These Are the Last Days; Guard Your Heart with Faith

Biblical warnings, real persecutions, and fasting & prayer strategies to guard your heart in these last days.

---

In these final moments of history, as prophecy unfolds before our very eyes, the warning from Proverbs 4:23 resounds with urgency:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

The days we live in are not ordinary. They are perilous, deceptive, and seductive. The Bible tells us plainly in 2 Timothy 3:1: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days."

This is not a call for fear; it’s a call for vigilance, discernment, and deep, unshakable faith in Jesus Christ.

Recognizing the Signs of the Last Days

For generations, believers have asked the same question: Are we living in the last days? Scripture tells us that no one knows the exact day or hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36), but the Bible does give us signs and warnings to help us discern the times. Recognizing these signs isn’t meant to make us fearful—it’s a call to be watchful, prayerful, and ready.

Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24 about the rise of deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution. We are seeing these signs with an intensity the world has never known:

• Moral decay is celebrated as progress.

• Biblical truth mocked and rebranded as "hate speech."

• Persecution is intensifying across nations, from believers in underground churches in China to Christians in Nigeria facing violent attacks from extremist groups.

• Faith compromise is happening in once-strong churches, seduced by popularity, money, and cultural acceptance.

What Does “the Last Days” Mean in the Bible?

The term last days refers to the period between Christ’s ascension and His second coming. According to Scripture, this entire era is considered the “last days,” but as we draw closer to the end, certain events and conditions will intensify.

Peter reminded believers on the day of Pentecost that the last days had already begun (Acts 2:17), yet Jesus and the apostles warned of increasing spiritual, moral, and global turmoil as His return approaches.

6 Biblical Signs of the Last Days

1. Widespread Deception and False Teachings

Jesus warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5).

False prophets and teachers will rise, twisting the truth for personal gain.

Cults, counterfeit gospels, and deceptive spiritual practices are more visible than ever.

2. Moral Decline and Lawlessness

Paul described the last days as perilous times: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…” (2 Timothy 3:2-4).

Today’s culture glorifies self, wealth, and pleasure over godliness.

We see broken families, dishonour, violence, and a growing disregard for God’s Word.

3. Wars, Conflicts, and Global Unrest

Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24:6-7).

Global conflicts, terrorism, political unrest, and division are increasing.

These aren’t isolated incidents but signs of the spiritual battle intensifying.

4. Natural Disasters and Environmental Shifts

Jesus continued: “There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:7-8).

Rising natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, echo His warning.

While the earth has always experienced such events, their frequency and intensity appear to be escalating.

5. Persecution of Believers

Jesus told His followers, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9).

Around the world, Christians are facing persecution, whether through violence, imprisonment, or cultural rejection.

In Western societies, believers face increasing pressure to compromise biblical truth.

6. The Spread of the Gospel

In the midst of these trials, Jesus gave hope: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14).

Technology, missions, and social media have accelerated the reach of the Gospel.

Today, more people than ever have access to Scripture in their own language.

Examples of Guarding the Heart in Times of Testing

1. Daniel in Babylon — Surrounded by a pagan culture that tried to change his identity, beliefs, and worship, Daniel resolved not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8).

2. Joseph in Egypt — Tempted by power and seduction, Joseph’s heart stayed pure before God, even when falsely accused (Genesis 39).

3. The Early Church — Faced with imprisonment, beatings, and martyrdom, they prayed for boldness, not safety (Acts 4:29).

Modern-Day Persecutions You Can’t Ignore

• In North Korea, owning a Bible can lead to execution.

• In parts of India, believers are attacked for refusing to deny Christ.

• In Nigeria, extremist violence has claimed thousands of Christian lives.

• Even in the West, where persecution is more subtle, believers lose jobs, face lawsuits, or are socially cancelled for standing firm in Biblical truth.

This is why Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:12 matters now more than ever:

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."

The Seductions of the Last Days

The devil’s weapons in these times are not always open violence; sometimes they are subtle seductions:

• Entertainment culture desensitizes believers to sin.

• False teachings that twist Scripture for self-gain.

• Wealth and comfort lull Christians into spiritual sleep.

• Pride and self-importance are replacing humility and dependence on God.

Paul warns in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine… they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Fasting and Prayer — Our Weapons in These Times

The early church didn’t survive these trials by blending in; they survived by prayer and fasting.

• Fasting sharpens spiritual discernment, weakens the flesh, and brings a breakthrough (Matthew 17:21).

• Prayer strengthens our relationship with God, aligns our will with His, and keeps our hearts soft toward Him (Luke 18:1).

If Daniel could fast in Babylon, if Esther could call a national fast to avert disaster, if Jesus Himself fasted 40 days before starting His ministry, then we too must make fasting and prayer a lifestyle, not an emergency response.

Real Life Example — The Believer Who Stood Firm

A young woman in Southeast Asia was offered freedom if she denied Christ. She refused. In prison, without food, she prayed daily for her persecutors. Years later, her testimony led many to Christ, including one of her jailers. This is the power of a guarded heart; it cannot be bought, broken, or seduced.

Beloved, these are not days for casual Christianity.

These are days to wake up (Romans 13:11), be watchful (1 Peter 5:8), and stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).

Guard your heart like a soldier guards a fortress, for the enemy’s attacks are relentless, but our victory in Christ is eternal.

Jesus is coming soon.

Will He find faith in you when He returns?

Let your heart be anchored in prayer. Let your life be covered in fasting. Let your faith be sharpened by the Word. The crown of life (Revelation 2:10) awaits those who endure to the end.

---

Subscribe and watch our sermons to receive Biblical teachings, urgent prophetic updates, and encouragement for living boldly in these last days. Don’t drift with the crowd, stand with the few.