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 Mathew tells us that in the end times everything will appear normal before Jesus returns. People will be falling in love, getting married, partying, drinking coffee in the café’s and eating in restaurants doing all the human stuff, and then BAM! He will ‘break into the world’ like a thief does into a house, like the stock market crashing overnight, unexpected, and turning this world as we know it upside down.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” Matthew 24: 32-44.
The lesson here in being ready and understanding the signs of the end, is that everything will appear as normal before Jesus returns. People will be falling in love, getting married, partying, drinking coffee in the café’s and eating in restaurants doing all the human stuff, and then BAM! He will ‘break into the world’ like a thief does into a house, like the stock market crashing overnight, unexpected, and turning this world as we know it upside down. The Disciple Mark tells us that ‘those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning of the world, until now – and will never be equaled again’ Mark 13:19.
The prophet Daniel echoes this, ‘there will be a time of distress such has not happened from the beginning of nations until then’ Daniel 12:1. Paul’s disciple Timothy tells us, ‘that in the last days perilous times will come’ 2 Timothy 3:1. The prophet Amos calls it a ‘day of darkness’ Amos 5:18. Daniel also asked God this question: ‘How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?’ Daniel 12:6. We should also be asking that question and learning the ‘lesson’ today, as we are commanded in scripture to keep watch, understand, and we must be ready for the end to happen – sadly many Christians today are not. The world has many believers entangled up to such a degree that their Christianity has become something else altogether. The Lord replied to Daniel and said, ‘those who are wise will understand’ Daniel 12:10. Then the Lord said, ‘You will rest, and then at the end of days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance’ Daniel 12:13. Those days are now very close.
‘For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you Brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief.” 1Thessalonians 5:2-4.
If we are in the light of Christ and not in darkness, the truth of the end should not be overwhelming, negative, or doomsday, causing you to give up. The ‘heavy’ truth should inspire you to be even more diligent in your life, and more desirous to be effective in our world for Jesus. When you know the scriptures about what happens at the end it certainly looks horrendous for those who are lost and testing for those who believe. Our world and the way of life as we know it will cease to be, but our salvation in Christ is coming at His return, and He has a wonderful plan beyond all our dreams - in that, we all must trust. However, a great shaking will come, and in fact is already steadily happening. When we consider the end and being ready for it, we can see clearly that all that truly matters is that people meet their creator and know Him, and that their future security is through Him alone and no one else. Learn the lesson and be part of the answer – before it is to late!
Extract article from the new book by Stephen Bennett - ‘The End – He who endures shall be saved’- Visit www.awesomecitymusic.com for free downloads, resources, and books by Stephen Bennett. Email Stephen at
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