By Van Yandell
Matthew 24: 36 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Unless one is living on a desert island and hasn’t seen another human in many years, the obvious capitalizing of certain conditions and concepts is drowning us every day of our lives.
Cancer is big business, body fat is big business. Sex, power, prestige, personal appearance and hygiene make many feel less than adequate in today’s world; thus the selling of products.
Videos, articles, books, movies and TV shows are profiting from “End of Time” scenarios. Many are pre-occupied with the foreknowledge of how the world will end and what will become of us when it happens.
As the leading scripture indicates, only God knows when and exactly how the end will come. Speculations have been made by the thousands and few, if any, of those coincide with scriptural teachings.
Jesus said in Matthew 24: 9 “then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Old Testament writers indicate times of great distress that correspond to Jesus’ statement. Zephaniah 1: 14-18, Joel 2: 1-2 and Daniel 9: 24-27 tell us of times that will be terrible to all mankind left on earth.
This time of tribulation has likely been considered in the present many times in history. During wars, famines, epidemics, political coups and uprisings; millions have been killed, homes burned, rapes and torturing leading many to believe they were experiencing the tribulation.
The Biblical signs of the end times are ever present somewhere in the world and it is understandable why so many may have had such a thought.
There is a sequence of events that will take place. First, the return of Christ to take up His church (those true believer-followers of Him) 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.
Second, the tribulation (in which thousands will die and the earth mostly destroyed) will take place for 3/12 years with a subsequent 3 ½ years many call The Great Tribulation.
And thirdly, Christ’s return at which time the prophesy in Philippians 2: 10-11 will be fulfilled. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Then Christ will establish His 1000 year millennial reign on earth. This listing is debatable and many have other opinions. Students of the Bible and those curious are encouraged to read the scriptures and determine their own thoughts.
Sources of similar information vary in these events. Whereas 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 indicate the Lord will “descend” from Heaven to take up the believers but will return with them to Heaven. This considered, He will return to the earth after the tribulation.
Some listings of the events elaborate into more than the four I have stated. These are only an outline and a listing of the major occurrences.
Attempting not to sound convinced of any certainty of the order, scriptural references of those end time events seem to be happening before us in our current existence.
The Apostle Paul wrote 2 Timothy over 1900 years ago. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (out of self-control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Does this description fit our world in this twenty-first century? It certainly does and one doesn’t have look very far to see it! Perhaps in the mirror would be a good place to start.
Paul’s description of mankind in the above scripture is only a beginning of the scriptural prophesies; the world conditions and the human attitudes and actions that will be manifested in the end.
Is this dire warning and description of future events something for us to dread and have great fear? For some “yes!” For the believer-follower of Christ Jesus there is great anticipation.
Romans 10: 9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth (say it, mean it, believe it) the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The plan of salvation for individuals is a series of actions and understandings. First we must realize all are sinners (Romans 3: 23). No human is exempt. We do things, think things and say things not in accordance with the teachings of God in the Holy Bible.
We must confess the fact we are a sinner and in need of redemption (1 John 1: 9). Thirdly is repentance: this is an intention and a vow to redirect our lives into accordance with God’s teachings (Acts 3: 19 and John 3).
Belief in the Lord Jesus, crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected is absolutely essential and finally a prayer asking Him to come into our heart and lives and save our soul.
Anyone reading this can be saved; it’s up to you. To believe is to be convinced something is real and true. Are you there yet?
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email is vmy3451@gmail.com.
