Are We Living in the End Times?
The Bible prophesies that this age of human misrule will end, and Jesus Christ will return. But so many people have been wrong about when this will happen. How can we really know if we are in the end times?
Jesus had sobered His disciples by telling them the impressive stones of Herod’s temple would all be thrown down (Matthew 24:2). So they asked Him, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (verse 3).
The rest of chapter 24 and 25 give Jesus’ answers. (This prophecy is also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21.)
Prerequisites to the end times
Jesus explained a number of trends and conditions that would come first.
Some of these began at that time and will intensify through the end times. These include religious deception, wars, famines and disease epidemics (Matthew 24:4-7).
Jesus stressed the importance of watching and always being ready, because some end-time events can happen suddenly.
But, Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows [literally, birth pangs]” (verse 8).
Persecution and lawlessness will also crescendo in the end times (verses 9-13), culminating in an unprecedented time of “great tribulation” (verse 21). This time will threaten human extinction (verse 22). That’s something that was not possible before the creation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Jesus also warned of the “abomination of desolation” that Daniel explained would cause the ending of daily sacrifices (Daniel 12:11). Of course, before this could occur, not only would Jews have to control Jerusalem (which occurred in 1967), but they would have to begin making animal sacrifices (which has not happened yet.
Things that have not happened yet (but could happen suddenly)
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34, “This generation [apparently the generation that ‘sees all these things,’ verse 33] will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” This sets an outer limit of a generation for these end-time events. But He also said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (verse 36).
Jesus stressed the importance of watching and always being ready, because some end-time events can happen suddenly, “at an hour you do not expect” (verse 44).
After the end
The Bible does not stop with the “end.” In fact, the end of the day of man signals the beginning of the incomparable day of God. After God’s wrath at sin, Jesus will return and bring restoration, healing and peace. He will set up the beautiful, joyous Kingdom of God.
What should we be doing?
In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus addressed much more about what we should be doing to prepare for His return than about when He will return.
Study about the faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the good and profitable servants (verses 14-30), and the generous and serving “sheep” (verses 31-46). Strive to be like them and not like their evil, foolish, unprofitable and uncompassionate counterparts.
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