For thousands of years, men and women have tried to figure out the exact date that Christ will return to earth to take away His Church. While the Bible discusses the last days and the signs that will proceed the end of time as we know it at great length, it can still be difficult for us to decipher what signs actually point to the end of days since the Bible uses a lot of figurative language and symbolism to discuss it.
The ambiguity of some of the prophecies in the Bible become harder to understand when they’re combined with the number of people who claim to have some sort of insider knowledge about God’s preordained time that the end of time will come. For decades, centuries even, mortal humans have claimed to have access to the knowledge that God’s Word is clear only belongs to Him.
While we do not claim to have any sort of knowledge about the last days outside of what the Bible clearly says, it is beneficial to be aware of what is going on the world around us and how we can relate it to God’s Word and His plan for His people. Most of our discussion about the last days will be drawn from Jesus’ discussion about it found in Matthew 24.
Who Knows When?
Matthew 24:36 (TPT)
Concerning that day and exact hour, no one knows when it will arrive, not even the angels of heaven-only the Father knows.
With one single statement, Christ completely refutes the idea that any person, past or present, will be able to know the exact day and hour that God will send His Son back to get His Church. The angels in Heaven who were created by God for the sole purpose of serving Him aren’t even privy to that type of information.
If you were paying attention during much of 2012, you probably heard about the Mayan calendar. Many people pointed to the fact that the ancient civilization’s calendar stopped on December 21, 2012. If you go back and research what society was like leading up to that, you would be amazed at the number of people who went into a panic in preparation for the world to end. Obviously, since you’re reading this, you’re aware that time didn’t end and here we are nearly ten years later.
A man named Harold Camping who claimed to be a prophet has made at least 12 declarations that the end of time would happen on a certain date. Mr. Camping, though proven wrong multiple times continued to be informed about when Christ would return, and time would end.
Trying to determine when the world as we know it will end isn’t new. In fact, 17th century Christians in Europe were convinced that time would end in the year 1666. When the great London fire ripped through the city for three days in September of 1666, many erroneously believed that it was the fulfillment of prophecies.
All of these prophecies have failed because they contradict God’s Word. Christ Himself declared that no one other than God the Father knows when time will end. If you find yourself confronted with someone who claims to know when the end will come, stand fast on the truth of God’s Word that declares that no man or woman will know the hour and the day of the end.
Wars and Rumors of War
Matthew 24:6 (TPT)
You will hear of wars nearby and revolutions on every side, with more rumors of wars to come. Don’t panic or give into your gears, for the breaking apart of the world’s systems is destined to happen. But it won’t yet be the end; it will still be unfolding.
According to current numbers at the time of this writing, there are approximately 40 wars going on around the world. There is no doubt that there are wars going on. Additionally, if you turn on the news, you probably hear plenty of rumors about upcoming wars that will change the face of society as we know it.
Don’t be deceived; we are a world at war. Violence, hatred, greed and other sinful natures produce most of the wars that you hear about and read about today. However, Christ said that we should not be afraid when we hear about these things.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be concerned about the men and women who bravely defend our nation. Instead, it means that we shouldn’t live in fear about the long-term ramifications of these battles. Afterall, Jesus said that the “breaking apart of the world’s systems is destined to happen.”
When you hear about wars and people pointing to them as a sign of the end, don’t be afraid. First of all, Jesus said that we do not have to be afraid. The world’s systems will crumble before the last days. Secondly, Christ said that these wars do not bring about the end of time. Instead, these wars are just a natural part of God’s plan to see the world’s systems fall and His Kingdom raise up.
Persecution of Believers
Matthew 24:9 (TPT)
You can expect to be persecuted, even killed; for you will be hated by all the nations because of your love for me.
Every year, thousands of Christians are martyred for their faith. According to For The Martyrs, a foundation that monitors the persecution of Christians around the globe, over a thousand Christians are killed every year in Nigeria alone. Additionally, China closes more than 5,000 churches every year. There is no disputing the fact that Christians around the globe face persecution for their faith that rivals that which took place under historical emperors such as Nero.
While martyrdom among Christians is certainly running rampant in the world today, it is not new. The Bible contains stories of people who were killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, history teaches us that John (who died on the island of Patmos where he imprisoned for his faith) and Judas (who killed himself after the betrayal of Christ) were the only two disciples who were not killed for their faith.
Undoubtedly, the martyrdom of Christians is a sign of the last days. However, Christian martyrdom has been going on for thousands of years.
What it All Means for Us
Spend some time in Matthew 24 and carefully read the words of Christ as He discussed with His disciples about the events that would proceed the last days. Many of them are undoubtedly going on in the world we live in today. However, they have been going on for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
The point of that statement isn’t to say that the end isn’t near. The reasoning behind that statement is that we should live our lives in a way that shows that we are ready for the glorious return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of His Kingdom on earth.
In Matthew 25, Christ shares a parable that points to the need to always be ready. In the parable, there are ten virgins who are waiting for the bridegroom. Five of them stay ready, vigilantly watching for the arrival of the groom while the other five let their lamps burn out and fall asleep. When the groom returns, only the five who were ready get to go with him. The other five missed their opportunity.
We are called to be ready at all times while not living in fear of the end. Are we living in the last days? Quite possibly. However, none of us have know the exact day or hour that God will send His Son back to get His Church. There will be a day when God says that the world has devolved as far as it’s going to and He will put an end to it all. As Christians, we can anticipate the day with expectation but not fear.
A Closing Prayer:
God, I know that You know the day and the hour that time as we know it will end. Help me to be ever mindful of the fact that this life is temporary, always living in a way that shows that I’m ready for Your Son’s triumphant return. In His name I ask these things, Amen.