For me, it is a tremendous privilege and an honor to be back again at Park of the Palm. When we arrived here and saw the people that are here, it brought back many, many memories of years gone by. And I don't think that anything gives one more joy and rejoicing in their heart to see longtime friends. My beloved brethren and sisters this morning, I have come to feel that one of the greatest byproducts of Christianity is the love and affection of God's people. Oh, I thank God for my salvation. I thank God for God's preservation and all that is done for me. But I think one of the greatest things in my Christian life is to have good friends. And there are a lot of them right here this morning. And all we do want to be a little comfort and help to each other. We have come to the end of life. I have been a Christian now for seventy-three years. Been in the Lord's work full time for sixty-nine years. And as I think, of all the different people that I have met, in different parts of the world, and the love and affection of them, it rejoices my heart. So to be here this morning and see some of the friends that I've known many, many years, it gives me a tremendous joy in my heart. Another thing that I have been very much burdened about, at the conference here, at Park of the Palms, this weekend, what would be a proper subject to speak about? I don't need to tell you that what has been happening in recent years, and especially during this past year, were shocking. Some of the great things that are happening, it has shocked the whole world, on everything that we hear and everything that we see on television connected with conditions in the world, we can't help but feel that we're coming to the end. At the present time, it's just a couple or three days until the end of this year. And I thought that I would like to look at what the Scripture has to say about the period in which we are living at the present time. In the Old Testament scriptures, we find again and again the end times. The very first time that we find it in the Bible is in Genesis chapter forty nine. You remember Jacob at the end of his life, he called his sons together and he said, I want to tell you what will happen to you at the end time, at the last days. That is the first time that the term is used in Holy Scripture in Genesis forty nine and verse one. You know Jacob was a remarkable character. His life consisted of three different periods. First of all, he was a prodigal. I don't want to go into that sad, sad episode in his life in his own home. He was a prodigal and he had to suffer for her. But then God revealed himself to him in a remarkable way, and he had a confrontation with the angel of the Lord. And that made a different man off him. And as he left that scene and went across the river, worried that the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. There he became a prince. First of all, a prodigal. and then secondly a prince of God and then here at the end of his life in chapter forty nine just a short time before he died he is a prophet and he tells them what will happen to them that is the nation of Israel in the end time in the last days right through the Old Testament scriptures we get the term used again and again and again we could occupy all our time and looking, for instance, at the book of Daniel. Daniel uses the term about ten different times, the end time, the end of the age. And Daniel, after speaking about the different nations that would arise, and the different empires would arise and pass away, then he speaks about the end time. and Daniel was given the revelation of the condition of things at the end. You go into the prophet Isaiah, and we find exactly the same thing, especially in the last chapters of the book of Isaiah, we find the end time, the end of the age, mentioned again and again. And then we go into Ezekiel, we find the same thing. And then finally in the Old Testament, when we come to the book of Zechariah, especially from chapter nine right through to chapter fourteen, we get a tremendous revelation from God through His servant Zechariah of the last days. I believe that that is where we have arrived at the present time. And what I want to do in the New Testament to look at some of the passages where we find the last time and the latter time and then the last days and then the last hour and finally the end. Now all of these things are left to us in the Word of God for not only for our learning but also for our warning. And what I want to do at this conference time is to look at some of the passages in the New Testament scriptures that deal with the last days and the last time. Now I want to commence with First Timothy chapter four. And shall we read the passage please? First Timothy chapter four. Now the Spirit speaketh explicitly that in the latter time some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience sealed with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meat. which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished upon the words of faith and good doctrine were unto thou hast attained. Now my God add his blessing to his precious word. We read here about the latter times and I believe that this passage that we have read together gives us an introduction to what is known as the end in the New Testament, the latter times. This evening I want to look at another passage in Second Timothy, and there we find the last days. And if we were to go over to the epistle of John, we find there the last hour. And then if we come back to First Corinthians chapter fifteen, we find a little paragraph right in the center of that passage referring to the resurrection and the truths connected with it and we read there about the end. Now the age in which we live, I believe, is coming very rapidly to a close. Our beloved brother in his prayer, he mentioned that. And when we think of what has happened to Russia and to Europe, within this last year, you know, it is absolutely amazing. Not only political, the whole world seems to be changing. And not only that, but there are things happening along the line of politics and also of morals. And there are things happening in national disasters we think of Bangladesh and what has happened to that country and we think of the Philippines and other parts of the world we're living in a remarkable day and my beloved brethren and sisters here this morning I would like to suggest that we should be intelligent to know what is happening under our eyes today we're living in one of the most remarkable times in human history. I believe that God has a timetable. I'm quite sure of that. And the Word of God makes it perfectly plain that there are seven great dispensations that have been formulated by God