floyd. What if the gospel and message of forgiveness had replaced the message of vengeance and hate and lead to rioting, destruction, and death? I believe it could have lead to one of the nation’s greatest revival of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our country.

Looking to the future, Christians must stand up strong in the face of the spirit of rage and rebellion in the United States. Hatred and dissent against the current or future presidents should not be the behavior of Christians. Prayer, voting, and trust in God are the ways Christians can be the salt of the earth and be a blessing to our nation. The world and it’s Godless societies are on a downward spiral towards destruction. The ways of the world will be judged along with everything else in it. Christians have different ways which are Christ-like. Christians will be in the world for a time and will be taken to our true home in Heaven under a perfect, righteous, and eternal “Glorious Administration”.

Please Read All of the Book of the Philippians for encouragement and a guide in the last days.