That Bible prophecies pointed to this age as a period of great upheavals, distress of nations with perplexity, and as a time whose generation would sink in sins, there is abundant evidence. Divine revelations indicate that the increase in crimes and calamities now being witnessed are as a result of the devious activities of Satan and his wicked angels cast down to the earth from heaven by Jesus Christ having been enthroned and commanded to rule in the midst of his enemies.
Generation simply defined means the whole body of individuals or persons born about the same period of time.
Perverse is an adjective defined as deliberately deviating from what is regarded as normal, good, or proper, persistently holding to what is wrong.
For the reason that the children of Israel were found to be obstinate, often deviating from the Commandments of God in the days of Moses the prophet, He (God) said of them thus: “They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of His children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” (Deut. 32:5) This accounted for the death of all of them who left Egypt in the wilderness save Joshua and Caleb who were found obedient and faithful.-Num 14:37,38, Josh 14:6-9.
We are now living in the last day of this evil world otherwise known in the scripture as the “time of the end” or “end of the world”. As regards its duration, St. Peter stated in clear terms that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Pet. 3:8) It is the last period of Satan’s overlordship over the earth, which will terminate in his destruction and the extinction of all evils from the earth as to pave way for the millennial reign of Christ.
In this regard, St. Peter’s description of the events that would mark the end of Christ’s Second Presence and the ushering in of the New World is of great interest to Christians. The passing away or dissolution of the heavens and the earth could only mean the elimination of evils or imperfect order of things in the universe like it happened to the first world-Adam to the Deluge in the days of Noah (2 Pet. 3:6,7) But the earth as a planet abides everlastingly (Eccl. 1:4) St. Peter wrote: “But the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”-2 Peter 3:10-14.
The outcome of the heavenly war between Jesus Christ and Satan the Devil was the casting down to the earth of Satan and all the angels who joined him in his rebellion and the setting up of God’s kingdom in heaven. It is further stated that the devil having been woefully humiliated and defeated is full of fury, more so, as he knows that his end is in sight. (Rev. 12:7-12) He Instigated the global conflict (World War I) from 1914 to 1918, God through Jesus Christ caused the war to cease so that Satan may be unable to realise his aim to destroy all flesh, and so that Christ may have the opportunity to establish His Kingdom on earth by choosing the anointed remnant to preach the gospel of the kingdom for the gathering of His sheep or children. 24:7,8,14-16,21,22,31.
The devil and the demons cast down to the earth are responsible for the prevalence of witchcraft, magic, necromancy, esoteric societies, false prophets, cults and so on, in order to promote crimes and calamities. He is aware of the inescapable destruction facing him and his followers, and it is his objective to drag men along with him to suffer the same fate.
In the context of this message, “this perverse generation is with reference to the generation of this age of the last days of this evil world. Jesus Christ spoke of it as a time of his second presence when materialism would be the vogue, and likened it to the days of Noah when people paid little attention to God resulting in their destruction by the deluge or the time of Lot in Sodom. As it is written: “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. -Luke 17:26-30.
With regard to the dangers of the times and he ungodly characters of men in the last days, St Paul gave this graphic picture “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 (that is without self-control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a ton of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (or avoid such people)2 Ti 3:1-5.
There are dangers posed by man’s inhumanity to man as characterised by armed robbers’ attacks on the highways, at homes and pirates on the seas, and gruesome assassinations, dangers of accidents everywhere; the scourge and ravages of incurable diseases, and worse of all, the menace and threats of nuclear lethal weapons capable of wiping off human existence from this globe now in possession of ungodly men. Obviously, the aim of Satan in inspiring men to reach the dangerous height in their inventions is to goad them toward self destruction, but the consolation of Christians is that God Almighty who makes wars to cease (Ps 46:9) will not allow any human power to terminate human existence.
On the religious angle, false prophets inspired by Satan are actively engaged in world outreach preachments with miracles to deceive the people including kings and rulers.- Rev. 16:13,14.
These indications are terrible signs of the times and it is clearly shown in the Bible that the wicked will not repent but do more wickedly (Dan. 12:9-10). And St. Paul added that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Tim. 3:13) Every form of evil is on the increase, and being perpetuated with more sophistication and vigour.
Immorality is assuming more dangerous dimensions as manifested in homosexuality and lesbianism at the instance of the devil all to provoke God. There is no way sin can survive this world. This is the area where we as Christians should take precaution and save ourselves from the tragedy of investing our resources in ephemeral things of the world that will soon be destroyed. Said John the apostle: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). Worldliness will certainly be brought to an end and St. Paul stated that “the fashion of this world passeth away.” -1 Cor. 7:31.
When Jesus Christ focused on the signs of the end of the world, it was his desire that his disciples in this generation should be of understanding , and persistent in prayer and faith. This is the only way to escape from the turmoils and destruction of the times as to be able to stand before him approved or justified for life. He predicted: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s heart failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth shall be shaken.”- Luke 21: 25,26.
Continuing, Jesus Christ said: “Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled… And take heed unto yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares… Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man.”- verses 32-36.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.