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Could Christ literally return tomorrow? Does something else need to happen before he comes? What should we focus on in the end times? Are we actually already living in the end times? What dangers lurk within them? What will be the end of the end times?

These and similar questions concern many Christians. And rightly so. Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed firsthand the enormous development of digital networking, technology, and science. Human achievements lead people to believe that, through their ability to "create," they can become ever more like God. Through digitalization, it is hoped that many problems can be solved.

The coronavirus crisis vividly illustrates how quickly processes and things that seemed so established and secure can change. Children of God are waiting, especially during this time, for the fulfillment of God's word. We must admit that we are not unmoved when we reflect on these matters. The rapid pace of developments is causing many believers concern and even fear for the future. Into this very time, God speaks of Him as the one who holds world affairs in His hands: "For His eyes are on the ways of man; He sees all his steps" (Job 34:21). "He watches over the nation as well as the individual" (Job 34:29).

It's time to raise our heads!

When people talk about the “last days,” many believers imagine a terrifying picture: Believers expect a chain of tremendous natural events, wars, widespread persecution for Christ’s sake, and, last but not least, the rise of a great personality who will consider himself equal to God: “He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God and proclaims himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

To gain a sober perspective, we turn to the Word of God with these questions. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and sober-minded so that you may pray” (1 Peter 4:7).

1. When did the last period begin?

“He [Jesus] was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times [emphasis added] for your sake, who through him believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21). The “last days” are part of humanity’s salvation history and thus an important component of God’s plan.

Jesus appeared at the end of time. With the coming of the Lord Jesus to this world, the last days began and continue to this day. The Apostle John wrote the following words at the end of the first century: “ Children, it is the last hour! ” (1 John 2:18). The word “hour” (Greek: ὥρα [hōra]) can also be translated here as “time.” This exclamation of John clearly shows us that we are living in the last days.

Today, some 2000 years later, we are still living in the same period of God's plan of salvation. Before our very eyes, prophecies concerning the people of Israel are being fulfilled, prophecies that announce the end of the last days and thus the return of the Lord. The question now arises: What are we waiting for now? What prophecies remain to be fulfilled before Christ returns?

2. Where do we stand today in the “late period”?

“For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in ” (Romans 11:25).

“And they [the inhabitants of Jerusalem] will fall by the edge of the sword and will be carried captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the nations until the appointed time [Greek: καιρός [Kairos], appointed time] of the nations is fulfilled ” (Luke 21:24).

In Luke chapter 21, the end of the Diaspora is unmistakably linked to the end of times for the nations. God turns once again to His people Israel. God's promise from Ezekiel and Isaiah has been fulfilled: Israel recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. A people who lived in dispersion for 2,536 years (586 BC – 1948 AD) without any claim to their own territory, re-established their own state – Israel – in 1948.

“And I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). “You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors, and you will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28). “He will raise up a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will gather the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12).

Immediately after turning to His people Israel, Jesus promises the following events: “And there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth distress of the nations in perplexity, with the roaring and surging sea [Greek: σάλος [‚salos] , turmoil], as people faint with fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

Jesus' prophetic words about the end times speak of the fear and bewilderment of the nations. Furthermore, Jesus speaks of people being afraid of things that will come upon the whole world. The year 2020, in particular, with the events surrounding the coronavirus, has shown us how quickly and unexpectedly fear and bewilderment can arise across the entire world.

Before His arrival, Jesus prophesies mighty signs in the heavens that will fill people with great fear and dread. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). All eyes will see Christ . “When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

Reading all the events Jesus recounts (see also Matthew 24 and 25), we can confidently say that this is not just the beginning, but that many of Jesus' prophecies have already been fulfilled. The answer to the question of which phase of the end times we are currently in is this: It is the time to lift up our heads!

3. Is the Second Coming preached to incite fear?

When you consider all the prophecies about the end times, you realize that several things still need to happen. Why, then, do we need to preach about the Second Coming? The answer is simple. Jesus spoke about it as an inevitable fact. The apostles, in their letters to the first-century churches, write about the fact of Jesus' return in such detail, as if they themselves were going to witness it.

The character of Christians has always been this: they lived in expectation of the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus teaches us to pray: “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). The last words of the Bible speak of the Second Coming: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

To those who fear experiencing the fulfillment of God's word, God says: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Given that the end is drawing ever nearer, God's word in 2 Peter 3:11-12 applies: “ Since all these things are being resolved, how much more ought you to distinguish yourselves through holy conduct and godliness , as you look forward to and hasten to the coming of the day of God!”

Fear, as we know, is a poor advisor, but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Regardless of whether our generation will live to see the end of days or not, we are well advised to strive to be saved with fear and trembling (cf. Phil 2:12).

One thing is certain: Christ is coming soon. Those who fear His coming still have time to properly prepare for His return. Despite the terrifying images of judgment and the bowls of God's wrath that will descend upon the entire earth, the joy of redemption and the moment of meeting our Lord, "who has become for us wisdom from God, and righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30), prevails.

4. The misconception of many Christians: “The Lord is delaying His coming – I still have time.”

The Second Coming of Jesus will have an impact not only on the living, but equally on the dead in Christ.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first . Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Whether we are still alive when He comes or die beforehand, the end will reveal how you lived. Your relationship with Christ at the moment of your death will determine whether He will raise you up for the Rapture at His return.