Himself. God has a plan. And that plan is being worked out. If we were to start in the book of Genesis, and go right through the Bible, it is perfectly evident that those dispensations that have been formulated and planned by God Himself are being carried out of the letter. You think of Daniel prophesying in connection with the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the very day that he died upon the cross, that was all prophesied, in Daniel seventy weeks and all of the different things that have been happening right down through the ages it shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is working to a plan the devil has tried to thwart it and to frustrate it but we thank God that God's plan for the world and for his beloved people is being carried out and I believe that we should be intelligent as we look at the scriptures to read and to understand the age in which we live. And I believe if we do, it would affect our lives in a very, very remarkable way. So that is the object I have during these days of the conference. I want to look at the different passages that deal with the last days and the last hour. and also the end and what the Bible has to say about it. But the verses that we've read here this morning, I believe, is the introduction to it. And the Apostle Paul here, she said, the Spirit speaketh expressly. Well, that is, the word of the Holy Spirit of God has spoken. I believe he's referring to a passage in Second Thessalonians chapter two. And I believe there is an outline of human history on the events at the end of time. And I believe when he said, the Spirit speaketh expressly, I believe it refers back to that time. And I want to look at that in a moment or two in connection with some of the statements that are made in the passage that are referred together. the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. Now the some would take this passage and refer it back to the early days of the church, on the different things that are expounded here that they took place in the early days of the church. Now that may be perfectly true in one way. you remember right after the death of the Apostles. It didn't take very long for some of the things that are mentioned here to be fulfilled. Actually, the Apostle John, the last surviving member of the Apostolic Band, at the end of his life, he's giving some very solemn warnings in the second epistle of John of what would happen to the doctrine of Christ. And we know that at that time there was different doctrines being propagated even in the life of the Apostle John before he passed on to be with the Lord. And some would take the passage here as something that happened in the early days of the church. But I believe it has a wider application. And I believe that right down through the history of the church here on earth, I believe that the things that are mentioned here took place over a period of time. But it is the introduction to the last days. Here is the latter times. And there are four different things that are said about the latter times. And the first one is... Some shall depart from the faith. My beloved here this morning, I think that this has happened in our day. And this is one thing that I'm very, very thankful for, for that little word, some. Some shall depart from the faith. But the word that's used here depart, it means apostasy. And someone might say, what's the difference between the past to say and backsliding? You know, a backslider can be restored. A person who is truly born again, sometimes through indifference or lack of prayer or what have you, may go into a backslidden condition. A backslider who is truly born again, regenerated by the Spirit of God, can be brought back but apostate some baptized from faith. No, as we look at what we call Christendom today, beside this in our hearts, we have to confess that this is true. some of the main denominations today I'm not going to mention names anything of that kind but some of the denominations that had godly leaders for a long long time at the present time they're denying the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity some not all Thank God there is a remnant. And no matter where you find apostasy, you will always, in the Word of God, always find a godly remnant alongside of it. And so the little word, some is used. Some shall depart, apostatize from the faith. And the word there, the faith, it's expanded again and again, especially in the pastoral epistles. that means the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. I'm not going to give instances that would take too long to do that, but I know in my own little life as a Christian, I have met people that once believed in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, but as time went on, they denied them. The deity of Christ, his virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death upon the cross, His bodily resurrection, and His ascension to God's right hand, sitting on the throne today, these are the good fundamentals and they are denied. And they're scoffed at by certain individuals. And that is what the Apostle is speaking about here. Some have departed from the faith. The fundamental doctrines of Christianity are being denied. But all we do thank God for those that haven't done that. And wherever you find apostasy, you will always find a godly remnant that holds true to the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity. I have been reading Mr. Broadbent's book, E.H. Broadbent, and it's called the Pilgrim Church. And he points out in that book that right down through the ages, right from the apostolic times to the present day, he gives an outline of some of the very terrible things that have happened in Christendom and how the fundamentals were denied. But always, always, where there was denial of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, there was a godly remnant that were loyal and faithful and true to the word of God. And that is the purpose of that book. I believe that everyone who has never read, every believer who has never read that book should get a copy of it because it's a great stimulus to see that in spite of all the sad, sad history of the denial of the fundamentals of Holy Scripture, thank God there were those a low persecuted, those who are loyal and faithful and true to the person of Christ and to the Word of God. So this is the first thing that's mentioned here in connection with the apostasy. Some shall apostatize from the faith. And we know that that is perfectly true. And then the next thing is giving heed. to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Now here the devil is introduced, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Now here is the action