Is this an end time thing?

[Hannah66]

I know scripture says "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,' Matthew 24:12

but is anyone else noticing a pattern where loved ones and people you know are changing their behaviour and becoming
nasty and sarcastic, and at times, abusive.

I've noticed this with some family members now and also some friends.
They have no time for you, or becoming overly selfish and preoccupied
and, when you go to share, they say they have to go or are busy.

I've had some friends become abusive and seem to have no filter now and they will
say that they truly think about you.

This is with christians and non-christians.

My own husband, a christian man, turned on me 8 years ago and changes his personality and became
from being a gentle person, to an abusive person.

I've noticed a pattern.

Can anyone back this up?

It's like there has been a shift in relationships and how people interact with each other.

Thanks in advance.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @Hannah66, yes, I've noticed this sad shift in recent years (it's impossible to miss). The change is blatantly obvious in the world, and (again) sadly, within my own family now too, but far less, if at all (I'm happy to report), within both my church and more extended Christian family.

To give you one personal example, I have a LARGE family (there are more than 5,000 of us living in relatively close proximity to one another), and we are a very diverse group (politically/religiously/socially). The cool thing ~was~, we did far more than just tolerate each other, we really loved each other (most of the time ), even though we were a giant/diverse group And we had fun together and (truly) enjoyed one another, as we regularly chose to put our differences aside for the sake of "family" whenever we got together.

Unfortunately, this has changed now, ~especially~ in the last 4-5 years, mostly due some of my family members' opposing political views. Sadly, where we once put such differences aside and enjoyed one another, now certain members of my family steadfastly refuse to even come to our family functions if certain other members of my family (of the opposite political persuasion) are planning on being there too

I honestly didn't see it coming, in large part, I think, because it happened so fast! My family appears to have become a polarized extension of our polarized world where we see those who differ in some way from us (especially politically in my family) as adversaries first and foremost, and then family as a distant second (I assume that the extended lockdowns probably played a role in this).

So yes, I have experienced all of the things that you mentioned in your OP, up close and personal

The positive takeaway is this, loving-kindness is contagious (especially during times like this), so let's choose to be different by ALWAYS being the kind of Christians that the Lord has called us to be (Matthew 5:43-45, 7:12; Galatians 5:14, 6:9-10), as those who also speak the truth to others, in love (as both salt and light .. Matthew 5:13-16), to the MANY in our families and in this world who so desperately need to hear it and know it (the "truth", that is)

Matthew 7​

12 However you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.​

Who knows, maybe we can even get some of what we used to have (not so long ago) back (and perhaps even more than we used to have)

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - I also believe that social media has had a BIG effect on us too (perhaps it should be called unsocial or antisocial media instead )

 

[Matt5]

I've noticed this too.

The hardest thing to accept is that this is not going to turn around. But you can improve your situation by understanding how things work and being nice in the face of bad behavior. Not easy, but better than getting nasty back.

What about sharing your good or bad news? Sadly, you're mostly on your own here. Nobody cares. But you can care about somebody else's news.

There are reasons for this bad behavior but they aren't easily fixable. For example, rent sucking up 50% of someone's income. Then they just struggle to get by. And they tend to get a little nasty because they're stressed out.

Relationships between men and women are mostly broken. 75% of marriages are unhappy. Even before marriage they are broken. Most women literally want Mr. 1% and can't understand why 90% of men are not Mr. 1%. Mr. 1% is a jerk, so apparently all men are jerks anyway. So broken. And not fixable.

Of course, all of this is actually fixable but it would take a big war to do it. So not realistically fixable.

 

[Hannah66]

Hello @Hannah66, yes, I've noticed this sad shift in recent years (it's impossible to miss). The change is blatantly obvious in the world, and (again) sadly, within my own family now too, but far less, if at all (I'm happy to report), within both my church and more extended Christian family.

To give you one personal example, I have a LARGE family (there are more than 5,000 of us living in relatively close proximity to one another), and we are a very diverse group (politically/religiously/socially). The cool thing ~was~, we did far more than just tolerate each other, we really loved each other (most of the time ), even though we were a giant/diverse group And we had fun together and (truly) enjoyed one another, as we regularly chose to put our differences aside for the sake of "family" whenever we got together.

Unfortunately, this has changed now, ~especially~ in the last 4-5 years, mostly due some of my family members' opposing political views. Sadly, where we once put our differences aside and enjoyed one another, now certain members of my family steadfastly refuse to even come to our family functions if certain other members of my family (of the opposite political persuasion) are planning on being there too

I honestly didn't see it coming, in large part, I think, because it happened so fast! My family appears to have become a polarized extension of our polarized world where we see those who differ in some way from us (especially politically in my family) as adversaries first and foremost, and family as a distant second (I assume that the extended lockdowns probably played a role in this).

