Tag: Jesus return

  • Wars and Rumors of Wars: Living Ready for Christ’s Return

    LIfe is full of storms. Dark gray storm clouds fill the sky above a green evergreen and a tree with orange and red autumn leaves.

    Storm Clouds

    Yesterday was one of those days, rain interspersed with torrential downpours. We had brief moments when the sky wasn’t opening up on us, but they were few and far between. I snapped this view of the sky on my way to pick Kathy up from work.

    Life comes with all kinds of storms, both literal and metaphorical. Turn on the news, read a newspaper (yes, they still exist), check on social media, listen to people talk. There are storms. Times are hard. There are wars and rumors of wars, diseases rage, crime happens, evil walks on the earth.

    That truth isn’t news, and it certainly shouldn’t be a surprise.

    Jesus said,

    As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Matthew 24:3-8 ESV

    In the same discourse, he went on to say:

    “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31 ESV

    Social media is filled with people running around screaming “the end is near.” They are correct, of course; Jesus return is imminent – that is, it will happen suddenly. Attempting to guess the time and date is a futile exercise. Jesus told us that (Matthew 24:36 ESV) 

    So what do we do in these dark, evil times?

    We don’t need to panic or fret. There is no point in speculating. We live our lives as Christ commanded us. We take comfort in His promises and the truth that God’s timing is always perfect.

    Will we see His return in our lifetime? Quite possibly, but then again, quite possibly not. Let’s live our lives as if His return is just around the corner and show the world what peace and love look like.

    Be blessed 

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Wars, rumors of wars, and storms of every kind are exactly what Jesus told us to expect. So let’s skip the panic and live as if His return is just around the corner.

    TAKEAWAY

    Hard times shouldn’t catch us off guard. Jesus told us there would be wars and rumors of wars, and He told us not to be alarmed.

    Trying to pin down the date of Christ’s return gets us nowhere. His return will come suddenly, and speculating doesn’t change that.

    While we wait, we live as Christ commanded. We take comfort in His promises, trust God’s perfect timing, and show the world what peace and love look like.

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  • End Times Speculation- Why I’d Rather be Found Faithful

    sideways hourglass - no one knows the day or hour

    I’m probably going to push somebody’s buttons this morning. I’m sometimes asked why I don’t write about eschatology (the study of the end times) more often. I’ll often talk about what the Bible reveals about life with Jesus but very seldom about the timing.

    My reason is simple: I believe that Christians spend far too much time debating the “when” and “how” it will happen. We divide about the timing of the rapture and the nature of the thousand-year reign. We argue and split over whether or not someone holds our views. We spend more time trying to figure out if this “is it” than we do loving others and sharing the gospel.

    Is the book of Revelation to be viewed from a Preterist, Historicist, Futurist, Idealist (symbolic), Progressive Futurist or some other view? Should we be Premillennialists, Postmillennialists, or Amillenialists? Perhaps some combination of the above or even none of the above.

    Now, please understand. I am not saying the end times are unimportant. I’m saying we put too much time and effort into figuring them out. You may or may not agree. We’re only going to know who was correct when it’s done, and then, frankly, I don’t think we will care.

    Jesus is returning; the Scriptures are clear on that. But the Bible also very clearly says:

    Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.  For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.” Matthew 24:25-27

    If you have the date figured out, I can promise you that you are dead wrong. Many have claimed to have it and they have all been proven liars.

    We know He is returning. The Lord tells us that for two important reasons.

    • Give us real hope when times get dark
    • Spur us on to loving one another and sharing the gospel.

    Debating the exact nature of the eschaton can be interesting and even fun. Let’s make certain, though, that it doesn’t divide us needlessly or take away from our real mission.

    He might come before I finish this issue of Gleanings. He might not come for two weeks, two years, two decades, two centuries or two millennia. It will be sudden and surprise us all. 

    Let’s be sure to be found faithful when it does occur.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I explain why I rarely write about the timing of the end times, even though people often ask me to. I believe Scripture calls us to hold the certainty of Christ’s return with humility about its timing, and to spend our energy loving others and sharing the gospel instead of debating dates and systems.

    TAKEAWAY

    No one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return, so anyone claiming to have figured it out is guaranteed to be wrong. 

    Debates over rapture timing, millennial views, and interpretive frameworks for Revelation too often divide believers rather than draw us closer to our mission. 

    The certainty that Jesus is coming back should give us hope in dark times and spur us on to love one another and share the gospel now.

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