In every decade of my life (seven so far) some Bible scholars have looked around and determined that the signs Jesus spoke of to His disciples (Matthew 24) or those described in the books of Daniel or Revelation were taking place convincing them we were living in the end times. In 1988, many people read the 88 reasons Jesus is coming back in 1988 and reacted either with great anticipation or fear, depending on their relationship with God. Those people were either disappointed or relieved when that year passed without incident. In September of this year (2017) on the Jewish Feast of the Trumpets, it was believed by many people that the planets and stars were aligned for the first time in recorded history to coincide with the description of the second coming of Christ recorded in the book of Revelation. That time also passed without incident. There have even been Christian sects at other times that have been so sure the end is near they sold all of their property and possessions, gave the proceeds to charity and moved to a mountain top to prepare for the end of the age and Jesus’ return, only to have to come back down the mountain to begin their life all over again in disappointment and discouragement. Even before I was born humorists mocked those end of the world prophets. Mark Twain once wrote, “When the end of the world comes I want to be in Kentucky. Everything there happens twenty years after it happens everywhere else.”
We know that God’s word is true, but it is based on God’s timeline – not ours. His timeline is based on His unfailing love and mercy. He does not want to end this world until all who will accept Jesus as their savior have done so. (2 Peter 3:9) Just think of the countless people who have accepted Jesus Christ since 1988 or any of those other “end times”. You might even be one of them.
In our quest to decipher Biblical prophecy, I think we are overlooking some basic facts. The end of this world will come for each of us when we breathe our last breath, so in a real sense we are all approaching the end time. Christians in many parts of the world are now experiencing the great tribulation as they face martyrdom simply for proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ. That great tribulation is coming our way. When I was young no one ever dreamed of setting up a security system at our church to protect worshipers, but even small churches are doing so in the wake of the church murders in South Carolina and Texas.
Jesus tells us no man, no angel and not even He knows the day or the hour when He will return. (Mark 13:32) I don’t pretend to be a Bible scholar or a student of prophesies and I certainly am not able to read the mind of God. I simply thank God every day for every opportunity I have to serve Him here on this earth as I raise my hands to heaven and declare, “Surprise me, Lord!”