Like I said earlier, I believe there is a difference between end of the world and the end times or end of age.
End of age speaks of the end of a particular age and the beginning of another.
I explained them better here. So please check it out if you missed it.
These times call for caution. Stay sensitive and watchful, so you be not deceived.
Concerning the end of age
When Jesus' disciples asked Him concerning the sign of His coming and the end of age, Jesus talked about self-acclaimed christs coming in His name to deceive many. Also wars and rumors of wars, but despite all of these the end is not yet come (Matt 24:6).
There will be scuffles among nations, famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places.
Please note that even before we were born, we have read about these things happening, eg the Bubonic plague etc. Jesus points these out as 'the beginning of sorrows' (Matt 24:8).
Then He went on to talk about tribulations and persecution of His followers, who also will be hated by all nations for His name's sake.
Offense, betrayals and hate.
False prophets, deception and insensitivity (the love of many growing cold).
Then in verse 24, Jesus gives us a clear clue on when the end will come, "And this gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
NB: I believe the end Jesus spoke about here is not just a day, but the last days that build up to His second coming. This is the day we are in.
Then there will be a great tribulation as never seen since the beginning of the world or ever (Matt 24:21), but praise God, for the elect's sake those days will be shortened else no flesh shall be saved (v22).
At this time false christs and false prophets will arise and show such great signs and wonders that could deceive even the elect if it was possible.
But after the tribulation, the powers of the heavens will be shaken. The sun will grow dark and the moon wouldn't give its light. Then the sign of Jesus will appear in heaven. Everyone will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He will send His angels to gather His elect from all over the world.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us things that would characterize the last days. Paul said that in the last days perilous times will come.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. "
So as for the exact day when Jesus will come, Paul speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
It means that everything will look normal. People will carry on their businesses as usual and then suddenly, without announcement, the day arrives.
Jesus compared His coming with the days of Noah. "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be coming of the Son of Man be (Matt 24:37-39).
The day of His return will take the world by surprise. But as long as you are in Christ, living ready as a true follower of Christ would, that day won't be a surprise to you.
"Now about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
But you are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober"(1Thess 5:1-2,4-6).
The whole essence of this message is to create the sense of urgency. The signs of time show us that we are living in the end times.
We are to sober up and do what God has called us to do, and that includes reaching out to people with the message of salvation. It is not to build fear. Besides, why should one be afraid when he is in Christ?
Many Christians have become lax. Let's wake up and do the work!
Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." (Matt 24:42)
End of age speaks of the end of a particular age and the beginning of another.
I explained them better here. So please check it out if you missed it.
Concerning the end of age
When Jesus' disciples asked Him concerning the sign of His coming and the end of age, Jesus talked about self-acclaimed christs coming in His name to deceive many. Also wars and rumors of wars, but despite all of these the end is not yet come (Matt 24:6).
There will be scuffles among nations, famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places.
Please note that even before we were born, we have read about these things happening, eg the Bubonic plague etc. Jesus points these out as 'the beginning of sorrows' (Matt 24:8).
Then He went on to talk about tribulations and persecution of His followers, who also will be hated by all nations for His name's sake.
Offense, betrayals and hate.
False prophets, deception and insensitivity (the love of many growing cold).
Then in verse 24, Jesus gives us a clear clue on when the end will come, "And this gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
NB: I believe the end Jesus spoke about here is not just a day, but the last days that build up to His second coming. This is the day we are in.
Then there will be a great tribulation as never seen since the beginning of the world or ever (Matt 24:21), but praise God, for the elect's sake those days will be shortened else no flesh shall be saved (v22).
At this time false christs and false prophets will arise and show such great signs and wonders that could deceive even the elect if it was possible.
But after the tribulation, the powers of the heavens will be shaken. The sun will grow dark and the moon wouldn't give its light. Then the sign of Jesus will appear in heaven. Everyone will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He will send His angels to gather His elect from all over the world.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us things that would characterize the last days. Paul said that in the last days perilous times will come.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. "
So as for the exact day when Jesus will come, Paul speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
It means that everything will look normal. People will carry on their businesses as usual and then suddenly, without announcement, the day arrives.
Jesus compared His coming with the days of Noah. "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be coming of the Son of Man be (Matt 24:37-39).
The day of His return will take the world by surprise. But as long as you are in Christ, living ready as a true follower of Christ would, that day won't be a surprise to you.
"Now about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
But you are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober"(1Thess 5:1-2,4-6).
The whole essence of this message is to create the sense of urgency. The signs of time show us that we are living in the end times.
We are to sober up and do what God has called us to do, and that includes reaching out to people with the message of salvation. It is not to build fear. Besides, why should one be afraid when he is in Christ?
Many Christians have become lax. Let's wake up and do the work!
Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." (Matt 24:42)
Comments
Post a Comment
I would love to know your thoughts. Can you leave me a comment?