sign of time

The gospel means "good news". For years, the gospel has not been good news to me because I have been taught for much of my life that we are living in the past few days. I believed that "the end of the world" would come in a few years, but if I acted accordingly, I would be spared the Great Tribulation. This kind of worldview can be addictive, so you tend to see everything that is going on in the world through the glasses of a peculiar interpretation of events that will take place in the end times. Today this way of thinking is no longer the focus of my Christian faith and the basis of my relationship with God, for which I am very grateful.

In the last days

Paul wrote to Timothy: “But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” (2. Tim 3,1)What do the news reports every day? We see images of horrific wars and bombed-out cities. Reports of refugees fleeing their countries, devoid of hope. Terrorist attacks that unleash suffering and fear. We witness natural disasters or earthquakes that destroy everything we have built. Is this reaching a climax? Is World War III imminent?

When Paul spoke of the last days, he wasn't predicting the future. Rather, he was speaking of his current situation and how his surroundings were developing. The last days, Peter said at Pentecost, quoting the prophet Joel, were already in the first century: "In the last days, declares God, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." (Apg. 2,16-17).

The last days began with Jesus Christ! “Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son.” (Hebr 1,1-2).

The Gospel revolves around Jesus: who he is, what he did, and what is possible because of it. When Jesus was raised from the dead, everything changed—for all people—whether they knew it or not. Jesus made all things new: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Kol 1,16-17).

Wars, famine and earthquakes

For centuries, societies have collapsed and violence has broken out. Wars have always been part of our society. Natural disasters have plagued humanity for thousands of years.

Jesus said: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see to it and do not be alarmed, for these things must happen, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are only the beginning of birth pains.” (Mt 24,7-8).

There will be war, famines, disasters and persecution, but don't be alarmed by that. The world has seen many disasters since The Last Days began almost 2000 years ago and I am sure there will be many more. God can end the problems of this world whenever he wants. At the same time, I am looking forward to the big day ahead when Jesus will return. One day the end will come.

Frankly, we need faith and hope whether there is a war or not, whether the end is near or not. We need faith and zeal, no matter how bad the days are, no matter how many disasters occur. Our responsibility to God does not change. If you watch the world scene, you can see disasters in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and America. You can see the fields that are white and ready for harvest. There is work as long as it is day. You should do your best with what you have.

What should we do?

Where do we stand in the prophecy now? We are now in the time when the church should preach the gospel. Jesus calls us to persevere to run the race to the end with patience. Paul also speaks of the end when creation is freed from the burden of impermanence and when the children of God are given freedom and future glory.

“And even we, to whom God has already given his Spirit, the first part of the inheritance to come, groan inwardly because we are still waiting for the full realization of what we, as sons and daughters of God, have been destined to do: We wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies as well.” (Röm 8,23).

We see the problems of this world and wait patiently: «For we are saved to hope. But the hope that is seen is not hope; because how can you hope for what you see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience ”(vv. 24-25).

Peter experienced the same situation, he waited for the day of the Lord: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; the earth and the works that are in it will be no more.” (2. Petr 3,10).

What advice does he give us? What should we do while we wait for the Lord's day? How shall we live We are to live holy and divine lives. "If all this is going to dissolve, how must you stand there in holy walk and pious being, who await the coming of the day of God and hasten to meet it" (verses 11-12).

That is your responsibility day after day. You are called to live a holy life. Jesus did not predict when the end of the world would come because he did not know, and neither do we: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mt 24,36).

Spiritual life

For the land of Israel in the old covenant, God promised to bless it through a special covenant if the nation obeyed him. It would prevent the natural disasters that normally hit both the bad and the just. He did not give this guarantee to other nations. Modern nations cannot take the blessings that God gave Israel in a special now outdated covenant as promises.
In this fallen world, God allows natural disasters, sins, and evils. It also lets the sun shine and the rain falls on both the bad and the good. As the examples of Job and Jesus show us, he also lets evil fall on the righteous. God sometimes interferes with physical matters to help us. But the new covenant gives no guarantees of when, how and where it will do it. The new covenant calls us to believe despite the circumstances. He calls us to be faithful despite persecution and patience despite the zealous longing for the better world that Jesus will bring.

The new covenant, the better covenant, offers spiritual life and does not guarantee a physical blessing. By faith we should focus on the spiritual, not the physical.

Here is another thought that can put the prophecy in a helpful perspective. The main purpose of the prophecy is not to focus on dates, but its greatest task is to point out Jesus so that we can get to know him. Jesus is the greatest blessing you can receive in your life. Once you have achieved this goal, no longer focus on the path that leads to him, but on the wonderful life together with Jesus in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

by Joseph Tkach