Whether we’re a student of prophecy or not, it certainly seems like End Times. How can it be otherwise?
If we believe only the mainstream media – as still endorsed by far too many churches – we’re facing a terrible pestilence and everything being done by national, local and church governments is necessary for our safety because everyone is dying from Covid. Surely it must be one of Revelation’s horsemen riding.
If we have the courage to look beyond this narrative, viewing Covid policies through the lens of Godly discernment, it’s even worse. We see major job losses, small businesses going under by the thousands, and a steep rise in mental health issues, suicides, drug addiction and alcoholism. Self-inflicted mass financial hardship. Threats of not being allowed to travel, work, shop or attend social events if we refuse experimental vaccines for what is essentially a bad flu virus. Microchipping down the road? Vaccine papers or digital passports sooner? Freedom of speech, religion, movement and association – even in our own homes – curtailed and cancelled. Temporarily or an ongoing forever? From an “it will just be two weeks” in March 2020 to many months later.
The third world faces much higher levels of poverty and starvation due to our unprecedented first world lockdowns. We in the Western world, perhaps the whole world, face a rapid removal of the middle class, tech tyranny, medical tyranny, neo-feudalism, neo-marxism, imposed food shortages, religious persecution, a corrupt political class, and a massive depopulation attempt by elitist eugenicists. A great economic reset and world government. It seems like practically every day, every hour there is another twist and it just doesn’t stop.
Do Current Events Mean It’s Definitely the End?
But is it the end of all things? Of our current age? Is a rapture looming or a place of safety? A beast power and the son of perdition, 666 and the mark of the beast? A great tribulation, and the imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Along with other scriptures, especially those in the prophets, Matthew 24, and the books of Daniel and Revelation are often looked to for perspective on end time events. Verses like Luke 17:26-27 also come to mind: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man…”
And then there is 2 Timothy 3:1-4 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Reading these passages, we find our current world scene apparently reflected in both attitudes and events. After all, can it get much worse? Not to mention, what we see is on a global scale like never before and there’s no where to run.
Could We Be Forcing Pieces Into Prophetic Molds?
At the same time, how many people through the centuries, in times of great upheaval, war, plagues, famines, natural disasters, you name it – thought it was the end of the age? Frightening times and great evil can make us stop and consider. They can make us turn to the Bible and the prophecies we have heard about, in order to make sense of it all.
As they should.
We should be studying prophecy. We should be aware of what is going on around us – of course. It is even possible we might have to flee cities or countries or take other actions. Luke 21:36 instructs us to “watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” We are also warned, “ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matt 24:32-34).
But could we be forcing pieces into our own prophetic molds? Is it possible that we don’t actually know for sure exactly where we are in prophecy? The end somewhere – but where? If we read the book of Revelation carefully, we may find some pieces don’t seem to be quite fitting into place yet. What about China’s world takeover attempt or a secular new world order? Where does the East place in prophecy? Is a vaccine which is given in your shoulder, the mark of the beast? Is the beast power socialist or communist, devoid of religion? Will a society that only believes in science easily believe false miracles performed by the son of perdition?
There are a lot of questions and the truth is, we don’t know right now where we are exactly in the end period. This is why so many Christians and church organizations seem to be groping in the dark, desperately looking to match current events to prophesied ones.
As events unfold, all will become clearer. And yes, we are much closer to Jesus Christ’s return with more pieces and a lot of framework falling into place including possible triggers for the completion of end time events. But will Christ return this year or in two years or five years or ten…? It doesn’t appear to be obvious…yet.
Not Being Scoffers
Neither should we pull a 2 Peter 3:3-45, scoffing and doing our own thing, because we figure “where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” Jesus Christ will return. That is certain. And God our Father knows what He is doing.
Since Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for us at the hands of the Jews and Romans of His day, His followers have looked for the kingdom and the end of this present evil world. Throughout the ages, they have generally assumed that Jesus would return in their lifetimes. This sense of urgency is clear in much of the Apostle Paul’s writings as it is in the books written by other New Testament writers. And perhaps it is necessary, so that we as believers can continue to recognize the importance of the journey and our relationship with God, not taking the gift of the gospel and our salvation for granted.
Being Balanced and Continuing To the End
But we must be balanced. I’ve known quite a few people through the years who worried and stressed about end time events like the great tribulation to the point of fear and obsession. But they ended up dying of old age. And let’s face it, if you or I have some kind of life-ending event tomorrow like a heart attack or a fatal car accident, well, that’s it, isn’t it? That’s the kingdom for us if we are deemed worthy – even if the actual return of Jesus Christ were only a short time away.
So we shouldn’t stop living because it’s “very likely The End.” Current unprecedented events shouldn’t cause us to hide in our homes or the hills, waiting for a place of safety or a rapture. Whether Jesus Christ returns imminently, or twenty or a hundred years from now, whether there is a specific place of safety or there isn’t, we must be found to be “so doing.” So living, so hoping, so standing for and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, truth, mercy, justice and righteousness boldly. Being courageous and faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Matt 24:46)
Until whatever and whenever the End is for us. God has it figured it out.
