Surviving The End Times
“Surviving the end times – what do I need to know?”Oftentimes, people experience anxiety when they think about the future; however, it does not have to be that way. For those who know God, thoughts concerning the future bring about eagerness and comfort. As an example, describing a woman who knows and trusts God, Proverbs 31:25 says, "25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." The two key thoughts to keep in mind about the future are, first, God is sovereign and in control over everything. He knows the future and absolutely controls what will happen. The Bible says, "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me
Isaiah 46:9-11 "Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the east- a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it".The second thing to remember about the future is that the Bible outlines in specific details exactly what will occur in what Scripture calls "the end times" or "latter days." Because the Bible is God's revelation to humankind, and because God knows and controls the future (as Isaiah says above), then it stands to reason that when the Bible speaks about what will occur in the future, we can believe it. Concerning predictions about the future, the Bible says,
2 Peter 1:20-21Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
This truth is made evident by the fact that, unlike supposed prophecies made in other religions or by individuals (e.g., Nostradamus) who said they could predict the future that did not come true, the Bible has never once been wrong ÔÇô every time the Bible has predicted a future event, it happened exactly as Scripture said it would. When considering how to understand and survive in the end times, three key questions need to be answered:1. How should I interpret what the Bible says about the future (biblical prophecy)? 2. What does the Bible say will happen in the end times? 3. How should what the Bible says about the future affect the way I live today? How to Interpret Biblical ProphecyThere are a number of opinions and viewpoints that surround what interpretative methods students of the Bible should use when reading passages in Scripture that concern the end times. While there are good people espousing different beliefs, there is good evidence to believe that biblical prophecy should be interpreted (1) literally, (2) with a futurist view, and (3) in what is called a "premillennial" manner. With respect to a literal interpretation, it should be understood that there are some 300 prophecies that concern the first coming of Christ, all of which were literally fulfilled. The predictions surrounding the Messiah's birth, life, betrayal, death and resurrection were not fulfilled allegorically or in a spiritual manner. Jesus literally was born in Bethlehem, performed miracles, was betrayed by a close friend for 30 pieces of silver, was pierced in His hands and feet, died with thieves, was buried in a rich man's tomb, and was resurrected three days after His death. All of these prophecies were predicted hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus was born and were literally fulfilled. And while, indeed, there is symbolism used in various prophecies (e.g., dragons, horsemen, etc.), all of it portrays literal beings or events, in much the same way that Jesus is spoken of as a lion and a lamb. Regarding a futurist view, the Bible clearly states that prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation contain not only renditions of past, historical events, but also things that will happen in the future. When John was given his commands for the churches of his day, he then received his visions concerning the futuristic things that would occur in the end times.
Revelation 4:1Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this."
But perhaps even a stronger argument for a futurist view revolves around the promises God made to Abraham (cf. Genesis 12 & 15) concerning the land of Israel. Since God's covenant with Abraham was unconditional, and His promises have not yet been fulfilled to the Israeli people, then a futurist view of Israel and the prophecies surrounding the people of Israel's return and possession of Palestine must occur. Lastly, with respect to prophecy being interpreted in a "premillennial" manner, this means that Jesus Christ will return and then reign over the earth for 1,000 years in a perfect rule. Five times in Revelation 20, the Scripture says that Jesus will return first and then reign for 1,000 years (hence the name "pre-," indicating "before," and "millennial," which means "1,000"). There is no reason to take what Scripture says in any other way except that Jesus will first return and then begin a 1,000-year rule over the earth. But what does the Bible say will happen before then? What Does the Bible say will happen in the End Times?Sadly, the Bible predicts a downward spiral of catastrophes, human sin, and religious apostasy before Christ returns. Paul writes,
2 Timothy 3:1, 13"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult timesBut evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived
The world will continue to reject God, His Word, and His people. Some day in the future ÔÇô a day no one knows ÔÇô God will end the Church age which began in the first century on Pentecost (cf. Acts 2) with an event known as the Rapture. This will be when God removes all believers in Christ from the earth in preparation for His final judgments. Of the Rapture, Paul says,
1 Thessalonians 4:14ÔÇô18"For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words".
The erosion of peace and increase of turmoil that precedes the Rapture will reach epic proportions when untold numbers of people disappear from earth. Such a vacuum will cause panic and scream for a strong leader who will have answers to all the world's questions and problems. The setting of the stage for this leader has been in progress for some time, as historian Arnold Toynbee has noted: "By forcing on mankind more and more lethal weapons, and at the same time making the world more and more interdependent economically, technology has brought mankind to such a degree of distress that we are ripe for the deifying of any new Caesar who might succeed in giving the world unity and peace." Out of a revived Roman Empire, one that is organized in a European ten-constituency fashion.the Antichrist will arise and sign a covenant with the nation of Israel, which will officially begin God's prophetic seven-year countdown to Christ's second coming
Daniel 7:24; Revelation 13:1 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.
