I am a student of Bible prophecy and am fascinated by the fulfillment of prophecy in my lifetime. People have been waiting and watching for the return of Jesus ever since the day He ascended into Heaven, but never has His return been as close as it is today. I believe we are living in the end times as the scripture says, "For creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." (Romans 8:19) This explains the strange weather - hailstorms, flooding, drought, heatwaves, etc. It explains the odd behavior of animals - locust plagues, animal diseases, strange behavior of creatures. It explains the unusual movements in the earth - volcanic activity, earthquakes, fires. All creation is waiting to be liberated from the bondage of decay - to be restored to the beauty which God initially created it to be.
When we hear of climate change and all the arguments about it, we really shouldn't be alarmed because it's all part of God's plan and will take place in His time and in His way. Those who don't believe in God are filled with fear and dread and think that we, the human race, can alter the world by doing something about it. Although God has given us stewardship of the earth and we need to be diligent in our management of it, He is sovereign over His creation and will ultimately do just as He sees fit to do regardless of what we do.
These are perilous times that we are living in, but we have the very words of Jesus to help us understand what we're dealing with and how to conduct ourselves as we wait for His return.
Matthew 24:4-14 The Message (MSG)
4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.
11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
Yes, all of these things are happening around the world today, persecution of Christians is at an all-time high. Never in the history of the world have we been deceived by so many people to the point where we just can't believe anything we hear or read anymore. Even within the church there are lying spirits who are denying the truth of God's word and leading Christians astray. That's exactly why we have to read the word for ourselves and ask God's Holy Spirit to guide and direct us each and every day. God's Spirit will always, always point you to Jesus and the truth.
When did Jesus say the end will come? After the gospel has been preached in all the world with witnesses in every country. Why? Because Heaven will have people from every nation residing there. Revelation 5:9 explains it this way, "They took up a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and by your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The blood of Jesus was shed for every nation, every tribe, every people group, people of every language and He will not return until people throughout the world have had a chance to hear the gospel message and repent.
When we hear of climate change and all the arguments about it, we really shouldn't be alarmed because it's all part of God's plan and will take place in His time and in His way. Those who don't believe in God are filled with fear and dread and think that we, the human race, can alter the world by doing something about it. Although God has given us stewardship of the earth and we need to be diligent in our management of it, He is sovereign over His creation and will ultimately do just as He sees fit to do regardless of what we do.
These are perilous times that we are living in, but we have the very words of Jesus to help us understand what we're dealing with and how to conduct ourselves as we wait for His return.
Matthew 24:4-14 The Message (MSG)
4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.
11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
Yes, all of these things are happening around the world today, persecution of Christians is at an all-time high. Never in the history of the world have we been deceived by so many people to the point where we just can't believe anything we hear or read anymore. Even within the church there are lying spirits who are denying the truth of God's word and leading Christians astray. That's exactly why we have to read the word for ourselves and ask God's Holy Spirit to guide and direct us each and every day. God's Spirit will always, always point you to Jesus and the truth.
When did Jesus say the end will come? After the gospel has been preached in all the world with witnesses in every country. Why? Because Heaven will have people from every nation residing there. Revelation 5:9 explains it this way, "They took up a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and by your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The blood of Jesus was shed for every nation, every tribe, every people group, people of every language and He will not return until people throughout the world have had a chance to hear the gospel message and repent.
So what do we do as we wait for His return? We, as the church, the bride of Christ, have a duty to Christ. The last thing He told His disciples before He ascended into Heaven is recorded in Matthew 28:18. "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
We, the church, have to share the good news, we have to remain firm in our faith, we have to keep praying for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have to continue reading God's word and encouraging one another. Don't be fearful about the things happening on the earth or be led astray in these last days but keep watching for the return of Jesus and waiting for the day when we will meet Him in the air and forever be with Him.
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