of Satan. You know, I believe that we should give very special attention to what the Word of God says to the devil and his operation in the world at the present time. Doctrines of demons and evil spirits. I have spent a good part of my life, practically a major part of my life, in an environment where we saw a lot of demonism, on witchcraft, on that kind of thing. not my purpose to go into that here this morning but I'm absolutely convinced in such a thing as demon possession a person who is demon possessed I know that some people would say that it's just some kind of a disease that a person has maybe some form of epilepsy or something of the kind my beloved friend people who talk like that they do not realize the tremendous power that Satan has in the world in which we live at the present time. And the devil and the hierarchy of hell is art to completely destroy Christianity and the believer. The Bible has a lot to say about the devil and his empire and we must never, never forget that the greatest enemy that we have at the present time against the faith that we hold is Satan and his emissaries. Many times in Africa I had contact with people who were demon-possessed and I'm convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that it is possible for that to happen. Really indwell by a demon. One would love to pause here and give some instances of what I say. Preaching the gospel in a little village and the people sitting around. I was preaching on John three sixteen and mentioning about the love of God and the work of Christ upon the cross. And there was an old man sitting on the other side of the fire in the hot river we were sitting, and he started in a low voice to speak. And it got louder and louder, and it was perfectly evident that he was not in control of what he was saying. His voice, not coming from his vocal cords, but coming from the pit of his stomach, he got louder and louder and louder. and the sweat was pouring down his face. And he was speaking in a language that I did not understand. We understand that most of the languages in that part, but this was a language that I had never heard before. So when I couldn't stand it any longer, I put my hand on them and I said, Friend, what are you doing? And suddenly he snapped out of it. Oh, he said, that was my familiar spirit. that took possession of me. And he said in the most critical times of my life, sometimes the Spirit comes and takes possession of me and speaks through me to the people. He said in a language that they don't understand. This is the kind of thing that you see very, very frequently in the dark, pagan world. But I want to say that right here in the United States today, this kind of thing is increasing. Satan and his power. He is the God of this world. That is his religious title. The God of this world. The Prince of the Power of the Air. Doesn't that seem strange? The Prince of the Power of the Air. and the very atmosphere in which we live is penetrated by the devil himself. We have to remember that when we see things on television that we don't agree with, and some of the things that's being propagated today, he is the prince of the power of the air. He is a liar. He's called the prince of, the prince of this world, and he's engaged in politics. Satan is very, very strong. And I believe we'll have to take it into account what the Apostle says in Ephesians chapter six about his power. Not only the devil himself, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this darkness. And then not only that, but wickedness in high places. We have a tremendous enemy. And I believe he's doing his level best for to smash and destroy anything of God that there is. I was so much occupied with this kind of thing that I bought books from different parts of the world. And I have a whole shelf of books. connect with the devil and his power and you know I started to study them and after a while I felt I wasn't doing right and doing it it's possible to get obsessed by this kind of thing and it would have a tremendous influence on your mind and heart and I would say the love of friends here this morning have absolutely nothing to do with Satanism or some of the things that are being propagated by him at the present time. Get your mind filled with the Word of God. That is the remedy. And when we think of what Christ did for us and all that we find in the Bible concerning purity and chastity and godliness, I believe it would save us from what we find here in connection with Satan. So the second thing about the Apostle say here in the Lutter Times is the proliferation of satanic activity in the world and it will increase right to the end. So the next one that we get is speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Actually the conscience of these people that are tempted by this kind of thing, their conscience is caught right. They don't think that there's anything wrong in it. And then forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created, to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats. You know, I think that this refers to a system that we're all familiar with. That is the Church of Rome. Forbidding to marry. and from the time of Constantine and right through the reign of the Church of Rome, we find that they, celibacy of the clergy, that is of the priesthood, and also the monks, and also women, we find none sympathetic, avar, of virginity, and chastity. I believe this is what is referred to here. And I believe the terms that are used here, it's showing that the Church of Rome will be very, very active at the end of the age, forbidding to marry. And you know, you could apply it in a different way. Can you think of anything that is stronger in the world in Christendom today than divorce and people that refuse to marry? And then when they do get married, the thing is broken up. Satan is attacking the home. And all the different examples that we find in the Word of God concerning the home and home life, It's under attack at the present time. What we find here is preparing the way for Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots. And I believe it's getting stronger and stronger all the time until finally what we find in the book of Revelation, chapter seventeen, eighteen, connected with the harlot, that is the church of Rome at its head, and all kinds of Christianity that is not real and true will be linked together at the end. So this is a very, very solemn indictment that we get here. And then commanding to abstain from meats, do you know that people that want to be inhabited by Satan, that they're vegetarian? One outstanding example was Hitler, that terrible, terrible man in the last war. I believe he was demon possessed, and not only demon