Is the end closer than we think?

A friend of mine, who is gifted in one-to-one evangelism, asked me a question a few days ago: would I write out for him all the scriptures relating to the return of Jesus? The reason, he said, was that he was finding himself talking more and more frequently about Jesus’ return, as he witnessed to those he met.

This was not an isolated incident. Increasingly, I am meeting Christians who are being led to consider the Lord’s return, and finding their interest expanding to want to read those hard passages relating to ‘end times’, that have been allowed to fade into the background for so many years.

Getting Perspective

We should pause to consider the bigger picture, not from our own perspective, but from the Lord’s.

There is always plenty to talk about these days, relating world affairs to the wisdom of Scripture. Indeed, we often need to be selective in Prophecy Today, as to which of the many burning issues of the week should be addressed for comment in our articles.

In the coming days, it will surely become increasingly more and more fast-paced, confusing and concerning. Yet, we should also pause to consider the bigger picture, not from our own perspective, but from the Lord’s.

The Bigger Picture

Many Christians in the UK are praying fervently for the outcome of Brexit, and that is right and good. It is my opinion that the UK, has indeed, been granted a window of opportunity to put matters right with God. I connect this to the remaining time that our Queen is on the throne, whose Coronation Oath, though already broken, defines a place to return in repentance to God.

However, coming out of the EU will merely be a step along the way. We can only imagine what may lie ahead in our witness and prayer, if the nation would also reverse the many unbiblical laws now deeply engrained in the hearts and minds of the people and our leaders. This will preoccupy Christians for some time yet.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”

Nevertheless, there is a higher reference point than those on earth, and Scripture instructs us to look upwards: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). This is what Jesus told us to do, nearly 2,000 years ago. The only question is whether we are, indeed, in the time frame to which he was referring.

Accident of History?

With the nation of Israel becoming re-established in their ancient Promised Land in 1948, one is prompted to think carefully about whether this is indeed a major sign of the soon coming of Messiah.

We could look upon the pressures and conflicts of the Middle East through political eyes, and see them as simply accidents of history, rather than fulfilments of a covenant promise. Or, we could look up and seek the Lord God for understanding, as to whether this is fulfilment of the prophecy, that the fig tree would bud again (Luke 21:29-31). If it is a sign, then, as we read in this passage from Luke, “the Kingdom of God is near”. And if this is a major sign, then so are the many other signs in the socio-political arena.

Tears and Laughter

There may be tears of sorrow in the coming days, when events occur that we cannot control, and it will be the poor who will suffer most, as always occurs when the leadership of nations goes astray. Our tears will lead to prayer, just as the tears of Jeremiah led to prayer, and moreover, when Jesus wept over the City of Jerusalem, as he knew what was about to come upon it (John 11:35; Luke 19:41-44).

God laughs because the world's rulers cannot succeed, any more than Satan can succeed, in preventing Jesus coming back to establish his Kingdom on this earth.

Yet, there is a contrast, as it says in Psalm 2:4: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs”.This picture of God laughing in the midst of a sorrowful, earthly situation is not his laughing at human misery, but at the rulers who take counsel together and lead the world astray.

God laughs because they cannot succeed, any more than Satan can succeed, in preventing Jesus coming back to establish his Kingdom on this earth, or, any more than they can quench the Gospel, with all its covenant blessing and promise, bestowed on his own people with multitudes still being saved throughout the world.

Time to Seek Understanding

Whatever our view of the end times, difficulty undoubtedly lies ahead, calling for perseverance. Nevertheless, one thing we must not do is to despair and give up. Looking earthwards at the escalating troubles will divert us from paying attention to the bigger picture of history that we can see by looking heavenwards and seeking God for peace and understanding.

This ‘big picture’ is absolutely certain to be fulfilled. It is locked into God’s unfolding, immovable covenant purposes, given first to Abraham, and then, finally, through the fulfilment of the promises to Jeremiah (see Ch. 31), fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah. The climax of these promises is his return.

One thing we must not do is despair and give up.

Thus, the question remains whether the signs all around us in this shaking world are the signs of his coming. If so, we must look up and seek God for understanding. The prophetic scriptures have too often been sidelined amongst Christians, because there is such division on their interpretation. Surely, it should be the opposite: that working together and seeking the Lord, we find a place of unity, through better understanding of what we have been told in the prophetic passages concerning the return of Jesus.

Let us, at least, seek to balance our concerns for the many issues filling our daily news with more earnestly seeking to understand how God is working out his end time purposes. It is surely time to look up.

Click here to read Dr Clifford Denton’s 2016 study series on the end times.