So yes, I have experienced all of the things that you mentioned in your OP, up close and personal

The positive takeaway is this, loving-kindness is contagious (especially during times like this), so let's choose to be different by ALWAYS being the kind of Christians that the Lord has called us to be (Matthew 5:43-45, 7:12; Galatians 5:14, 6:9-10), as those who also speak the truth to others, in love (as both salt and light .. Matthew 5:13-16), to the MANY in our families and in this world who so desperately need to hear it and know it (the "truth", that is)

Matthew 7​

12 However you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.​

Who knows, maybe we can even get some of what we used to have (not so long ago) back (and perhaps even more than we used to have)

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - I also believe that social media has had a BIG effect on us too (perhaps it should be called unsocial or antisocial media instead

Thank you, David and God bless. Thanks for sharing and for the encouraging verses.

 

[Hannah66]

I've noticed this too.

The hardest thing to accept is that this is not going to turn around. But you can improve your situation by understanding how things work and being nice in the face of bad behavior. Not easy, but better than getting nasty back.

What about sharing your good or bad news? Sadly, you're mostly on your own here. Nobody cares. But you can care about somebody else's news.

There are reasons for this bad behavior but they aren't easily fixable. For example, rent sucking up 50% of someone's income. Then they just struggle to get by. And they tend to get a little nasty because they're stressed out.

Relationships between men and women are mostly broken. 75% of marriages are unhappy. Even before marriage they are broken. Most women literally want Mr. 1% and can't understand why 90% of men are not Mr. 1%. Mr. 1% is a jerk, so apparently all men are jerks anyway. So broken. And not fixable.

Of course, all of this is actually fixable but it would take a big war to do it. So not realistically fixable.

Thanks for sharing. I understand the rent struggle but I continue to perservere through adversity and trust in God for His provisions and smile and be kind to my neighbour. God bless.

 

[com7fy8]

Yes, people are breaking down because they are not strong and mature in Jesus Christ's love.

But God's love "bears all things" and "hopes all things" > in 1 Corinthians 13:7. So, God's love keeps us alive with hope for even the impossible people who are turning against us.

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (2 Corinthians 12:15)

So, right while evil people are turning against us, still God is able to have us growing more and more abundant in love for them.

Not fearing them and how they try to cancel us >

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (in 1 John 4:18)

So, the love that grows cold is not God's love!! And so, when I start to get irritated and give in to arguing or unforgiveness, right away I need to trust God to correct me, and not just try to straighten someone else out. But be changed, right then, corrected so I am an example to encourage the other to get real in love. God uses example >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

 

[AlexB23]

I know scripture says "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,' Matthew 24:12

but is anyone else noticing a pattern where loved ones and people you know are changing their behaviour and becoming
nasty and sarcastic, and at times, abusive.

I've noticed this with some family members now and also some friends.
They have no time for you, or becoming overly selfish and preoccupied
and, when you go to share, they say they have to go or are busy.

I've had some friends become abusive and seem to have no filter now and they will
say that they truly think about you.

This is with christians and non-christians.

My own husband, a christian man, turned on me 8 years ago and changes his personality and became
from being a gentle person, to an abusive person.

I've noticed a pattern.

Can anyone back this up?

It's like there has been a shift in relationships and how people interact with each other.

Thanks in advance.

Probably technology has a play in this. Yes, this is an end time thing.

 

[Freth]

I know scripture says "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,' Matthew 24:12

but is anyone else noticing a pattern where loved ones and people you know are changing their behaviour and becoming
nasty and sarcastic, and at times, abusive.

I've noticed this with some family members now and also some friends.
They have no time for you, or becoming overly selfish and preoccupied
and, when you go to share, they say they have to go or are busy.

I've had some friends become abusive and seem to have no filter now and they will
say that they truly think about you.

This is with christians and non-christians.

My own husband, a christian man, turned on me 8 years ago and changes his personality and became
from being a gentle person, to an abusive person.

I've noticed a pattern.

Can anyone back this up?

It's like there has been a shift in relationships and how people interact with each other.

Thanks in advance.

Do I think we're living in the time of the end? Yes.

Lawlessness

Matthew 24:12 KJV And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.​

​

NKJV says, "because lawlessness will abound."

​

Strong's G458 iniquity (anomia): iniquity (12x), unrighteousness (1x), transgress the law (with G4160) (1x), transgression of the law (1x).​

1. the condition of without law
   
   1. because ignorant of it
   2. because of violating it
2. contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

ἀνομία anomía, an-om-ee'-ah; from G459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:—iniquity, × transgress(-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.​

​

ἀνομία, -ας, ἡ, (ἄνομος);​

1. properly, the condition of one without law — either because ignorant of it, or because violating it.​

2. contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness: Matthew 23:28​

John defines sin as transgression of the law.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.​

​

What law are Jesus and John talking about? It's not the law of man, it's the law of God.

In 2 Timothy we find a perfect description of today's society.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.​

There are many who scoff at the idea that we live in the end time, saying that people have always been this way, but take note that Paul ties the description to the last days.

What has happened to people? What has gone wrong?

1. They transgress the law of God.
2. They do not have or keep the faith of Jesus, nor the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy (the above is prophecy).

The State of Society

Wickedness abounds.

Noah's day.

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.​

​

Jesus' prophecy.

