Are We In the End!!!

Matthew 24:14 ¹⁴

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

If you have been involved in conversations recently, you have probably heard this question; ‘Do you think this is the end?’.

So many questions arise after that question, many have no answers, many have answers, but many answers may not be a comfort, if …you are not ready for the end.

I write regularly to a prisoner. She has been telling me that the women there are questioning whether this pandemic is the beginning of the end of the world. This gives my friend a unique opportunity. It gives us one as well!

The Bible has some very clear answers and there are very specific things that need to happen before the end would come. There are also a couple things we can do to get ready.

Vacation season is pretty much over, but think about your last vacation. Think about it, did you just pack up a bag and hop in the car going to, let’s say, the airport, without a plan? Would you even drive to a destination you have been to before without checking to see if they are now open? I think not! So, I ask, why would you just recklessly live your life without a plan destination, after your life here expires?

Now, I don’t mean a prepaid plan at a local cemetery or crematoria. I mean a plan for your eternal destination! And this plan is easy, and free!

So, first let’s look at the signs to look for that signal the ‘end of the age’.

Open your Bible to Matthew 24. In verse 3 the disciples gather around Jesus as He sat on the Mt. of Olives. Jesus had previously departed from the grand Temple. He opened a dialogue with them by saying ‘not one stone shall be left upon another’, referring to the Temple. This was a prophesy about the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. Then they asked Him three questions; when will these things be? what will be the sign of your coming? and what will be the sign of the end of the age?

First Jesus told them many will come ‘in His name’, saying they are the Christ. Don’t be deceived. Over the centuries since then many have come, and many have even said they were Christ. Sadly, many were deceived. Why? I believe they did not read the book and know the signs! If you are aware that there will be deceivers, you can be much more selective about who you will follow.

He also said there would be ‘wars and rumors of wars’. That’s kind of a constant occurrence. Somewhere in the world there is a war going on! But He admonished, don’t be afraid, these things will happen, but the end is not yet.

There will be famine and pestilences, earthquakes and persecutions, these are the beginning of sorrows. There will be false prophets and lawlessness, right will be wrong-and wrong will be right. Not yet!

Does it sound to you as it does to me, that all these things are happening now! Yes, they are.

Two more benchmarks we need to be aware of; because of the lawlessness, the love of many will become cold. Often within a persons heart when our basic needs are met, we can be rational and make good decisions. However, when our basic needs are deprived, no food, water or shelter for an extended time, we begin to loose our focus. Our compass shifts, and we get into great trouble. In this recent pandemic there was real opportunity for this to begin happening. It hasn’t, but during ‘Katrina’ when the local government could not keep up with the needs of the people, it began to get very unsafe, physically and emotionally. That is when a leader who claims to have the answer can step in and take over.

That is also where we as believers have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to share with those who are unaware of the signs to look for.

In my very humble opinion, this is the benchmark holding up Christ’s return. In His love and compassion for us He wants to see one more life be redeemed, one more person He died for come to Him. He says clearly and in a very easy to understand instruction; the gospel shall be preached in all the world….THEN shall the end come!

I don’t know if you ever looked at the end time this way…WE have a responsibility to usher it in. We have had it for over 2,000 years. We cannot grow weary of it and we cannot give up on it. We do need to always have that goal before us an always keep our hearts engaged for God, with the focus in doing our part to share Jesus with as many as we can.

Back to the question…is this the end? No one, even Jesus does not know when. Only God the Father has that metric. I do know that He will not come until the gospel has been told to everyone. And, I know it’s closer today than it was yesterday!

Here’s a question for ya; How many countries have not had a clear Gospel message presented to them? Google it, then let me know!