{"id":8409,"date":"2022-06-06T14:59:34","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T18:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?p=8409"},"modified":"2026-06-13T15:52:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T19:52:45","slug":"sinners-and-saints-in-the-end-times-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/sinners-and-saints-in-the-end-times-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinners, Saints, and the End-Times (248)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Sinners, Saints, and the End-Times<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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By Steven J. Hogan<\/p>\n

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~ A Saturday Morning Post #248 ~

<\/em>Isn\u2019t it true that you see, hear, and feel the sin most all the time? And you may be thinking it\u2019s getting worse in this world, and it is. Then you may wonder why this country, along with other nations, are becoming so sinful, so evil, so wicked. What are the reasons for this?

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Five things are currently contributing to and compounding the sin and the evil in our country:
* First, all people are sinners, and because they\u2019re sinners, they sin. The following passages each give a list of specific sins – Mark 7:20-23, Rom. 1:28-32, Gal. 5:19-21, 2 Tim. 3:2-4, and Rev. 21:8.
* Second, we live in an evil age which is why we live in a sinful world. This age started with Adam\u2019s sin and ends with cosmic disturbances suddenly darkening this entire planet. Matt. 24:29, Rev. 6:12-14
* Third, \u201cthe whole world lies in the power of the evil one\u201d <\/em>(1 John 5:19). The devil wickedly and greatly affects every part of this world. And though not responsible for a person\u2019s sin, he tempts and entices him to sin. \u201c\u2026 the snare of the devil\u2026\u201d<\/em> 2 Tim. 2:26, Gen. 3:1-5

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* Fourth, from the 1960\u2019s until now, there\u2019s been a dramatic decline in our country\u2019s character, and a corresponding increase in sin. People have been saying, \u201cGod is dead,\u201d <\/em>children have been told they can\u2019t pray in school, evolution has been publicly taught, and there\u2019s a steady decline in church attendance. Rom. 1:18-32 explains what\u2019s happening, from rejecting God to immorality to homosexuality to depravity. God has given this country over to her sin and has also given the devil more freedom to fulfil his evil plans (Job 1:6-12). 2 Tim. 3:12 sums it up, \u201cEvil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.\u201d<\/em>
* Fifth, we live in the end-times, and Christ told us that during this time, evil will increase. (Matt. 24:12). And don\u2019t forget that the \u201cman of lawlessness\u201d<\/em>, the Antichrist, is coming, and he will further fuel this sin, injecting evil into our world like never before. 2 Thess. 2:3, Rev. 13:7-8

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As Christians, we should never be surprised by all the evil in this increasingly sin-sick world. What took place during the time of Judges aptly describes what\u2019s now going on – \u201cEveryone did what was right in his own eyes\u201d<\/em> (Judges 21:25). And we can\u2019t deny that it\u2019s difficult to live in a world that hates God and hates us. The Bible gives examples of this: Lot was \u201coppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men\u2026 <\/em>(Lot) felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds\u201d<\/em> (2 Pet. 2:7-8). David was harassed by sinners – \u201cEvils beyond number surround me\u201d<\/em> (Ps. 40:12). Paul was persecuted by evildoers – \u201cJews\u2026 stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.\u201d<\/em> Acts 13:9

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Then there\u2019s Jesus Christ, a \u201cMan of sorrows.\u201d <\/em>And why? The Son of God knew and felt the core problem of our spiritually dark and dirty world far more than anyone else. Can you imagine how troubling it was for this perfect Man to live on this unholy earth? But He knew He was the Light of the World, the Savior, the Answer to our problem, the Victor over all sin and all sinners. As a Christian, be extremely thankful that Christ loved you and saved your soul from sin, death, the devil and hell! \u201cYou have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 86:12-13

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But we\u2019re still in this world, and being surrounded by all this sin is like like living in a filthy-dirty, clutter-filled house, and only much worse. This is when you need to understand that God is sovereign over sinners, and uses them for His eternal purposes and glory. Here are some examples:
* God sovereignly used sinners to bring about the death of His own Son. \u201cThis man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death, but God raised Him from the dead\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:23-24). Back in eternity past, God planned that certain evil men would kill His Son, and they did, resulting in the salvation of millions, if not billions of sinners, and God being eternally glorified. Acts 4:27-28
* God raised up that wicked Pharoah, using him to terribly oppress the Jews, which led to their freedom, their exodus out of Egypt. \u201cFor this purpose, I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.\u201d <\/em>Romans 9:17

