Jesus Tells About End-Times (Part III)
For there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-22
Distress will occur in the world as people see the wrath of God come down on those who refuse Christ, and they will realize they are separated from God. They will want to die but they know their eternal destination, thus they are tormented. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:6) Those who remain faithful to Christ will not be tormented, they may be killed, but physical death is nothing more than going home to be with the Lord. Only the flesh dies, we live forever with a new eternal body.
At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ or, there he is”, don’t believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. So if anyone tells you, “There he is out in the desert” do not go out, or “Here he is in the inner rooms,” do not believe it. (Matthew 24:24-26) The Word says many false prophets and false christs will try and deceive the world but know when Christ returns the whole world will see and know it’s the Lord without a doubt!
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Where there is a carcass, there the vultures gather. (Matthew 24:27) Jesus uses the visibility of lightening as an example of his return. When Christ returns, the world will know. There will be no mistaking that Christ has come to judge the world.
Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24: 29-31) This is the end of the world, and those who serve Christ will be gathered by the angels and taken to be with Christ for all eternity. This will be the most joyous time in our life. We will have our new eternal bodies and we will be with the Father and the Son forever living in the new perfect world. Life will be perfect beyond our wildest imaginations.
Today, live for eternity because you are living in the last days. No one knows when Christ will return, so live each day for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to live in a world where Christians are becoming more and more under torment. Guide me with your courage that I may never deny your name, and to always have a heart filled with your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen