I wrote here a couple of weeks ago about the intense cyclical end-times fascination that rolls around every 12-15 years, or so (it’s always kind of there, I guess, but it gets really intense every so often). We’re in one of those cycles right now, I think. But what is a bit different about this current bout of end-times speculation is the sheer torrent of so-called prophecies about what is going to happen really soon. What I find quite strange is that there are many voices now prophesying about the end with quite specific details – and these are the same people (quite a few of them) who also prophesied that Donald Trump would be elected and then, when he wasn’t, that God would overturn the election result because it was fraudulent. (This is just one example of “prophecies” lately). Well, none of that happened, but many of the same bunch are now similarly prophesying about end times in a highly speculative manner. Yet, no one I can find has called them out on their speculations which turned out to be profoundly unprophetic.
I, myself, really thought Donald Trump would be re-elected as US president (I even had a dream about it), but it is one thing to think something and quite another to turn that into a prophecy. And so, I didn’t prophesy about that, as the Lord did not give me any permission to do so – I’m glad, too, from a reputational point of view, that I listened to Him. Just because I have a dream doesn’t in and of itself make it a prophecy – everything needs to be weighed and tested as the Scriptures teach, or else we get into a mess, and we bring ourselves and our ministries into disrepute.
There is no doubt in my heart that we are living towards the end times – whatever that may mean. In fact, I have often thought we are in the first phases of the great tribulation. But that, alone, doesn’t mean I am right, or entitle me to prophesy that. I’ll wait on the Lord for any such instruction. If He says to do so, I’ll know that it is all really on! But Jesus certainly said we’d have a pretty good idea about when things are coming to a head (Matt. 24:32-33) but not to get speculative ...
There are unprecedented events and disturbances around the world on a scale never before seen in human history. There is no doubt about that. The issue for me is the global scale of it all – these things are affecting the entire world. Do these make for an end-times scenario that we see played out in the pages of the books of Revelation, Daniel and so on? Maybe, but no one knows. They don’t! There have been unprecedented times in history before. Our day is trumping all of these and, in that sense, our times are unprecedented. Who knows what is to come?
In a way, it doesn’t matter if we are actually living right in the end times zone of history, or not. Jesus made an important point about all this …
Matthew 24:4-14 "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. 6 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. 14 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.”
Sobering, isn’t it? What did Jesus say? Two key things here. One, don’t let anyone deceive you and, two, don’t be alarmed. Let’s not be deceived by perhaps well-intentioned prophetic voices and take our eye of the ball and, even with all this unprecedented stuff happening, let’s not get ourselves alarmed, either. No! Instead, let us focus on the task at hand which is to do the work of our Lord who has deployed us up this end of history for His kingdom purposes. So then, let’s increase our faithfulness, let us increase in passion for Jesus and be ready for Him at a moment’s notice.
Luke 18:8b [Jesus] “... However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
Will He?
And this …
Luke 19:13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
You are adored by the Father!
Ps Milton