Times, They Areanging

Bible Reading: Revelation 11:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 9 - “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.”

Key Words: and nations shall see

The two witnesses will appear on earth during the Tribulation.  We are told that the whole world will, at the same time, be able to see the two witnesses in the streets of Jerusalem.  My father’s generation could not explain that.  How could the whole world see two dead men lying in the streets of Jerusalem at one time?

This was not possible in 1900!  This was not even possible in 1960!  But it is today.  We live in a rapidly progressing society, which is indicative of the last days.  I read the following article, which gives a good description of how rapidly things have changed and are changing.

“One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events.  The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. 

“The grandfather replied, ‘Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees, the pill and the cell phone.  There were no credit cards, laser beams or ballpoint pens.  Man had not invented panty hose, air conditioners, dishwashers, or clothes dryers.  The clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air.  Man hadn’t yet walked on the moon.  Your grandmother and I got married first…and then lived together.  Every family had a father and a mother.  Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, ‘Sir.’  After I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, ‘Sir.’  We were born before gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.  Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense.  We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.  Serving our country was a privilege, and living in this country was a bigger privilege.  Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.  Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breezes started.  Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends – not purchasing condominiums.  We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.  We listened to the big bands, Jack Benny, and the President’s speeches on our radios.  And I don’t ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.  If you saw anything with ‘Made in Japan’ on it, it was junk.  The term ‘making out’ referred to how you did on your school exam.  Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and instant coffee were unheard of.  We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents.  Ice cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel.  And, if you didn’t want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards.  You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600…but who could afford one?  Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.  And in my day ‘grass’ was mowed, ‘coke’ was a cold drink, ‘pot’ was something your mother cooked in, and ‘rock music’ was your grandmother’s lullaby.  ‘Aids’ were helpers in the principal’s office; ‘chip’ meant a piece of wood; ‘hardware’ was found in a hardware store and ‘software’ wasn’t even a word.  Teenagers did not walk around with a cell phone in their ear and drivers paid attention to driving, not talking on the phone.  And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.  No wonder people call us ‘old and confused’ and say there is a generation gap…and how old do you think I am?’” 

I bet you have this old man in mind – you are in for a shock!  This man would only be 59 years old.  Times, they are changing – rapidly!

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse                              

What to do: 

✞Since things are happening so rapidly, we must be rapid in our soul winning and service for the Lord. Procrastination is not an option.

✞Be keenly aware of opportunities for service.

✞Teach your children that, while we live in a modern world, we still live by the old, old Book!