................................................................................................................................................
End Times Prophetic Words
7 Prophetic Words God Has for Us about the End Times
Debbie McDaniel
This world can be a dark place.
Sometimes it’s hard to see light and hope in the
midst of all the suffering and pain that surrounds us.
Just this year, we’ve seen incredible evil take
many innocent lives.
We’ve seen terrorist attacks and heard rumors of
war.
We’ve seen hurricanes and natural disasters
wreak havoc in different places around the globe.
Top news headlines reveal constant struggles,
pain, and brokenness that people everywhere are facing.
Maybe you’re facing it too.
Our own personal losses and hardships remind us
that this life is far from perfect.
Yet as believers we can be grateful that this
world is not all we have. We have the very hope of heaven in our hearts.
God's words are true, every single one. And He
is faithful to bring them all to pass.
He never tells us to live in fear, worry, or
dread of what’s to come. But He does remind us to live aware, not to be
surprised, to be wise and watchful.
We don't have to be alarmed. Because He's told
us ahead of time what to expect, we know from His word, "such
things must happen, but the end is still to come." Mark 13:7
7 Prophetic Words
about the End Times: What We Can Expect and Why We Shouldn’t Be Surprised
1. False prophets and
false Christs will appear and deceive many:
“At that time if anyone says
to you, ‘Look here is the Christ! Or ‘Look there he is! Do not believe it. For
false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to
deceive the elect if that were possible.” Mark 13:21-22 (also in Matthew 24:5, 23-24)
With all the prophecies and signs of the end
times that Jesus shares in these verses, He also says this over and over:
He warns us to stay aware.
Though it’s clear that no one knows the day or
hour of Christ’s return, He does remind us 7 different times through Mark 13 to be on guard, watch out, be alert.
He longs for His people to “wake up” and not be
deceived or unaware of what’s going on around us.
- "Watch out that no one deceives
you..." verse
5
- "You must be on your
guard..." verse
9
- "So be on your
guard, I have told you everything ahead of time." verse 23
- "Be on guard!" verse 33
- "Be alert!" verse 33
- "Therefore, keep watch..." verse 35
- "If he comes
suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to
everyone: Watch!" verse 36
2. There will be wars,
rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and natural disasters:
He reminds us that we will
know these are prophetic words coming to pass when we hear of "wars
and rumors of wars," when we see certain events unfolding, "Nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be
earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth
pains." Mark 13:7-8 (also in Matthew 24:6-8)
Many around us may be feeling anxious and
fearful in these days.
Let’s choose to trust and believe that God is
working in our world, even behind the scenes where we can’t fully see.
33. Believers will be persecuted, hated, and put to death, and
the gospel will spread and be preached to all nations:
“You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged
in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings
as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations…
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will
rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you
because of me…” Mark 13:9-13 (also in Matthew 24:9-11)
4. There will be an increase in wickedness in this world, and
many will grow distant from God in their love and stand for Him:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow
cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13
This will
be hard for those who remain faithful to watch.
But we
can trust that God will sustain us who believe in him and help us remain in His
love while the rest of the world increases in wickedness and those we thought
were faithful turn away.
5. The times will be very difficult and distressing for all:
“How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing
mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be
days of distress unequaled from the beginning…” Mark 13:16-18 (also in Matthew 24:15-22)
Thought
this is distressing to think about, as believers, we have hope in Christ.
We know
beyond a doubt He is moving in every nation and that He will come again, just
as His word says.
For
Christians, His second coming is a very good thing.
6. No one will know the day or hour of Christ’s return:
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36
“…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a
thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2
May God
draw many to Himself in these days. And may we be found living as light in a
world that so desperately needs His great peace.
May He
help us not to grow weary or become busy with other things.
7. There will be signs in the sky, the seas will roar, and
heavenly bodies will be shaken. And then, in the blink of an eye, at the
trumpet’s sound, Jesus promises that He will come again:
“But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the
sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. And that time men will see the Son
of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels
and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the
ends of the heavens.” Mark 13:24-27
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth
distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the
waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the
world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the
Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things
begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be
changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
Let's
keep working while it is still day...
It’s
truly what matters most in this life.
If I could, I’d offer you a cup of
coffee and would love a chance just to sit and talk, to hear your stories about
life – the joys and the struggles too.
In whatever you’re facing today, my
heart is that you might find some encouragement through these pages and fresh
hope in God’s words ...
Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor’s
wife, and dramatist, whose heart is to encourage others and share hope from
God’s word in the daily grind of life. Her soulful, genuine approach to
communicating truth inspires others to live each day with the fresh awareness
of God’s presence and joy.
Over the years, Debbie has written numerous
articles for a variety of family, community, and Christian websites and
publications. In addition to being a featured writer and blogger at
Crosswalk.com, her articles have appeared at iBelieve, Christianity.com, Bible
Study Tools, Godvine, Incourage, Thriving Family, Focus on the Family, Family
Share, To Save a Life, FISH radio nationwide networks, and local community and
church publications.
No comments:
Post a Comment