Daniel 9:27The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."For three and a half years, the Antichrist will reign over the earth with a false peace being promised, but a peace that is nothing but a trap for the people of the earth as the Bible says:
1 Thessalonians 5:3When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
until the end Antichrist's 3.5-year reign, when he will enter a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be God and demand worship
Matthew 24:7Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
It is at that point that the Creator and true God responds to the challenge. For another 3.5 years, a Great Tribulation will occur such as has never before come upon the earth, one which the prophets and Jesus predicted:
Matthew 24:21ÔÇô22"For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones.
Untold loss of life and destruction of the earth will occur during this period. Also, many will come to faith in Christ, yet many will do so at cost of their lives. But God's sovereign hand will still be in control as the Lord Himself gathers the unbelieving armies of the world together for His collective judgment of them. Of this event, the prophet Joel wrote,
Joel 3:2 "I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat..There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land."
John records the battle this way:
Revelation 16:13ÔÇô16"And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
"Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed." And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.
At this point, the Messiah Jesus will return, destroy His enemies, and claim the world, which is rightfully His. John's revelation describes this glorious event in this manner:
Revelation 19:11ÔÇô21Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh[a] was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast-miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.
After Christ has defeated all the armies gathered in the valley of Armageddon, He will reign for one thousand years in a perfect rule with His saints and fully restore Israel to her land. At the end of a thousand years, a final judgment of the nations and all remaining mankind will occur, which is then followed with either an eternal state spent with God for those who follow Him or an eternal separation from Him for those who do not ( Revelation 20-21). The above are not speculations or possibilities ÔÇô they describe exactly and precisely what will take place in the future. Just as all prophecies came true and were fulfilled in Christ's first coming, there is no reason to believe anything will be different with those that speak of His return to the earth. Given the truth behind these prophecies, what impact should they have on us now? Peter asks the question in this manner:
2 Peter 3:11ÔÇô12 "Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames" The Effect of Bible Prophecy on Us Today
There are four effects that the truths of Bible prophecy should have on us today. 1.Obedience, which is what Peter speaks about in the verses above.
Jesus continually tells us to be ready for His coming, which could come at any time and to live in a way in which we are not ashamed of our lives and behavior.
Mark 13:33-37And since you don't know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don't know when the master of the household will return-in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!"
2. Worship. Because God has provided a way to escape His end-time judgments, we need to be sure we receive His free gift of salvation offered through Jesus now and live in gratitude before Him. John shows this in his description of heavenly worship for Jesus:
Revelation 5:9And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
3. Proclamation. The message of God's salvation and the truth of His second coming need to be proclaimed for all to hear, especially to those who don't yet believe so they can turn to God and be saved from His coming wrath.
Revelation 22:10 says, “Then he instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near,"The last effect God's prophetic Word should have on us is
4. Service. All believers should be diligent about carrying out God's will and performing good works that are an outworking of the salvation that has taken place in each Christian's heart. Part of Christ's judgments will be of the works performed by believers. They do not determine a Christian's acceptance into Heaven, but show what each believer did with the gifts and opportunities given him or her by God. Paul says of this judgment,
2 Corinthians 5:10“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. ”
All of this can be summed up with the same thoughts that began this article. God is sovereign over all events and people of the world, He is firmly in control of everything, and will bring a perfect end to everything He has started. An old Christian song puts it like this: "All is God's creation  Fashioned by One hand  Satan and Salvation  Under One command."The fact that the Bible is a supernatural book is evidenced by the truth that every prophecy conveyed by it to date has been fulfilled. This being the case, it is reasonable and rational to conclude that what it says about the prophecies for the end times will occur as well. For those who know Jesus and have trusted Him as their Lord and Savior, His coming will be their blessed hope
Titus 2:13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
But for those who have willingly rejected Christ, He will be their holy terror . The bottom line is this: to survive the end times, make sure you are a believer in Christ:
2Thessalonians 1:8 "in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus".
God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation
1 Thessalonians 5:9For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.