​

Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.​

I grew up in the 70's and 80's. In my own lifetime I've seen society change drastically. Yes, there has always been sin and wickedness, but it's like someone cranked the volume knob up to max. The meters are peaking.

Technology has changed society in so many ways. Many no longer look at the world through their own eyes, but instead gaze at it through a smart device. Go to a public place and you will see people staring at their screens rather than looking at the world around them. When something of note happens around them they raise their phones to record it and watch it through the screen. It (technology) has brought out the worst in humanity. We are selfish, self-centered and narcissistic. We have become introverted, impatient, and are quick to anger. We are nervous, easily agitated, unable to focus, unable to cope. Read some Reddit forums and you'll see people are crying out for help. If you want to get a true sense of how far gone we are watch some Tiktok videos. They will melt your brain.

People will say that it has always been this bad. That technology is amplifying it, making it more apparent. Maybe that is true, but technology is not only amplifying the perception of wickedness, but causing it to abound (Matthew 24:12). I think we ignore the signs of the time at our own peril, just like the people in the days of Noah.

 

[Richard T]

Yes it is happening. A pastor visiting my church preached a whole sermon on this. I recall it plainly cause it explained alot to me. He quoted
Luke 18:8 (KJV)
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The point of this was that to the Pastor and what he was observing that this was potentially a literal question and a quite scary one at that. I believe part of this is due to an increase of suffering. Even if one ignored covid, it was a pain non matter what. The sad thing is that the worse is yet to come. We could be in WWIII any minute. Politically America is at new lows, and there are some terrible economic possibilities out there, as well as potential natural disasters. Add in the disruptive social media and press anger and America is reeling. All of this wears on a person and leaves many at new lows.

The solution? Isaiah 26:3 A mind stayed on God is perfect peace, (translated it is shalom, shalom).
We simply have to press into God more to receive the grace needed to overcome. a few minutes a day and a sermon 2 or 3 times a month is not going to get it. Preparation requires time with God to hear from Him, to change daily habits so that we can be more aligned with the word and less with the world. That you are aware of this means you are sensitive and craving more of God to right the ship.

Hope that helps, RT

 

[Hannah66]

Yes it is happening. A pastor visiting my church preached a whole sermon on this. I recall it plainly cause it explained alot to me. He quoted
Luke 18:8 (KJV)
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The point of this was that to the Pastor and what he was observing that this was potentially a literal question and a quite scary one at that. I believe part of this is due to an increase of suffering. Even if one ignored covid, it was a pain non matter what. The sad thing is that the worse is yet to come. We could be in WWIII any minute. Politically America is at new lows, and there are some terrible economic possibilities out there, as well as potential natural disasters. Add in the disruptive social media and press anger and America is reeling. All of this wears on a person and leaves many at new lows.

The solution? Isaiah 26:3 A mind stayed on God is perfect peace, (translated it is shalom, shalom).
We simply have to press into God more to receive the grace needed to overcome. a few minutes a day and a sermon 2 or 3 times a month is not going to get it. Preparation requires time with God to hear from Him, to change daily habits so that we can be more aligned with the word and less with the world. That you are aware of this means you are sensitive and craving more of God to right the ship.

Hope that helps, RT

Thank you and that's an awesome verse you have shared. God bless.

 

[Ace777]

but is anyone else noticing a pattern where loved ones and people you know are changing their behaviour and becoming
nasty and sarcastic, and at times, abusive.

I had a discussion with my brother about this. He can be aggressive and I deal with that as best I can. If he is less abusive with me then of course I am going to be less abusive toward him. Everyone has a part to play in this cycle. I personally do not see one anymore or less guilty than the the other. Maybe we have people who are aggressive and people who keep signing up to be their victim. It takes two to tango.

 

[Joseph G]

I would venture that the divorce rate being as high amongst Christians as it is among the secular world - is a sure sign of the "love of many growing cold". And if I understand correctly, the majority of Christian divorces are being initiated by the wives - not for adultery or over money, but just because "he doesn't make me happy anymore", ie: "my happiness trumps all else - the kid's welfare (and by extension their subsequent doubts over God's faithfullness to HIS vows), and their witness to a lost world - reflecting the relationship of Christ to His Bride the Church, and the rewards of honoring their commitments till death do they part.

And the elder generation that survived the natural peaks and valleys to go the distance just shake their heads in sadness over this generation's indifference to their sacred vows before God. Sky-rocketing divorce rates are the harbinger of doom for a crumbling nation-state.

Along with rampant homosexuality, transgenderism, and child murder. If one wants a perfect example of a nation on the brink of collapse, study ancient Rome and their bathhouses, the temple of Diana, and child sacrifices in Carthage.

It's no wonder that the kids today shrink into their phones, are medicated to the eyeballs for the slightest 'behavorial abnormality', and hopelessly addicted to every kind of entertainment to escape the sobering conclusion that life has no meaning - other than to perpetuate the species, and then sliming back to the primordial soup from which their ancestor, that laugh-a-minute single-celled ameoba, crawled out of all those millions of years ago.

Lord Jesus, if ever we needed You it is now!