Bible/Advice/Resources
By Summer Lane
Photo: Deposit
In the New Testament, there is extensive information about what the end of the world is going to look like. Of course, the book of Revelation, written by John, is the most comprehensive, when it comes to prophecy. And yet, some may forget that Jesus gave his disciples some pretty serious clues about how the Last Days would look.
In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus leaves the temple, and as He is doing so, His disciples come to Him. Jesus points to the temple and says, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
This piqued the disciples’ interest – of course it would! What did Jesus mean by saying that the temple would be stripped down to nothing? In his response at the Mount of Olives, Jesus explained:
4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus describes these days of “abomination of desolation” as a period of “tribulation.” He warns that, in the End Days, there will be those who pose as “false Christs and false prophets,” performing signs and wonders to lead astray “even the elect.”
26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
This week, some around the nation – and the world – predicted that the rapture of the church would take place on September 24. This did not happen. And, whether you believe in the pre-Trib, post-Trib, or mid-Trib rapture of the church, one thing is made incredibly clear in the Bible: no man knows the day or the hour when the Lord shall return.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
What does that mean? Jesus describes the utter blindness of civilization at the judgment to come:
8 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Right now, it seems as if the United States may be on the cusp of a great revival. Churches are recording higher-than-ever attendance. Faith and the name of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed not only by many young people, but by many in the current White House administration. God be praised for this gracious mercy.
Despite this trend, we must live informed and prepared for the return of Christ – for that glorious Second Coming that will rescue the world from despotism and corruption and sin. While things will eventually get a lot worse before they truly get better (the Bible tells us so, after all!), there is always room for hard work and ministry here on Earth, which gives us an opportunity to reach others with the Gospel before the final hour arrives.
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45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24: 45-51
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Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.
Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.
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