Below is a scripture guide to the last days before the church is caught up:
2Timothy 3:1-7
(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.
(6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
(7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Paul is referring to the last days, as times nearing the end of this present age of grace. Reading the above passages, one can surely make a claim that it resembles today. According to Paul, people, including believers, will no longer bear or put up with the word of God. They will ‘turn away’ from the truth and follow their own greedy, lustful thoughts. In this author’s observation and experience in life, this vision by Paul is becoming more prominent as time moves forward – one can only imagine as the years go on.
2 Peter 3:3-4
(3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
(4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Peter also recognizes how people will question the Lords return.
2Thessalonians 2:1-3
(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Paul writes that before the man of sin is revealed in this world, a ‘falling away’ will occur. This falling away is also a turning away of the sound word of God. Perhaps a great falling away will occur soon that will sharply divide this nation. We, as true believers in Jesus Christ, must be aware of this and not fall into the apostasy of spiritualism and new age belief with their outward appearance of godliness.