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Dec 07, 2022 18:30pm

When Will the End Come?

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Throughout history, questions have been posed to great scholars and philosophers. Many resulting in debates and deep discussions. And today is no different. So, what’s the big question on everyone’s mind these days?

“Is it going to rain?”

I bet this question gets posed to our local weatherman 20 million times in a day. I’ve watched his live videos and the comments scroll in front of me. He’s focusing on the most troubled area, but people are only concerned with learning exactly what it’s going to do at their house. Literally.

“But what about CR 118? Is it going to rain at 123 CR 118?”

While yes, it might show rain in the forecast, there are other factors in play. The process that’s taking place in the atmosphere has many different variables, much of which we cannot comprehend. That’s why he is the meteorologist and we aren’t. He does his best to explain what could happen, why it’s happening and tries to give a time frame, but for many, they stare back blankly, and ask once again, “so, when’s it gonna rain at my house?”

In the book of Matthew chapter 24, the disciples have been asking about the end of time. “When will the end come?” has been their question for a while now. They are only concerned about themselves though, asking multiple times about their positions and the Lord’s reign in the coming kingdom.

But there is far more to it than just that. Jesus responds with information of the end of times.

“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) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:15-22)

The disciples knew of the scriptures in Daniel. They knew of these prophecies, but it was much to take in. They wanted a direct answer to their question and Jesus gave them far more than they bargained for. God’s plan for the end doesn’t just mean an end to the cruel reign of Rome, it also includes righteous judgment of all those that deny Christ.

The abomination of desolation referred to in these verses means there is a deliberate denial and mockery of God and His existence. It’s said to take place in the Holy Place, the temple. Several times in history this has happened – 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the temple altar; AD 70, Titus placed an idol on the altar after destroying the city; and today, an Islamic mosque stands erect on the Holy mount. There is even scripture that points to the antichrist erecting a statue to be worshiped.

The truth of the matter is that most people believe the world will end and that will be the end of it. But here and throughout scripture, the timeline of events is far different.

The church (those that are saved and follow Jesus) will be raptured, or called away. This is the start of the judgment or wrath on earth by God for those that do not believe. This period is called the tribulation and will last 7 years. There is a halfway mark (3.5 years) where things will worsen, far greater than they were before. At the end of that time, Jesus will return. This time, however, He will be coming to defeat the enemy and reign for 1,000 years. And then, the end shall come. Satan will be destroyed, death will be no more, and a new heaven will be our final home. Those that did not put their faith in Christ will spend their eternity in hell.

Your questions will come. God planned it that way. You’ll ask a question and want to know the answer, so you’ll dig into the scriptures to find it. And that one question will lead to another and more searching, which will lead to another and more searching. And along the way, you will grow closer in your walk with Christ, learning, and still asking questions. Sometimes the information is more than we can comprehend, but don’t let that sway you from searching the scriptures.