Only ONE person receives the prize – run in such a way that you get the prize!

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We've grown accustomed to it – war in Ukraine, war in Israel, the weather is going crazy, everything is getting more expensive. News only lasts a few days before it's replaced by the next headline. But isn't it time to pause for a moment? What's really happening in current events? And what does it all have to do with us?

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, ‘Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’” (Matthew 24:3)

It's human nature to want to look to the future. We want to know what awaits us. What impact will things have on me personally, on the community, on our country, or on our world?

Throughout history, people have faced political, economic, and cultural changes. Many developments were unstoppable—whether one agreed with them or not. Jesus foretold great changes to his disciples, both for their time and for the future. Many of these things are frightening, yet our trust in the Lord must not be undermined by external circumstances.

Nothing in this world happens without the Lord's permission. All of this leads to the fulfillment of His will. Jesus doesn't say when certain things will happen, but exhorts us to trust Him. The people of Israel didn't know when their exodus from Egypt would be, but through the signs God showed them through Moses, they could tell it wasn't long. It could happen any day, and they had to be ready at that moment.

What can the community expect in the near future?

In many parables, the Lord Jesus shows that the Father prepares a wedding for His Son, and all of heaven rejoices in the moment when the Bridegroom takes His bride to Him. However, the enemy of God seeks to lead as many as possible from the right path through lies (cf. Mt 24:3-14).

Jesus shows how the enemy will try to seduce not only the people of God, but all of humanity.

False teachers will appear, whom people will believe, but who will abuse that trust. Through miracles, signs, and all kinds of spiritual effects, they will deceive many. But they will despise humility and a longing for Jesus Christ in prayer.

In his Second Letter to Timothy, chapter 3, the Apostle Paul warns of the spirit of rebellion and defiance that prevails in the world and will take hold in families and congregations alike. Balaam, for example, also claimed to be acting according to God's word, but the love of worldly wealth was already firmly entrenched in his heart. Although he was obligated to bless the people, his goal was to lead them back into the slavery of sin. Wars and natural disasters will come, filling people with fear and terror.

Many say, "There have always been wars and natural disasters." But these will increase dramatically—even in places where people feel safe. Believers in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution from the world, but also from false believers. True Christians don't fit into society. They don't accept the spirit of the age, but hold fast to the Word of God and their love for their Lord Jesus Christ.

But in all this confusion, fear, despair, persecution, and apostasy, the gospel will be preached, because there will always be people who hold fast to the truth and remain faithful to the Lord. I am convinced that there the Lord will reveal the power of the Holy Spirit in a very special way. When the night is darkest, the light shines brightest!

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world” (Revelation 3:10).

And then the Father will send His Son with the host of angels to take His church from this earth. And all who have waited for Him and cleaned their garments will go to meet Him: “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31).

What is God's mission for the church in the last days?

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

Jesus calls His church to trust Him, for the Father desires to give them the kingdom. With Him we can overcome everything. But he clearly warns us not to be led astray from the truth, nor to believe the enemy's lie.

When we look at the world today, we see an expectation of what lies ahead. However, this expectation is not what the Lord wants to see in His church. We see that increasingly, even Christians are no longer guided by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, but by politics, the media, fear of the future, and also by apparent revelations that do not align with the Word of God.

Many panic when they see the political developments and the moral decay of society. But instead of engaging in fasting and prayer, they complain about politicians and waste time glued to the news. There is much talk of the Islamization of Europe and the need to defend our country. But it is all too often forgotten that God holds everything in His hands and is the Lord over all.

Many expect a special outpouring of gifts of the Spirit, which the Lord often reveals through prophecies. However, this shifts the focus more to the gifts themselves than to the Giver. Jesus says, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world, to test those who live on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

In the seven letters to the churches, the Holy Spirit reminds them that the church does not endure the struggle through its own strength, but solely through the help of the Holy Spirit. Where we can no longer continue on our path, God, through the Holy Spirit, grants us His wonderful guidance, enabling us to keep going.

We have often experienced this in our own family: when the people around us are filled with fear and despair and look to the future with uncertainty, the Holy Spirit gives us His light, and we see what others cannot. Many ask, "What do you trust in?" We can then joyfully testify: "We have a living God, and one day we will be with Him."

This is our hope. In our family, we have experienced very clearly how the Lord prepares us for seemingly hopeless situations and carries us through them. Two of our thirteen children (one seven years old and one six months old) were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a malignant tumor, respectively. When my wife had to take our youngest child to the hospital for treatment, our son Joshua, who has Down syndrome, was only two years old and completely dependent on his mother. God always came with His comfort and showed His grace.

“Many will be sifted, purified, and cleansed; and the wicked will remain wicked, and no wicked person will understand; but those who are wise will understand” (Dan 12:10).

The Lord wants to teach us that we should place our trust in Him alone. He wants to lead us to our goal. The enemy, on the other hand, wants to lead us away from living faith and also to distract us from our goal through various end-times prophecies that either spread fear and panic or reinforce political views.

Unfortunately, many Christians are lulled into a false sense of security and rely on revelations that promise them special anointing and power, even though they themselves do not seek God's guidance. Many are afraid to examine their lives in the light of God, and admonitions from the Holy Spirit are despised.

The Bible clearly shows us how the Lord wants to see His church in the last days: not in fear and panic about what is to come, but also not in indifferent anticipation. We must examine all revelations or human opinions in light of God's Word. The purpose of every revelation from God is to draw people closer to Himself and to free them from sin and burdens, so that they may be filled with joyful confidence on the day of the Lord.

“Be girded with belts and have your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35).

We are not waiting for the Antichrist, but for our Lord Jesus Christ, who is bringing His beloved bride home. The bride, who has prepared herself, joyfully awaits the wedding day, for she will see the one she loves!

Wilhelm Schöck

Municipality of Chemnitz