Children of God, church of Christ, let me tell you: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus addresses the thought, “The Lord is delaying, I still have time,” and pronounces a judgment on it: “The same is true: the master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:50-51).

5. The real dangers of recent times

As described at the beginning, many Christians are anxious about the end times. We are all familiar with the following thoughts or questions:

• Without the sign of the cross, we will neither be able to buy nor sell, and we must be able to provide for ourselves.
• In which country will I be safer when the end comes?
• Where are we most likely to survive this period?
• etc.

From a human perspective, these thoughts are understandable. However, the threat of the end times is not currently manifesting itself in the external world, but rather on a spiritual level. Anyone who reads the end-times accounts in the Bible will find that Christ and the apostles had different concerns about the end times than those mentioned above. So, what are the "real dangers" of the end times?

seduction

After the disciples asked Jesus about the time of the end, he answered them, “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See that no one deceives you!’” (Matthew 24:4). Of course, I will not believe anyone who gets up and says, “I am the Christ” or “Look, he is in the wilderness.” But what about when someone suddenly preaches a different Christ? Even in the time of the first apostles, there were false prophets who performed signs and wonders. The Apostle John says, “Children, it is the last hour! And as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, now many opponents of Christ have appeared . By this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). And what about today?

Do I truly know the Christ of the Bible? Someone said, “The most dangerous lie is always the one that comes closest to the truth” (author unknown). Unfortunately, this also applies to the Gospel. To avoid falling victim to the coming danger of deception, we must know the true Christ well today more than ever before, in order to recognize the false one.

Spiritual apostasy

The Bible foretells a great falling away from the faith through the defilement of conscience: “By keeping the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and [so] have been shipwrecked with regard to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:19). “But the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings from demons, through the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Cooling of love

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). This word of Jesus will be fulfilled. Therefore, we must be all the more careful that this word does not come true for us. What can cause love to grow cold? Reasons include blasphemy, love of the world, unjust treatment, envy, strife, and much more. “But I hold this against you, that you have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4). The growing cold or abandonment of one’s first love is punished in Revelation by “throwing away the lampstand.”

inertia

One danger in our time of becoming spiritually sluggish clearly lies in prosperity. Jesus warns: “Be on your guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with gluttony, drunkenness, and the cares of life, and that day will come on you suddenly like a snare” (Luke 21:34-35). Simply eating, drinking, being cheerful, and caring for the well-being of one's family leads to spiritual sluggishness.

Christ calls every saved soul to His work of making disciples. Those who do not demonstrate zeal and diligence will be judged by Christ and labeled a "lazy servant." " We want each of you to show the same zeal, so that you may fully realize the hope you have until the end, so that you will not become lazy , but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:11-12).

6. Your focus is crucial!

Those who focus their attention on world events and primarily engage with news reports and modern media will quickly find themselves caught in a vortex of fear and uncertainty. In some cases, believers who focus on the world and the media become veritable advocates of a wide variety of theories and opinions, which they sometimes even loudly proclaim.

Unfortunately, these same people are often unwilling or unable to stand up for the gospel and preach it. Paul aptly said of them: “Those who are always looking for new things to say and are never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

If our focus is not to be on current events, then what is it to be on? Only those who focus on the Word of God and evaluate the events of the world through the lens of God's Word will be certain and never completely surprised. “For the Lord GOD does nothing except to reveal his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

As we established earlier, the true children of God were never waiting for catastrophes or special events, but for the rapture of the church. All who waited for Christ throughout their lives did not wait in vain. Rather, they made precisely the right decision. Now they are resting from their works and will be raptured on the great day after their resurrection, along with those who are still alive.

This letter certainly hasn't satisfactorily answered all the questions raised about this topic. Certainly, the question of how and when all this will happen is frequently asked when we talk about the end times. Ultimately, however, what will matter is not whether we have theologically arranged all the events of the end times in the correct order, but whether we have duly awaited the Second Coming of Christ.

Therefore, Jesus' call is relevant to our time: "When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28/Luther Bible).

God be with me, with a living hope for a meeting in the clouds!

Michael Akulenko
Municipality of Speyer

Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations follow the Elberfeld translation.

 

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The Gordian knot

Wilhelm Busch recounts: We all probably know the famous story of the Gordian Knot. It was a very complicated knot, kept in a sanctuary of the Greek god Zeus. And so the legend went: "Whoever can untie this knot will gain world domination." Now, one day Alexander the Great came there. When he saw the knot, he drew his sword and simply cut the complicated thing in two.

Well, the Gordian knot was child's play compared to the ever-increasing problems of this world. Yes, the Bible says they will become even more entangled. But the Bible also tells us something else: There is one who will cut this knot of world problems. And then world domination will fall to him. Jesus will return in glory. And his return will solve all the world's unsolvable problems at once.

That is why Christians can calmly navigate the hardship and confusion of our time. They know the One of whom they sing: "He brings all our troubles to an end." Indeed, the more confused and opaque the times become, the more bewildered people become, the more desperately they search for help—the more comforted the children of God become. They know: When the knot is completely untied, Jesus will return. They remember Jesus' words: "When these things begin to happen, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." I know of nothing that could bring more comfort and serenity than the prospect of Jesus' return.

Wilhelm Buch, 1897-1966, German Protestant pastor during the Nazi era

 

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