Information Related to "The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil"
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It's not hard to see how mankind's choice has affected our world.
Consider this description of our time that comes from a perspective beyond the human sphere:
"In the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
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The apostle Paul, thousands of years in advance, nailed this list of many of the causes of humanity's ills. God's Spirit showed clearly the things we are doing that are making our world more dangerous by the minute.
Jesus' disciples knew even then that the world was getting worse and worse, and would finally reach a point where these and other evils would crescendo to a final climax. Jesus told them He would return to begin a new age of peace. So they asked Him, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?, New International Version).
Jesus' answer was breathtaking in its scope, but one phrase caught their ears. "For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world till now-and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22 [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
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The future of humanity is at stake! Jesus Christ identified the time of His return as a time when human extinction was possible. But He promised He wouldn't let that happen! The good news is that, before we can destroy ourselves, the story will change.
Jesus Christ will literally return to this earth-to the highly contested piece of real estate we know as Jerusalem! In the same way the disciples saw Christ ascend into the clouds after His resurrection, He will return through the clouds to this earth, but this time with power and great glory (Acts 1:11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.; Matthew 24:30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.).
That's the biggest news story in history, especially since if He did not come, humanity would destroy itself. Humankind continues to find more ways to obliterate every man, woman and child off the face of the earth.
Biblical prophecy describes in detail the time of great distress, or tribulation, that will envelope the earth. Wars, disasters, famines and disease epidemics will decimate the population.
Finally, when the nations of the world gather for battle at a place called Armageddon (Revelation 16:14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty., Revelation 16:16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.), Christ will swiftly intervene before it is too late. Sadly, the nations will not recognize or welcome their Savior, but will fight Him.
"Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east" (Zechariah 14:3-4 [3] Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
[4] And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
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The battle will be over swiftly, ending the painful age of human misrule. Finally a new day will dawn-a day fresh with the promise of peace and fulfillment, of joy and purpose, of happiness and accomplishment. The nightmares of history will fade, and the dreams of mankind will begin to come to life.
The time after Christ's return will be wonderful beyond imagination! No wonder Christians have always prayed, "Your Kingdom come!" At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ tells us, "Surely I am coming quickly." And we fervently respond with the apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.).
For more information, read online the free Bible study aids The Middle East in Bible Prophecy and Are We Living in the Time of the End? .
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