“When will the end time come?” This has been a puzzle believers have tried to discern since the resurrection of Christ. The last time Jesus met with His disciples they asked Him, “Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1: 6)
“He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’.”
However, what Jesus said hasn’t stopped people from speculating over the centuries. Even though each prediction of a specific time frame has failed, people continue to make predictions.
After I was saved, I began hearing that the return of Christ was imminent because the Nation of Israel created in 1948 was the sign of the soon return of Christ. Then while I was in high school, I purchased a book published around 1958 or 1959 that prophesied that the antichrist would be the first Roman Catholic president of the United States. Many people became alarmed when in 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. Then when President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, rumors were started that he was still alive in the Dallas Hospital and would appear to return from the dead to become the antichrist. Obviously that never happened.
In 1981, Ronald Wilson Reagan became the president. At that time, a radio preacher stated that Reagan was the antichrist because the antichrist according to the book of Revelation has a number 666, and each of Reagan’s names had six letters in it. Ronald Reagan died in the 1990’s and was not the antichrist. In fact, either during the election campaign or shortly afterward, three well known evangelical preachers visited with Reagan to discuss with him his relationship with God, and they were very pleased with his statements.
Other predictions about the second coming of Christ and the end time have proven false dashing the hopes of many who believed those teachings. So how can we understand the “end times”?
To understand the meaning of “end times”, we need to look at somethings that begin with the exodus and work our way forward. In Exodus 19, God spoke to Moses and told him to tell the people, “Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth, for all the earth belongs to Me. And you will be My kingdom of priests, My holy nation.” The Israelites responded very favorably; “And all the people responded together, ‘We will do everything the Lord has commanded’!” (Exodus 19: 7-8)
But their willingness lasted only three days. Exodus 20 begins with God speaking to the whole nation giving them the Ten Commandments. By the end of God’s presentation, the people changed their minds. “When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightening and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die’.” This is when Israel became a nation with priests instead of a nation of priests.
Then in Numbers 11, just after the Israelites celebrated their second Passover, the people complained to Moses about their hardship. Moses had enough by then so he complained to God. God’s answer to Moses was to choose 70 men to gather at the Tabernacle and God would give them some of the Spirit that was on Moses. God did that to 68 of the men who showed up but also to the 2 that didn’t attend. All of these men began to prophesy.
“Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested. ‘Moses, my master, make them stop’. But Moses replied, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them all’.” What Moses wished was God’s original intent in Exodus 19, but the people rejected God’s plan.
Next we find prophetic words in Joel 2:28-32. “Then, after doing these things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants – men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth – blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will become dark and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.”
Finally in Acts 2 we find the disciples in the upper room when the Holy Spirit entered each believer and they “began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” That amazed the visitors who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost because they were hearing messages in their native languages from local people. ‘What can this mean?’ they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them saying, ‘They’re just drunk, that’s all’!”
Peter stepped forward to explain, “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants – men and women alike – and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below – blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’.”
So we have actually been in the last days for 2,000 years. What made the difference? After the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, God renewed His covenant with His people making all believers a kingdom of priests! This was the part of God’s covenant Israel rejected on Mt. Sinai.
Jesus said, “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the floods came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 24:36-39)
I had a good Bible teacher many years ago who taught us this passage meant the world would keep getting worse with eating, drinking, and divorce and remarriage. But I thought then and still do that it meant people would continue to live their lives oblivious to the true God and His provision of salvation. Paul tells us, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, Who is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
So why is it taking so long for Christ to return? Maybe it is because the church hasn’t finished its job. The early church realized the truth in what Peter said at Pentecost. Peter also said, “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” (1 Peter 2:9) Peter again said, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sakes. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. (2 Peter 3:9-10)
Acts 2:23-47 tells us what the early church did that made the difference in their time. “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. . .all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Prayer and Bible study is where today’s church must begin if we want to see God do great things. We need to claim and practice our role as God’s kingdom of priests for those who have never accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. What are the duties of a priest?
- Daily offer praise to God. Psalm 50:14
- Always lift up the Lord Jesus Christ. John 12:32
- Daily study God’s word and pray for the salvation of the lost. Acts 2:42
- Share our story of God’s grace to us. Matthew 28:18-20