"Watch out that no man deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginnings of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt.24:4-14). The words in my Bible are red. Stop, pay attention, Jesus speaks. 

There is so much preoccupation in the church today with eschatology.  Books and books and books have been written on the subject and sermons beyond number have been preached.  Some people live in great concern, because it's difficult, as Christians and as the Church Universal, not to know exactly what and when to expect events to take place. The ideas of war, famine, and earthquake, let alone persecution, can strike panic into the spirit if we dwell on that part of Jesus' message. But there are a couple little words in the middle of the passage that bring me comfort. In verse 6 Jesus says, "See to it that you are not alarmed." Some translations use the word "troubled" or "frightened." This is one of those "fear not" moments. Just before the passage is the section known as the "Seven Woes." Jesus, in fact, told the teachers of the law and Pharisees that they needed to be afraid. "How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt. 23:33). It comes back again to the heart matter. Do I belong to Christ, or do I belong to myself?  The only way to find comfort in these days when we see the end times prophesies coming to pass before our very eyes is to trust in the One who said in the midst of all this world chaos, "don't be alarmed; don't be troubled; don't be frightened," your Jesus will be back for you!

It has been a long time by earth's calendar since Jesus was here in flesh, yet there are eight times as many references in the Bible that He will return, than record that He would be born in the first place, and not even the secular historians deny that there was a historical Jesus of Nazareth. He does not tell us when He will return. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. . . Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come . . . So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matt. 24:36, 42, 44).  Dr. C. R. Spain preached that the time of Christ's return is the one secret God the Father has kept for Himself.  It's like a daddy who has bought a special present for his children. They know something great is coming, but they don't know exactly what it is or when it will be given, but they know that because their daddy loves them it's going to be something wonderful, and that their daddy has the power to give it whenever he wants.  We are told to come as children, in faith and trust that our Daddy knows what He is doing, and has everything under control.

In the meantime, we watch and pray. The difficult question is, do we really believe what we say we believe?  It's either all true, or it is all a lie, because if any part of Jesus' claim was false, His whole word is tainted. "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised form the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection from the dead? If there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only then for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Do you believe?  Then have no fear, for Christ has conquered the world. "Because He lives I can face tomorrow; because He lives all fear is gone; because I know He holds my future; and life is worth the living just because He lives!"

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:55-58).  

We know, because Jesus told us, that bad things are going to come upon this sinful world. We also know, because all He said He would do, He has done, that we can be secure. Circumstances may take us by surprise, but they never take God by surprise, He is never off His guard. We can rest because He who keeps us will never slumber or sleep. As for the study of eschatology, it is all very interesting, but I choose "not to be alarmed."  Even though the Matthew 24 passage is filled with the unpleasantness of war, famine, earthquake, persecution, and the falling away of the unfaithful, Jesus ends the passage with the words, "This [good news] of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world." Yes, GOOD NEWS! Because in spite of all the evil, Jesus is victorious! Read the end of the Book--we win! Hallelujah!

Heavenly Father, thank You that You hold my life in Your Hands. Thank You that You still hold surprises in store for Your children. We look forward with great anticipation to that great and glorious day when You will be revealed as You are, and all flesh will bow before You. Help us not to fear or be alarmed or troubled by what we see and hear in the meantime. Help us not to grow discouraged by life in this present evil age. As we wait for the day, keep us busy with spreading the good news boldly to all who will listen. Amen