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* God wanted Paul to be persecuted and put in prison for the preaching of the gospel. \u201c\u2026 my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard.\u201d<\/em> Phil. 1:12
* In the future, God will sovereignly direct that most devilish man, the beast, the Antichrist, to carry out His plans. \u201cGod has put it in their hearts <\/em>(the ten horns and the beast) to execute His purpose by having a common purpose.\u201d<\/em> Rev. 17:16-17

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* Be encouraged by God\u2019s power over sinners, for it relates to your life, and to all of life. Sinners will only do what God desires, what He allows them to do. Even today, the rulers in our country are fulfilling His purposes. \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes\u201d<\/em> (Prov. 21:1). And yes, there are murderers and mass murderers, liars, rapists, robbers, cheaters, and false teachers, but God is sovereignly and wisely using them for His purposes. And don\u2019t forget that God is just, and that all evildoers who never repent of their sins will be severely and eternally punished in the lake of fire. Matt. 25:46, Rev. 20:11-15

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What about your own life? I am sure you are affected by sinners and their sin in a way that\u2019s troubling, tiring, saddening, and yes, maddening. Seeing and hearing about their pride, anger, hate, and sensuality, makes you want to leave earth and go home to heaven. And this sin will only get worse the closer we are to the end of the age. 2 Thess. 2:9-12 says the sinners \u201ctook pleasure in wickedness.\u201d <\/em>Matt. 24:9 informs us, \u201cThey will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.\u201d <\/em>Luke 21:16 warns us, \u201cYou will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.\u201d<\/em> Rev. 13:7 soberly says, \u201cIt was given to him <\/em>(Antichrist) to make war with the saints.\u201d

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Woe! This doesn\u2019t sound good, but it\u2019s true, and it\u2019s what God wants you to know. When it comes to suffering, Jesus told you: \u201cRemember the word I said to you, \u2018A slave is not greater than His master.\u2019 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you\u201d<\/em> (John 15:20). He also said, \u201cBlessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great\u201d<\/em> (Matt. 5:10-12). Do look at 1 Peter, a needed epistle for the end-times, one loaded with truth about suffering for Jesus – 1 Pet. 1:7-8, 1 Pet. 2:20-24, 1 Pet. 3:13-18, 1 Pet. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:12-19, 1 Pet. 5:8-11.

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But it\u2019s not just about suffering for Jesus – it\u2019s about serving, soldiering, and sharing the gospel. A great many sinners will be saved and become saints in the last years of this age. Hallelujah! Know too that God is raising up an army of spiritually strong soldiers for the end-times, Joshuas, Deborahs, Davids, and Pauls, ones who will be bravely battling for God. They will stand firm (Eph. 6:10-13), be overcomers (Rom. 8:35-39), and be victorious (Rev. 7:9-12). God will give them and us all the faith, love, hope, courage, wisdom, grace, and peace we need to keep living and fighting for Him. \u201cOnward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.\u201d

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In all this, remember the good news<\/strong>. The good news<\/strong> is Jesus Christ<\/strong> and the gospel message of salvation from sin. The good news<\/strong> is that God deeply loves you all the time. The good news<\/strong> is that God, through the Holy Spirit, is always with you. The good news<\/strong> is that it\u2019s not totally dark in this world, for the true church is a light for Christ, a light to the lost. The good news<\/strong> is that it won\u2019t be long before this evil age comes to an end, and Christ returns to rapture the church, glorify the believers, take us to heaven, and then judge this wicked world. The good news<\/strong> is that Jesus Christ will perfectly and gloriously reign over this world for 1,000 years, and we will reign with Him. \u201cHoly, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.\u201d<\/em> Isaiah 6:3

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P.S. As a Christian, you must understand the nature of sin and sinners in the end-times, or you will get discouraged by what’s happening. Here are two other posts that will also help you understand sin, sinners, and what’s going on in our world today – “Living With Evil in the End-Times”<\/a><\/em>, and “What’s Wrong With this World?” <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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