Last week’s attack on Israel by the terrorist group, Hamas, has triggered a fresh outbreak of end times speculation. This seems to happen every time there is a serious clash in the Middle East involving Israel. That’s understandable, I guess, but this latest conflict is major and has triggered even more heightened speculation than usual. Some “commentators” reckon this could be “it”. “It” being the real beginning of the end times, finally. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. The signs seem to be there, but …
Me? I’m not so sure.
As I read scripture, or should I say, as I allow scripture to read me, I am not convinced. Not yet, anyway. A lot of the speculation last week and this week is simply nonsense. Other commentators seem to have a greater sense of measure about events unfolding, which I appreciate. Of course, we should be alert for the signs that Jesus, Himself, prophesied would appear so that we can “trim our lamps” (Matt. 25) in readiness for when Jesus will arrive.
But last week’s attack on Israel was very serious and unprecedented since the 1967 and 1979 wars when Israel was simultaneously attacked by other nation states. Hamas is a designated terrorist group controlling a helpless population, not a nation, not a legitimate government. This makes the issue of defence and declarations of war so much more difficult for Israel.
One of the reasons I remain unconvinced that this is “it” is because there is quite a bit more that has to occur before the end will finally come. Jesus said so. He also said not to be alarmed when things like we are seeing right now start to happen.
Matthew 24:6-13 (NIV)
“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
At best, in my humble opinion, we could be seeing the beginning of the birth pains, not the beginning of the end. There is a difference. There are a few things here that Jesus prophesied are yet to happen. Two biggies I see are (1) the persecution of the worldwide church (not just in some places), and (2) a great falling away from the faith. Yes, the church has been in decline in the west, generally speaking, but in many other places it is exploding in terms of growth – even in China! So, we need not be alarmed at current events in terms of the end of all things as we know it. We do need to be prayerfully concerned and proactive in intercession.
Before the real end does come Jesus prophesied that the Gospel would be preached in “the whole world” …
Matthew 24:14 (NIV)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
As I reckon it, the mission of the church has yet to accomplish this. There are places where the gospel has not been powerfully preached. Not yet. Especially, in Israel. However, I do believe this is starting to happen. As I discern all this and try to filter out the noise and silliness to find a sober assessment, I see the signs we’re all seeing as yet another timely reminder to stay focused on our mission task and to keep praying into it all. There is work to do and we need to be faithful in carrying it out. Predictions by some (and other kinds of prognostication) don’t help, they distract. Then there is the seemingly endless supply of Christian literature that amps up end times speculation, as well. This last week I saw yet another new book foreshadowing end times. It offers believers “31 Ways to be Rapture Ready”. I sighed. I’m sure the book has some helpful content, but 31 ways to be “rapture ready”? Really? There is only one way, in my humble opinion, to be ready for Jesus’ coming, and that is for all of us to be properly and faithfully engaged in the work of our individual ministries of which the whole mission of the church is comprised. Jesus said it so clearly …
Luke 18:8 (NIV) “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
THAT dear friends is the critical issue in our day, and always has been. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 clearly speaks of the kind of faithfulness the returning master expects to see! Sure, we keep an eye on the signs and avoid any speculation that alarms and distracts from the work we’re called to. We use them to spur each other on in the kingdom work that must be done and to remain faithfully invested in it, not take our eye of the ball and focus on being rapture ready. We’re not doomsday preppers! We are the priests of God on the earth. Let’s be ready for Jesus and make preparations for Him. Then we won’t need 31 ways to be rapture ready.
Stay focused on the task at hand. Pray for Israel. Pray for Palestine. Pray for wisdom and peace to prevail and for just and righteous outcomes. Do all these things so that the gospel is preached everywhere it hasn’t already been preached.
Then the end will come.
Think on these things.
Ps Milton