As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14 ESV
Many think we are in end times (Note 1). And we may well be. At What Now 2 Do we don’t profess to know. But we believe three things with absolutely certainty:
- The Creator is still on His throne and Jesus Christ is still seated at His right hand, from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead;
- Every generation should live life as though Jesus was returning in their lifetime. Even so come Lord Jesus; and
- The next Prophetic event in the Providence of God is the Rapture (Note 2).
Stand by.
Note 1: Not to be confused with the Tribulation. The Tribulation is the last 7 years of this present age, at the end of which is Christ’s second coming. End times is a period of increasing labor pains leading up to the Rapture and the Tribulation.
Note 2: Although there can be good faith timing differences, the order of the last days (the end of the age) is generally considered to be the Rapture, the 7 year Tribulation, Christ’s return, Armageddon, the thousand year reign, and finally the new Heaven and the new earth.