Are we in the End Times? Yes, but that shouldn't really matter.
Living for Christ through any circumstance
“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 24:42
Since October 7th, 2023 the world has watched, in real-time, the brutality of the war between Israel and Hamas. I learned about the attack on the morning of Oct. 8th when the pastor of the church I’ve been attending said something to the effect of, obviously, we need to be in prayer for the people of Israel this morning. I’m not good at hiding my thoughts or emotions- AT ALL- and immediately turned to my wife with the, “What the heck is going on in Israel?” face. Imagine Dwayne “The Rock'' Johnson's Peoples Eyebrow and then add a level of concern. We were in complete darkness until I got home that afternoon as I decided not to ask too many questions while at church. Although I generally have stayed away from any sort of news consumption since February of this year (2023), this was one situation I felt warranted a closer look. For starters, the fact that Israel - a country with a reputation for having a very strong and capable military - was completely caught off guard by the seemingly rag-tag outfit of Hamas was shocking. Though I have been out of the TV news world for about four years now, I recall Hamas being regarded as little more than a pest and considered more of a nuisance than anything. Yes, terrorists for sure, but terrorists who were essentially a collective of smaller - unorganized - street gangs. I knew immediately they could not have pulled off this type of attack without serious help, planning, and serious cash, but that’s for someone else to write about. Anyway, the fact that Israel was attacked plus the continuing slog in Ukraine (which I hear about from coworkers/ friends) had me doing some serious thinking.
“Are we (the West) now in a pattern of war? Could this, or will this, new conflict in Israel escalate? What is going on with all this spiritually?” These were the questions lingering in my mind as the next few days went on (and now to some extent). And then the spiritual innuendo began just as I dreaded it would.
Conversations with well-meaning co-workers or fellow church goers would be fused with thinly veiled references to Christ’s return. Things like, “God’s trying to tell us something,” or “We’re told to watch for the signs,” have been sprinkled into conversations. Or, “Those are God’s people and He will not let them suffer long,” and “I don’t think we’ll be here much longer,” are tacked on to the end of a brief mention of the topic. Being a lifelong Protestant (although now an Ecumenical Mess ™️
) and having heard this type of thing any time a new military conflict starts, let me translate the intended meaning behind these statements for those of you who don’t know much about the premillennial Dispensationalists idea (held by some Protestants but not all) of the rapture1:Translation: All the final events in the Book of Revelation are about to take place or are actively taking place now. This is *the sign* that Jesus is coming back any second now and the longer this war drags on, the closer we Christians are to being taken away from all this mess. Thank goodness I won’t be on the earth when the really really bad things happen.
Now, I’m not qualified enough to hold a theological debate on the validity of this iteration of the rapture. All I can say is that I do not align with this understanding which has been espoused by most mainline Protestant denominations; that is, what I grew up being taught. I just don’t see a scriptural basis for this version of the rapture, but I will also not denigrate those who hold this position. I won’t waste time quibbling over something that will remain a mystery to us all until it is indeed “the time.” The Father knows. I don’t have to know. He just tells me to be ready and I need to pay attention to His will.
Yet, when I hear brothers and sisters saying these types of things, this is the message I receive:
Well, ya know there’s just absolutely nothing I can do about any of this so I’m just going to give up on this earth and its people. Or, this doesn’t directly concern me, and those poor saps over there should go ahead and get themselves right with God.
Maybe I am reading too much into all this but, in all honesty, I’ve never inferred any extra concern or grace from the individuals who say these types of things. There’s seldom any notion that we should pray for the folks involved in war situations or that we should find a way to tangibly help if at all possible.
And that brings me to the title
Perhaps the next time I encounter this type of discussion I’ll be brave enough to say this to whom I’m talking to; “Ya know.. Are we in the End Times? Yes, but that shouldn’t really matter.”
Why do I believe we’re in the End Times now? Well… Christ has already entered the world (Christmas), defeated death (Easter), and ascended to his heavenly throne (the ascension) to rule (our current Messianic Age) until He returns (His second and final coming). After Christ was resurrected, yet before he ascended, He told us he’d come back for us. He’s not come back yet so here we are, acting as his royal subjects while we await His return.
Now why do I think that living in the End Time shouldn’t really matter? Because while Christ’s return to earth may be slow (as humans understand slowness) the end of my time on earth could be today. I may not have tomorrow, so I must repent of my sins and obey His commands while I still have the ability to do so. The Lord has us all here for a reason and we have a role to play in His kingdom right now if we’re willing to submit ourselves to His will.
Being told that everything under the sun will end does not excuse inaction. Knowing there will be a new heaven and a new earth does not nullify that Christ tells us, “The kingdom of heaven is within you.” Knowing that Jesus will make all things new does not do away with the responsibility to be good stewards of His creation. Being told that He will wipe every tear from every eye does not cease our call to take care of orphans and widows who are in our midst.
