by Angela Moreno

Jesus told us in Matthew 24:7-12  exactly what we would see in the final days before He returns for His children. I believe we are seeing these verse play out before our very eyes. When I turn on the television, I’m amazed and disgusted with what I see. Race against race, threats of nuclear war, and children taught that gender is a choice. Our world is spinning out of control.

I want to look at three of those verses so we can see exactly how we are living in the last days and how each of these verses are actively occurring right now:

• Matthew 24:7: For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

What is going on in North Korea? A day doesn’t go by that we don’t hear about a nuclear threat and President Trump threatening to go to war over this threat. Venezuela is threatening the White House if we intervene in their problems. These are just a few of the current conflicts. Israel and Palestine are still fighting and many other countries in the Middle East are in conflict. The treat of another World War has never been higher.

Natural disasters are at an all-time high also. In the past two months alone, a whole range of natural disasters have occurred. An Earthquake in China killed more than 100 people. An unprecedented heat wave has hit Iraq with temperatures soaring up to 124 degrees. Birds are dropping from the sky and dying because of the heat. Flooding in India has killed over 213 people and wildfires are destroying France.

• Matthew 24:9: Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

What do North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Eritrea all have in common? These are the top countries for persecuting Christians. The Middle East and Asia are known for their persecution of Christians. Isis in particular targets Christians and anyone who does not follow the Islamic faith. Many Christians are beheaded for their faith.

Even in the United States, we can see the decline of the acceptance of the Christian faith. Relics of Christianity that have been in place for decades are ordered to be removed from public places. We are told that we must accept the Islamic faith and even teach Islamic principles in school. However, teaching Christianity is highly frowned upon and “against the law.” Read some of the comments on Facebook posts or news articles. I’m disgusted by some of the anti-Christian remarks belittling anyone who believes in prayer and the power of God.

• Matthew 24:10: And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

What has been plastered all over our televisions for the past few weeks? Hatred. Raceagainst race, religion against religion, men against women. The Ku Klux Klan is back in full force supporting white supremacy. Nazi flags are flown with pride. We have the “Black Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” movements. Division has never been more prevalent in our nation.

Hatred isn’t the only way our society has fallen away. Did you know that we now have more than one gender and that children are being taught how to choose their gender in school? Confusion is all around us and children are being taught to accept principles that aren’t Godly. There is even a website devoted to teaching children that there isn’t a God.

How do we overcome this new society? We stand on the principles we know to be true and holy. We stand on the word of God. Proverbs 10:12: Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. We don’t add to the hatred and the confusion. We don’t have to accept things that aren’t Godly but we also don’t have to add to the problem.

Respond in love in all situations. Remember that these are the very last days. Jesus is returning soon. We must do what we can to make sure that the world hears about the love of Jesus and do our part to make sure everyone understands the choice they have. They can choose to follow Jesus or they can choose to follow Satan. We choose to follow the light and not live in hatred.