Without a doubt we are living in the last days, based upon the numerous signs and events dominating the world stage that the Bible predicted would indicate the end of the age is near. Wars and rumors of wars, strategic geo-political alliances that align with prophecy, the prevalence of false prophets, false teachers, false gospels and false Christs; the love of most growing cold, profound apostasy within the Christian church coupled with the dramatic decline in theism and the rise in atheism worldwide. All of which raise red flags in our situational awareness of prophetic timelines.
Like birth pains before a child is born, these signs are increasing in frequency and intensity just as Jesus said they would in Matthew 24:8. These developments have awakened many believers who have been complacent regarding their faith, to become uneasy and seek the Lord with renewed vigor and passion.
Are these things genuine indications that the end of the age is upon us and is their profound convergence upon this generation indicative of the onset of the great tribulation described in scripture? The extraordinary times we are witnessing compel us to look to God and seek His mercy in the hope of escaping the wrath promised that will be poured out upon the whole world.
Deliver Us From Evil
When we pray for God to deliver us from evil, our words may have much deeper implications than calming current troubled waters and substantially more profound connotations than deliverance from everyday struggles. Much deeper and much more profound. There is an evil coming that is so egregious that we cannot even imagine it.
Jesus warned in Matthew 24:21-22, “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 shortened, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Unprecedented turmoil and calamity beyond comprehension.
Even now, the level of moral turpitude of humanity is far worse than most of us realize or are willing to admit. Most people will never recognize or fully grasp the depth and extensive malevolence present in society because of their own ungodliness. Paul writes in Romans 1:18-32 that mankind has exchanged the truth of God for a lie, therefore they have become depraved, prideful and have forsaken the wisdom of God.
And in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 Paul states, “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
Prophecy dictates that during the last days the forces of evil will gain in both power and influence until they reach a point where it appears that nothing will stop them. They will emerge from their covert posture and operate in full view, openly subjugating society to completely and totally serve corruption. The veil of secrecy that currently conceals the nefarious nature of their hidden agenda will be lifted.
Man Of Lawlessness
The advent of the antichrist will see the “man of lawlessness” grip civilization in a totalitarian agenda that will demand all people worship him as God and capitulate to wearing his mark (Revelation 13:13-17). Interestingly, he will be perceived as the savior of civilization when he emerges. He will bring about temporary peace to the world and be overwhelmingly applauded for his apparent benevolence.
But he will usurp control from the collective hidden hierarchy (Ephesians 6:12) that has been covertly manipulating world events to preserve their plutocratic regime, and even they won’t see it coming. Blinded by their cupidity, they will not match his cunning acquisition of world power.
Since the man of lawlessness will remain surreptitious until he is revealed, it is logically consistent that he surfaces from a covert power structure. The cabal that secretly controls world governments through its iniquitous “behind the scenes” exploits, is the ideal breeding ground to develop and groom the devil incarnate. It is the consummate entity for him to rise through the ranks to a position from which he can assume ultimate global authority and control.
The Bible says that the antichrist will be “revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) intimating his true identity will be concealed until world conditions facilitate the appropriate opportunity for the divulging of his purpose. His unveiling as the devil’s emissary will be a disclosure of things that have been hidden and not merely a tale of metaphorical religious mysticism predicting a symbolic power struggle and judgement.
The spiritual battles being waged in our midst will spill over into unbridled physical mayhem and anarchy that will encompass the entire earth as the man of lawlessness is given free reign over civilization for a short period of time. Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The Bible promises to deliver us from that evil. Jesus advises in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And in verses thirty-five and thirty-six of the same passage, He follows up with the warning, “For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus declared that He would return for His followers (John 14:2-3) and that no one would know the exact time when He would come again (Matthew 24:36). Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
The Rapture
The Greek word harpazo is translated as caught up, or snatched away and is the source of the doctrine of the rapture. Paul notes that this phenomenon will be instantaneous in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. “Listen. I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Titus 2:11-14 captures the urgency of our response in our daily lives. “For the grace of God has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”
In Revelation 3:10 Jesus says to the church in Philadelphia, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” These words are transcendent reminders for the body of Christ today.
In order to prevail we must put on the full armor of God as Paul advises in Ephesians 6:13-17. If we persist in faith, not being overcome by the temptations and indulgences of society and stand firm until the end, we will be saved (Matthew 24:13). This isn’t works based salvation, but rather it is immovable, steadfast faith that brings about a righteousness that is borne of God and founded in repentance.
We are to live as though Christ could return at any moment. Even the disciples believed the Lord’s return was at hand, however, they understood the virtue of patience. “Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient, and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7-8).
It is critical to be diligent and ready, because our lives could end at any time. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. The dead in Christ will rise first, therefore, we can have confidence that we will be rescued from this world even if it is from the grave. Paul reassures us in Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
In the face of darkness, Christians can take solace in the fact that the world isn’t falling apart but rather, it is falling into place. The signs we are witnessing and the world events that captivate us are proof that God’s words are in motion and everything the Bible says will come to pass. Luke 21:28 provides encouragement, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We will escape all these things. Praise the Lord!
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