possessed, but he also carried out those terrible crimes. It just makes a shiver to think of. here. People that want to be inhabited by demons and of satanic power, they are vegetarian. But God has given us certain commands in Scripture and also certain permissions in Scripture. And we find here that what God has given us to eat, not only vegetarian food but also meat products as well and when we sit under the table we can take it and enjoy it and sanctify it by the Word of God on prayer now this is a sad picture and beloved here this morning I'm not going to go into it any further but as we read down the four different things that are said here connected with the latter times their being perpetrated and carried on under our very eyes today, even in this beloved country, the United States of America. And there are certain areas of the country where it is more prolific than in others. Sometimes when we go to the supermarket and we get a bag for our groceries, there is a little picture in it of a child that is missing. and it's one after another children they disappear and what happens i can't help but feel that satan is behind this kind of thing and there are movements going on right here in the united states today satanic the worship of satan and sacrifices that are being offered at the same time So this is a sad, sad picture. And I say, I don't want to refer to it anymore. But it is the introduction to the last days, this fourfold departure from God, this fourfold apostasy. But you would notice that in First Timothy, before we come to this chapter, we get a beautiful beautiful outline of how a believer should live you know in the first chapter it is the gospel thank god for the gospel of the grace of god mind you at the present time there are some people they don't believe in preaching the gospel they say if people are going to be saved well they will be saved but I do thank God for men that have the gift of evangelism who are able to preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. We had the opportunity for many years of going into pioneer fields. And the great object we had in going there was to preach the gospel of the grace of God and to take it to people that were in the dark. I believe today that one of the great needs is men that are able to preach. Men who know the gospel and are able to preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent on from heaven. When I was young, right here in this country, there were men that were real pioneer evangelists. They could preach the gospel and they saw a remarkable word done. on the assemblies that were formed here in North America, they were formed by these men through the preaching of the gospel. And what we need today is younger men with a gift of evangelism to go in and out among the towns and villages and cities of this country and preach the gospel of the grace of God. Now chapter one, it is the gospel. In chapter two, the term is used of men, godliness. Godliness and the men on good works in connection with the women. And then when we come into chapter three, there is a lovely outline of church government. The mission. The elders. I believe in eldership. I believe in men. in an assembly that have been raised up by the Holy Spirit and is able to lead unguided the assembly in a godly way. I believe that that is the picture that we get in the Word of God. And in chapter three, just before this passage, we get eldership and deacons. And I do thank God for older men men who have been raised up by the Holy Ghost, who have the love of God in their hearts and is able to visit and counsel on help the people of God and lead them in the paths of truth in the Word of God. This again is one of the great necessities of the present time. I thank God for some of the men that I have known in my life. Elders. Men who loved the people of God loved the Lord and spent their lives in expiring the Word of God and leading and guiding the young people in the assembly. Wherever you find an assembly with a good leadership, a good eldership, you'll find a good assembly. And if you see an assembly with no elders at all, you say we don't have any elders. and they just go on from day to day and they think the important thing is to get a hold of the young people by entertainment or something of the kind my beloved friends here this morning we need good men raised up by the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the assemblies of God's people today so here in chapter three we get the qualifications of elders and then when we come to the end of the chapter we get the mystery of godliness a beautiful beautiful fragment of a hymn speaking of the person of the lord jesus christ now that is what we get here just before chapter four the things that we should do on a picture of godliness both in men and women and starting with the gospel and going right through the church government and then the person of christ and then after this passage we get timothy being exhorted he's given a charge in the sight of god and that charge is a very solemn one and then there are three little words that we find at the end of this first epistle of Timothy. And the first one is flee, flee on godly lust, flee. And then the second one is fight, and we need to fight, fight the devil, and fight all that he is propagating in the world at the present time. and then the third war days follow. Flee and fight and follow. And these are the three key words that we find at the end of this beautiful epistle given to this young man in spite of the things that we find right in the center of the epistle connected with the latter times. Beloved brethren and sisters here this morning, I just want to say in closing, This is the picture laid down by God himself for his people on the path that we should follow until that day when we're taken home to be with the Lord. May God bless this word. We'll just close with a little word of prayer. Our blessed God and Father, we lift our hearts to thee in the name of the Lord Jesus. We do thank thee for the warnings that we have on thy word concerning conditions in the world. And O our Father, we do pray that thou would give us loyal hearts to the person of Christ and to the word of God. And we ask of thee that from day to day, in spite of all that is happening all around in this difficult, confused day, we ask of thee that when we be kept loyal and faithful, to thyself until the Lord Jesus comes. We thank thee that when these things happen, it points with honoring finger to the Lord Jesus coming back again. This is our hope, and our Father, in the meantime, again we plead for loyalty. Give us loyalty to thyself, we pray, and we ask these things in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.