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Many events are currently happening on our earth, such as wars and natural disasters. Jesus already warned about and spoke of this time. In the Bible, we find many passages that speak of the end times. What does the Word of God say about the present time, and what should we do?
Difficult times for humanity
If we take a closer look at human history, we recognize different eras in which people lived – each marked by its own challenges and concerns. Human history has often been overshadowed by wars and natural disasters. If we observe the present day closely, it becomes apparent that such events are occurring more frequently. Even if we don't feel it immediately, we see upon closer inspection that many extraordinary things are happening today.
When God created humankind, He gave them free will, enabling them to make their own decisions. From the very beginning, humankind followed its own will: doing what seemed right to them, often turning away from God or even denying Him. If we look, for example, at the nation of Israel, we see interesting phases in its history. At times, the people were obedient to the Lord, while at others, they turned their backs on God. Yet, despite this turning away, God always remained by their side.
Even today, we are living in a time full of events and changes that affect our lives. The world and the people around us are changing, and many are turning away from God or denying Him. Yet, in every era of human history, God has been with people, especially with those who dedicated their lives to Him and withstood the challenges of their environment.
Looking at the lives of such people today serves as a model for us. Church history contains countless "heroes of faith." Their lives show us that God is especially close to His people in difficult times – we simply need to trust in Him and place everything in His hands.
The constant expectation of Christ's return should shape the life of every Christian. Image source: 192244106 Choat (c) AdobeStock
Jesus mentions the last days
There are many reasons to view the future with anxiety—but only one reason not to fear: Jesus. When Jesus lived on this earth, He often spoke about the coming end times. Whenever He spoke of them, He reassured and comforted His disciples. Jesus didn't use human words as a person would. Instead, He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). He assured us that we have nothing to fear. Faith in Jesus Christ alone frees us from the fear of the future and gives us true comfort.
Today we often see people despairing due to the daily barrage of bad news. Since the causes of many of these events are unclear, many blame others. Particularly in Western countries, there is great concern about whether life and prosperity can be maintained in their current form. Often, just a spark is enough to ignite a raging fire.
The Bible warns us that difficult days are coming in the end times. People will hear of wars, and wars will indeed happen—but this is only the beginning (see Matthew 24:6). Many of the signs described in this chapter can already be observed today. Nevertheless, we should not be discouraged. Jesus has prepared us so that we may recognize the signs and look forward to His return with joy. Therefore, we need not despair, for Jesus will soon take His own to Himself.
The imminent return of Christ is a call to us to remain steadfast in faith and to prepare ourselves for the eternal reward in heaven.
Holding fast to faith in a sinful world
Today, faith is under more pressure and being put to the test than ever before. A believer must be aware that it is important to actively defend their faith and to grow in it. It is undeniable that Christianity is often ridiculed today. Jesus warned his followers that they would be hated and persecuted by others because of him (cf. Mt 24:9).
Christians in Western countries should be prepared for life to change suddenly and for them to experience unjustified contempt and persecution. In many parts of the world, this is already a reality: Christians are actively and systematically persecuted and not infrequently even lose their lives. According to Open Doors, the persecution of Christians is worse today than ever before.
Even in this country, it's evident that Christians are often not taken seriously, and true Christians increasingly constitute a minority. Many people call themselves Christians, but in their hearts they are far from God. Even people who witnessed Jesus' miracles and works with their own eyes during his lifetime often turned away from him. Jesus himself was persecuted. Several attempts were made to kill him. But his true followers were not deterred.
Living in anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ
Our daily lives are often packed with numerous tasks that urgently need to be completed. This often leaves no time for the truly important things.
But the constant expectation of Christ's return should shape the life of every Christian. It should encourage them to lead a holy and faithful life. Human beings live in a world dominated by worldly values and short-lived goals. As Christians, however, we must never lose sight of the true goal – eternal life in communion with God.
It is crucial to understand that all the material things around us are transient (cf. Mt 6:19). Many of the things we strive for bring us only fleeting pleasure. Therefore, we should not become attached to earthly things, as they are only temporary. If we dedicate our time and resources to the Kingdom of Heaven, we will receive a reward for it in eternity. For in the Kingdom of Heaven, things are not transient, but eternal.
In light of today's signs, we realize that it cannot be long before the Lord takes his own to himself.
The pursuit of eternal reward
In Revelation we read that faithful believers will receive a special reward from God (cf. Rev 3:11). This reward awaits every believer in heaven, but on earth we are called to live our lives righteously and faithfully before God. What awaits us in heaven surpasses our human imagination—we can only guess at it, but words alone are insufficient to describe the glory that is prepared for us.
“Look, I am coming soon” (Revelation 3:11a) – these words are addressed directly to us and come from God himself. One thing is certain: The Lord is never late. In light of the signs we see today, we recognize that it cannot be long before the Lord takes his own to himself. Jesus promised to be with us “to the very end of the age” (cf. Matthew 28:20), and we can trust in this promise without letting ourselves be discouraged.
“Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown from you!” (Revelation 3:11) – these words are meant to encourage and build us up. We are called to hold fast to what we have already received. These gifts and truths are sufficient to secure for us the crown of righteousness. “Hold fast” means remaining so steadfast in Jesus and His Word that nothing and no one can snatch this crown from us.
This passage points out that there are forces and powers that want to lead us astray. Holding fast therefore also means clinging to Christ's promises and persevering in discipleship. Every believer is called to dedicate their time, talents, and resources to the Kingdom of God—whether through evangelism, helping those in need, or living in accordance with the Gospel.
The imminent return of Christ is a call to us to remain steadfast in faith and prepare ourselves for eternal reward in heaven. The words "I am coming soon" are more relevant today than ever before, urging us to live in constant expectation and spiritual vigilance. The day of the return is drawing ever closer. A Christian must therefore be active, persevere, and remain faithful in order to ultimately receive the promised crown as eternal reward in heaven.
Rudolf Moiseev
Municipality of Zweibrücken
Literature & Links
[1] Maier, G. (2015) The Revelation of John: Chapters 1–11. Historical-Theological Interpretation of the New Testament. SCM R. Brockhaus; Brunnen Verlag
[2] Pohl, A. (2018). The Revelation of John. Wuppertal Study Bible. SCM R. Brockhaus
[3] Lieth, N. (2003). The Rapture. Midnight Call Publishing House
[4] Maier, G. (2007). Matthew's Gospel. Edition C Bible Commentary. SCM Publishing
[5] https://www.opendoors.de/christenverfolgung/weltverfolgungsindex , accessed on 16.08.2024