Are We In The End Times Or The End Of The Age?
Ξ September 5th, 2008 | → 3 Comments | ∇ End Times |
Welcome back!
Interesting question, isn’t it. The fact is, I do not know for certain. What I can tell you is that we are quite close if not truly in the end of the age. Some people want to call it the end times. I have even done that myself but that is not truly accurate. See, if it were the end times, that would mean that after Jesus comes back, the world would end. That is not happening. In fact, there will be a full thousand years on earth after Jesus comes back at the end of the seven years of tribulation. And then what? God made it quite clear that at the end of that thousand years, there is to be a judgment. Beyond that, the new world. New Jerusalem shall come down from heaven and will be placed where the current Jerusalem is now.
But first, there are some terrible things that have to happen. Our enemy knows he has but a short time left. Because of that, he is intensifying his attacks on the world, in general, and people who are Christians and who are Jewish or those who are likely to become Christians. Now, I am aware that not all who see this blog and other blogs like it are currently Christian but you are having serious problems too. This world is becoming more and more evil. There are many discussions now about this very topic. People are intensely interested in what is going on today. It is not that it just seems to be worse now, it really is worse now than say 20 years ago.
Jesus told us that our world would be suffering such as a woman would suffer childbirth. At first, the pains are small and almost not there. They are not regular. Things such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, strange weather patterns, plagues, sicknesses and diseases, all were there but each happening mostly at different times. There was always a breather between one crisis and another. But now, the birth pains are intensifying, coming closer and closer. We do not have that breather we used to have. If you do not believe that, just check out the Salvation Army and the other help places when there are tornadoes and hurricanes. They simply are having trouble making it because of the huge needs. Remember that tsunami and the quakes? How many quakes are you hearing about lately? Are they worse than they used to be? Yes. When childbirth is almost occurring, the woman has pains, the water breaks, the child is about to appear. As with that, our world is in the last stages of birth pains. Labor is getting stronger and stronger. Soon, the culmination of all that will happen and the last seven years of tribulation will occur.
I know the argument. Some will say that we know now because of the communications devices. That is true to a certain extent but these things are still happening more rapidly, more intensely, on a bigger scale than ever before. Just take the latest hurricanes, for instance. We did not just have Gustav which, when it hit the U.S. had gotten less intense. However, before that, it took the lives of a number of people. Katrina was worse in that regard. Before that, Ruth the same year within a week or two of each other. Now, after Gustav we have Hanna, followed by Ike and then Josephine. Hurricanes and tropical storms are coming in waves. There is no doubt that they are more intense and there are more of them. Just look up the stats on it. Quakes, too, are more…..intense and more of them. We have been awaiting the “big one” in California for years. And yes, I do believe it will happen. But there are other sites too. California is only one place that comprises what is called the “ring of fire” which includes Japan, Alaska and other places in a circle. This is a major earthquake zone.
And what else is coming that will be a sign that we are in the end of the age? Israel and someone who will look like a savior to them will bring about a seven year peace treaty that will actually make peace happen in the middle east in Israel. The Temple of Solomon will be rebuilt and sacrifices will resume. While much of the world will be having major troubles, Israel will be living in a peace it has never had before…..for three and one half years. In the middle of those seven years of peace, after the Temple has been rebuilt, that savior will go into the temple and sit down. Since he is not allowed to do that according to the Jewish religion, he will be desecrating the temple with his presence. This person is called the anti-christ in the scriptures. Jesus is also clear that when this happens, flee…leave Jerusalem, go into the hills and hide there. Do not turn back for it will be incredibly dangerous to do so.
There will be wars and those rumors of wars. But this time, it will be more and more intense. I keep using that word, don’t I? Intense. It means that it will be incredibly extreme. That’s what it will be like in part of the last seven years. Tribulation like has never been seen on this planet. We have had some truly horrible things done to humans in the name of keeping things pure. However, that will be a cakewalk compared to what is coming. Eventually, there will be a time when the government of the world will require everyone to take a mark in order to buy and sell anything. There has been much speculation on what it might be. The prisoners of war in Germany were given a tattoo. But these days, the technology is such that there are small capsules, as small as a grain of rice, that they an implant under your skin that will tell medical info and much more. It can be scanned by a computer. It can be tracked by GPS. And it will not be voluntary at all. If you do not take the mark, you die.
And do we really want to go into the financial aspect of all this? Eventually, there will be a downfall of the world’s financial places. Sooner or later, because of all the problems and turmoil in the world, there will be a need for a one world government, the head of it being the person who brought peace to the middle east in Israel. This guy is going to be extremely likable and interesting. Most people will want him to be the leader right off the bat. He will be incredibly charismatic and charming. But he will be filled with lies and deceit.
All this is pretty grim, isn’t it. Too true but it is coming. But you know what? Our Lord has taken care of the cares and worries about this situation in the world. Jesus Christ, called of God to be the sacrifice, died on a cross at Calvary 2000 years ago. He took on the sin, sickness and diseases of this world….all of it from the beginning of time to the end of all things prior to the new heaven and new earth. He had you in His heart when He hung on that cross. If you are not now a Christian but would like to be, please take this opportunity to ask Jesus into your heart tonight. Tell Him that you are sorry for the sins you have committed. He has already taken care of those sins for you. You have only to ask Him to come into your heart and He will do so. He tells us that He is at the door knocking. Won’t you let Him into your heart tonight?
I cannot tell you that when you do this, you will have everything be all right. Christians have problems just like everyone else. But we have the assurance that our lives are watched over by our Lord. We can ask things in His name and receive them such as healing and peace. God is so good. He has given us the plan in His Bible. We have only to read and accept it. Take the time today. You will not regret it. Then, get out that dusty Bible and start to read. Try John in the new testament. It’s a good place to start.
Oh yes. Welcome to the family of God.
