Critical events.
The apostle John, writing in the first century, used the expression "the last hour" in referring to his day: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18). Like others in his day, John likely thought Jesus Christ's return was imminent (Acts 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). But God has a considerably different perspective of time. A day with Him is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years as one day (2 Peter 3:8; compare Psalm 90:4). John did warn us to be on the lookout for "antichrists," a term used for any professing to be like Christ but actually working against Him. A trend that began in John's day will continue to the time of the end, when this false representation of Jesus Christ and His teaching will grow worse.
False Christs.
He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.
Luke 21:8
Jesus of Nazareth was the true and only Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah, and our Lord and Savior. Jesus is The Way, the Truth and Life. There never has been and never will be any other Christ, Teacher, Lord, Savior, or form of Consciousness whereby our eternal souls might be saved. However, just as the Bible prophesied, there have been - and will continue to be - an ever increasing number of powerful and alluring false christs as we draw closer to the appearance of the ultimate false Christ, the Antichrist. More deceiving spirits will arrive on the scene as we near the rapture of the Church, and the seven-year tribulation that will precede the return of Jesus to set up his millennial kingdom.
Six signs of End-times.
1.FALSE PROPHETS AND CHRISTS
Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many."
Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many."
.. see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end." 3. FAMINES
Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."
4. EARTHQUAKES
Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."
The number and intensity of earthquakes this century is at a level higher than any other time in history.
5. TRIBULATIONS
Matthew 24:8-9 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name."
Christian suffer much greater persecution and often times death for their faith. During the tribulation this suffering will be worldwide and will continue even to the point of martyrdom.
6. THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come."
This prophecy has already been fulfilled through television, radio, missionaries, the translation of the Bible into many languages, and the internet. via technology that allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world right from our own homes, churches and offices.
A trial like no other.
Matthew records these fateful words from the mouth of Jesus of Nazareth-the Christ, or Messiah: "It will be a time of great distress; there has never been such a time from the beginning of the world until now, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Matthew 24:21-22, New English Bible).
It is difficult to exaggerate the significance of this prophecy. Except for the promised divine intervention, human life would cease on earth. The most horrifyingly surreal catastrophes as depicted in movies and television programs will come to pass, to the point that life will face extinction if not for God's direct intervention to save it.
These are not our words, but the warning of Jesus Christ Himself. It is all too easy to read right over these verses and emphasize only those passages we want to hear, such as Christ's miraculous healings and promises of forgiveness, mercy and peace (Matthew 6:14; 5:7; John 14:27), as important as they are.
Surviving the end-times.
Some day in the future – a day no one knows – God will end the Church Age which began in the first century on Pentecost (cf. Acts 2) with an event known as the Rapture. At that time, God removes all believers in Christ from the earth in preparation for His final judgments. Of the Rapture, Paul says, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:14–18).
Fear of the end-days
The best way to overcome a fear of the end of days is to be spiritually prepared for it. First and foremost, you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). Only through Him can you receive forgiveness of sin and have eternity with God. If God is your Father, there’s really nothing to worry about (Luke 12:32).
Second, every Christian should live a life worthy of the calling we have in Christ. Ephesians 4:1-3 teaches, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Knowing Christ and walking in His will go a long way towards diminishing fear of any kind.
Third, Christians are told what will happen in the end, and it’s encouraging. First Thessalonians 4:13-18 .