Saint Paul tells us plainly in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the day of salvation.” You have now. Now is the time to draw closer to God. Now is the time to ask for the forgiveness of your sin, accept God’s saving grace and to move forward in repentance. Now is the time to love your neighbor as yourself, spread the good news of Jesus’s victory over death, and to make disciples of all nations. We have to take this seriously now because we truly never know when our final hour will come.
One day we will be in the presence of sustenance itself, but we feed the hungry now. One day our thirst will be quenched with the waters of knowledge and life, but we offer the living water to the thirsty now. One day, God’s glory will be our light of the day and night, but we offer the light of Christ in us to those in darkness now.
So no, living in the End Times shouldn’t make a huge difference in your life. If anything, allow this time to be a reminder to serve the Lord wisely with the time you have left.
So what do we do?
Practically speaking, what are we Christians to do knowing (or not knowing) that Christ may return before the end of this essay? For starters, pray2. Pray without ceasing. Ask for the Lord to forgive your sins. Pray the Holy Spirit would lead you in repentance and also pray for the repentance of others.
Start a fast. Whatever you know is between you and God, be it food, social media or something else, let it go. This is advice I’ll be taking myself in the coming year. And, to take it back to prayer, take the time you would be doing those things to devote more time to prayer and meditation. Recite the Jesus Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles Creed. Anything that helps you communicate with God more deeply. I’ve added some things to my prayer life recently that I’m not entirely sure how to write about just yet but hope to share more soon.
Join a team. Please don’t wait to be more devoted in prayer or in fasting to find fellow believers to do life with. Even if you’re an Ecumenical Mess, just go somewhere to start. It doesn’t even have to be a Sunday service at church. Start with a volunteer group working in your streets and go from there. Help at the homeless shelter. Stock the shelves at the food pantry. Give someone a freaking quarter at the laundromat. It doesn’t matter, just do something. Getting started is the hardest part but you can’t make the world a better place alone. Ask the Lord to lead you and be willing to follow when He shows you the way.
Is a change gonna come?
Writing this post seems to be churning things in my mind. I’ve debated openly on Substack notes about my reactionary decision to halt news consumption. Admittedly, I did this for me. I did this to quiet my mind and I believe this has been fruitful. Time away from the news has helped my perception and helped me understand how to take in information without bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. The world doesn’t need to be my burden. I’m not meant to carry the weight of the world. God already has. But that doesn’t leave me without the responsibility of looking after my fellow man.
And what am I if I claim to be a man who believes in the power of prayer yet does not pray over the suffering of other people? What am I if I do not look after my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? What if, instead of seeing the news as only a burden to weigh me down, I used the news as a tool to help me request peace and provision for God’s children? How can I expect the exiled and lowly to encounter grace when I’m not praying asking for that grace to visit them? And what if I ask the Lord to move me from prayer into action? What could that look like? I know God will not move me to ease the suffering of every single person under His care. But what if I could ease the suffering of one or two? Perhaps I don’t ask Him because I’m afraid of what He will ask of me. Perhaps I don’t ask because I’m afraid of what He’ll burn off in the process. Perhaps. But I can’t hide forever.
I have no idea what lies ahead, but I feel that I’m being told to change. As small as it may be, I will be returning to some news consumption but have decided to stick to local news for now. So please pray for me. I will be easing back into the frantic pace of news from Barnesville, Georgia and asking how God would like to use me in my hometown. I pray to be a good and faithful servant.
An Advent Prayer
As advent draws to a close, I’d like to offer this prayer focused on Hope, Peace, Joy and Love:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit As It was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Jesus, I come to you this season of waiting in praise and expectation. Thank you for leaving your throne to become a poor servant. Thank you for your life, in which you showed us how to pray in times of temptation, how to care for your children, and how to move forward by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only did you show us how to live, but you became a sin offering for us, your brothers and sisters, that we may live forever reconciled to the Father and live as participants and heirs in your divine Kingdom. Thank you for the possibility of eternal Hope while we endure temporal hardship. Thank you for your provision of Peace as we endure a time of turmoil. Thank you for bestowing us access to your Joy in times of unpromised happiness. And thank you for showing us what it is to be loved. Move us now to send your love to the ends of the earth while we wait for you to return to us in love. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
May God Bless you and keep you.
I thought this was a rather fitting song to share at the end of this post. Enjoy some Johnny Cash!
The term rapture was used by Philip Doddridge[70] and John Gill[71] in their New Testament commentaries, with the idea that believers would be caught up prior to judgment on earth and Jesus' second coming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture#:~:text=The%20concept%20of%20the%20rapture,earth%2C%20and%20then%20the%20millennium.
For some reason when I think of what to do when the Antichrist comes I think of Pinky and the Brain:
Pinky: What are we doing tonight Brain?
Brain: Same thing we do every night. (Grow closer to God)
Well said Derek!