On the one hand, the Bible is clear: the end is near. Seriously, the Bible says “The end of all things is near. Therefore be solemn and sober so you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7). That’s just a taste. The Bible adds that “our salvation is nearer than when we believed” and “the coming of the Lord is drawing near” for good measure. In case we didn’t get the hint, we’re also told “it is the last hour” and “the time is short.” On the other hand, as the skeptics like to point out, all of this was written a really long time ago. So, is the end of all things really near?
While nobody knows the exact time, Christ-followers aren’t in the dark about these matters (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Recently, there has been a convergence of signs pointing to the beginning of the end. For example, Russia has a large military presence in Syria now, which is important because the Antichrist will be ethnically Slavic, the ruler of Russia at the time of the end and he will begin his rise to power in Syria. An even more significant development is the re-establishment of Israel as a sovereign nation in 1948 and their recapture of Jerusalem in 1967. After all, the Antichrist will invade Jerusalem during the end-times and put a stop to Temple sacrifices (Daniel 9:27; 11:31). That wouldn’t have been possible until 1967. Of course, there’s also the issue of creepy, beast-like technology, like tattoos which can control your smartphone and virtual reality. Besides, cash has widely been replaced with electronic payments, which means controlling who can buy and sell is a lot easier than it used to be (Revelation 13:16-17).
This is not to say the end-times are about to begin, it simply means that the end-times could begin fairly soon. In light of this, what’s our game plan? How do we manage knowing something is going to happen, but not knowing when it will take place? Simply put, we need a short-term plan and a long-term plan. In the short-term, we need to focus on waiting for Christ’s appearance, living completely for Him without compromise with this world (Titus 2:11-13). At the same time, we have to plan like we’re going to be here for the long haul. This means we ought to train in godliness, putting together a personal godliness regimen so that we can love Jesus and others more (1 Timothy 4:7). Naturally, we must make the most of our time, doing what we’re called to do for Jesus in our sphere of influence (Ephesians 5:16). God has put each of us on this earth at this exact time in our specific place of habitation for a reason (Acts 17:26-27).
By the way, if the end-times are right around the corner, that’s quite the compliment from the Almighty. What an honor that He would have the confidence in us to stand firm for Him during the greatest time of tribulation in world history (Matthew 24:21-22). Until then, however, we’re in a holding pattern. It’s a time of spiritual and physical preparation as we are led by the Holy Spirit. Avoid becoming too cozy with this world, but don’t burn yourself out either. Strike the balance.