We will never know ahead of time when ‘The End’ will come. Period. I think there are a variety of reasons why – not the least of which is how our focus would change based on this specific knowing. We need to be engaged in our days, we need to be sharing our talents and gifts – we need to do what Jesus did: being about His Father’s business.
If you remember correctly, believers know where we are going. If you’ve read your Bible you have sufficient information to understand the time you are living in. I guess I will never understand why we should go into ‘survival mode’ in our time. If God isn’t for us (and He tells us each and every day that He is… in so many ways) why should we fret and worry? However, that doesn’t mean we need to be ignorant or ignore what’s happening in the world nor get upset nor …. The only book in the Bible that states that blessed are those who read Revelation (Revelation 1;3).
[As an aside… I’ve always been slightly curious about the fact that an ‘s’ appears to be added to the book’s title. It isn’t RevelationS it’s Revelation. Because John clearly states that it is a revelation of Jesus.]
Throughout the Old and New Testaments there are references and prophecies about the End Times. GotQuestions suggests that over 27% of predictive scripture is related to this subject. One of the more quoted Old Testament scripture:
“It shall come about after this [see verses preceding 28] That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-29 – this verse was quoted by Peter in Acts on the day of Pentecost)
New Testament
“Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of
unprecedented trouble]. [Matthew 24:4-8]
You did see the word, ‘beginning’. Jesus told His disciples that no one know when the End Times would be except the Father. [Matthew 24:36-44/ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 / 2 Peter 3:10…] However, He doesn’t tell us to be foolish and He does give us ‘sighs’ that the end is near. Yet… I don’t think this is the emphasis we need to focus on.
“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work. Do you not say, ‘It is still four months until the harvest comes?’ Look, I say to you, raise your eyes and look at the fields and see, they are white for harvest. Already the reaper is receiving his wages and he is gathering fruit for eternal life; so that he who plants and he who reaps may rejoice together.” [John 4:34-36, AMP]
Remember whose you are and who you serve – trust that you are becoming all that you can be in your day, in your world. Study, understand, grow and keep your eyes on the prize [Philippians 3:13-14|.
