Has the tribulation started? Are we in the “end times?” No. And we need to stop saying we are. I understand that when things get hard it can be easy to think such things. Wars happen. Hurricanes come during hurricane season. Leaders rise and fall and famines continue always. But, these are not the signs of the end, nor are they precursors to it.
I was in the park with my kids not long ago. It’s located right beside a train track, and my youngest was afraid of the loud train. He kept covering his ears and would not play, kept looking to the tracks, and was so sure that the train was coming that he became afraid. I took him closer to the track and explained to him that there are things that come before the train that would warn him before it comes. There is first the sound of the bells, then the red lights flash and the gate goes down. Then the train comes. I told him to play and not worry about the train. I told him that when he hears the bells, then he can cover his ears, run to mommy, and watch the train without being afraid.
Do we see red bells and flashing lights? No. Are we wasting time fearing the end or even going so far as to say it is upon us? Yes.
What did Jesus have to say about this?
See Matthew 24
(Excerpt)
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
We have not seen the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. We haven’t even seen the first trumpet of Revelation: hail and fire mingled with blood. The end times could begin at any time, but they have not started yet. When they start, everyone will know. The trumpet will make a loud and certain sound that will shake the heavens and the earth. When Christ returns, it will not be a secret either. Though we do not know when the Day of the Lord will begin, we know that the coming of the Son of Man will be apparent “for the remnant were frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
Anyone who tells you we are in the end times as of 8:50 pm CST on 9/11/17 is a false prophet and you should not listen to them. Anyone who tells you that as of now the abomination that makes desolate is already here and Christians already worship Lucifer is a false prophet and they are setting people up to accept the real false prophet as Christ. Anyone who goes around making their ministry about “end times” instead of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a false teacher, and you should not listen to them.
If you have spread these ideas, repent. Jesus is merciful. He has been to me when I did such things. Many who focus on end times have a hunger for the things of God, but it is misplaced. If you want to learn the prophesies or more about the bible in general, visit my contacts/resources page for a reliable source.
Gaining vain “knowledge” of things hidden will not prepare us. Looking at the news and trying to read happenings in the Revelation will not prepare us. Heaping to ourselves false teachers because of our itching ears will certainly not help us. Learn the prophesies. It’s good to. But first and foremost, get to know Jesus Christ.
I’ve worried too much about this at times too, so I understand why we do this. But, as with my kid at the park, it is not a good use of our time. When the first trumpet sounds, we will run to God and we will not be afraid. If we die, we have the resurrection. There is no reason to fear the end times if we are on the right side of things.
To be prepared for the time of trouble we need to prepare our hearts by gaining better knowledge of the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We should want to be useful in the time of trouble as those who will prepare the world for His return, rather than those whose hearts are failing them for fear, hiding themselves, and cursing God. We need to have the Holy Spirit and be certain who we serve, who Jesus is, and what He stands for. Our weapons are of Spirit not knowledge and vain delusion.
KindlingTruth 