Article 42
By Steven J. Hogan
The last few years leading up to the coming of Jesus Christ will be an extremely difficult time for Christians living in this world. Close to the end of this age, the Antichrist will appear and begin his evil rule over this earth. He, along with the rest of the unruly unbelievers, will be greatly sinning, and in fact, appear to be winning. Truly, it will be a terribly dark and distressing time for Christians. But God’s word is sufficiently instructive and very comforting with regards to these last days before the return of Christ: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9
My purpose in writing this article is to focus on the unrepentant unbelievers living in the end-times, their lives, their sin, their hate for God and Christians, and the trouble they may bring to your life. In fact, many of you reading this may be alive on this earth during the time of the Antichrist’s devilish rule. During his short time as dictator, there will be great tribulation, believers will be persecuted, fellow saints will be martyred, and food and water may be hard to find. You may even wonder if you are going to survive during these dark and evil days, if you can keep persevering until the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Now I am not trying to scare you. I just want to make sure you are Biblically informed and warned about the end-times, and that you have a living hope. God wants you to know what will be happening, but also how you can victoriously live for Him during what will probably be the most difficult time of your life.
God gives us many promises to comfort and strengthen us, even in the midst of our worst problems. Romans 8:35-37 tells us about suffering, but it also gives us hope: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Do you see this? Even though you may go through extreme trials, you can be a conqueror, you can be victorious through Christ, who loves you much more than you could ever imagine. Do not fear, for your heavenly Father will make sure that you make it to heaven, so that you can be with Him and Jesus, and all the rest of the saints. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3
This subject about the unrepentant unbeliever in the end times, their open sin and rebellion, and the resulting trouble it could bring to your life, is something you rarely read about, something you just don’t hear being taught in our churches. But you will see that God’s word has a whole lot to say about the character and conduct of the end-times’ unbeliever. Here are a number of things God wants you to know about the sinful people living on earth in the years leading up to the coming of Christ.
Disrespectful of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). The unrepentant sinner’s primary problem is that he doesn’t fear God, he doesn’t give God the respect that He deserves. Most ungodly people don’t believe in the one true God, and many don’t even believe there is a God. They have rejected the truth about God seen in creation, and that which is given in God’s word (Romans 1:18-32). Therefore, the unbeliever doesn’t see God as God, and give Him the praise, honor and love that is due Him. But God is our creator, the One who has fearfully and wonderfully made us. He is our sovereign Lord, the One who is in charge of our lives. He is the holy One, and we are accountable to Him, and if we don’t turn from our sin to Him, then He will righteously judge and punish us. Yet, instead of being humble and worshiping God, the unrepentant unbeliever is proud, and worships and idolizes himself and creation. He is not thinking right, he is not thankful, he is not wise, and he is a terrible fool. “An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin… he has ceased to be wise and do good.” Psalm 36:1-4
Greatly sinning. In the last days, unbelievers will be increasingly lawless. “But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). We are living in an evil age, and the hearts of men are evil, but it’s going to get a lot worse in the last few years before the return of Christ. In the end times, sinners will be extremely sinful, similar to the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5-6, Matthew 24:37). It will be a very wicked time, when everyone will be doing what is right in his own eyes. In the middle of that important prophecy chapter, we read, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). But as a Christian, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
What about the Antichrist? Unbelieving sinners will undoubtedly be doing the work of Satan, but it is the Antichrist who is the most devilish sinner on earth. Without question, he will be the worst sinner in the world, the chief lawbreaker, the most corrupt man on earth, for 2 Thessalonians 2:3 tell us that he is “the man of lawlessness.”
The Antichrist’s desire is to oppose Christ, to take the place of Christ, and to rule the world. He is the one “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This Antichrist, this beast, this man of lawlessness, will actually try to take the place of God, but there’s no way he will ever succeed. He will be the greatest fake, the biggest impostor, the most despicable and diabolical man to ever live on the face of the earth. Revelation 13:4 sadly says that he will actually fool and deceive the people, for “they will worship the beast.” The unbelievers will turn out to be his followers, and will do whatever he tells them to do. Revelation 13:5 tells us that this Antichrist will speak “arrogant words and blasphemies… he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name.”
The Antichrist will hate God and all of His children with a passion, and he will hate all that is right and godly. As the most lawless man on earth, he will promote sin, and encourage the unbelievers to act wickedly, to hate the believers and do them harm. Matthew 24:9 warns us, “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Revelation 13:7 confirms this by saying, “It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” The Antichrist will try to hunt you down, hurt you, and kill you. And it’s his forces of evil, unrighteous unbelievers, religious defectors, or even members of your own family, who will be doing his dirty work. At that time, the most wicked man on earth will be the Antichrist, and he will use his Satanic power to get the rest of the unrepenting unbelievers to join him in his outright hate for God, and his persecution of the saints. But in the end, he will be a total failure, a big-time loser at the battle of Armageddon, after which, he will immediately be cast into the lake of fire, where he will remain forever and ever. “The beast was seized, and with him the false prophet… these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” Revelation 19:20
Worshiping Satan. “They worshiped the dragon (Satan), and they worshiped the beast (Antichrist)” (Revelation 13:4). It will happen around the time of Daniel’s 70th week that a series of events will take place, leading to this one man becoming this powerful and world-renowned Antichrist. This man will seem to miraculously rise from the dead; he will militarily defeat a number of other nations; he will proudly and loudly proclaim his hate for God; he will take “his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Not only that, but his partner, this 2nd beast, will be promoting this most evil man. “I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he will make the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men” (Revelation 13:11-13).
After seeing all these things, the sinners of the world will be utterly amazed, and therefore, will worship this superman, this first beast, and in effect, be worshiping the devil himself. Nothing like this has ever happened before, for we will literally see the whole unbelieving world united in their love and worship for this most wicked man. This is so wrong and so unrighteous, but God, sovereignly ruling over all the world, will be working all this together for our good, and for His purposes and glory (Revelation 17:16-17). And soon enough, this rule of the Antichrist and his course of evil will be finished, and God will send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, back to earth, to take up the saints, take out the enemy, and take over the world.
Taking the mark of the beast. “He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead” (Revelation 13:16). Most unbelievers will take this mark of the beast, with the result that they will be able to openly buy and sell, to publicly do business. But taking this mark means that they will be worshiping, trusting and following the Antichrist. What these sinners don’t know is that this will turn out to be their death sentence (Revelation 14:9-11). But what about the Christians? Won’t this new godless business plan make life very difficult for us? Where will we get food and water? How can we buy clothes? Where will we buy gas? How will be able to travel? Will be able to live in our own home? How will we be able to take care of our children? How will we get the medicines we need? Will we be able to use our phones to communicate with believers? I have to admit, I don’t have the answers to all these questions. I do know we are to pray and trust God. But let me say this, that as long as God wants us here on earth for His purposes, then He will protect us and provide all our needs. “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Deceived, deluded and depraved. “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). Sinners hate the truth, love their sin and enjoy their evil ways. But in the end times, God will cause sinners to be deluded and deceived all the more, resulting in the rapid and devilish decline of our world. It’s hard to imagine, but all these wicked and wayward sinners will be even more deceived, fooled and tricked by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Sinners will go from bad to worse. They will think they are doing what is right, when in fact, they are doing what is wrong. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). But the truth and promises of God will still stand. “The wicked will perish; and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures, they vanish – like smoke they vanish away… for those blessed by the Lord will inherit the land, but those cursed by Him will be cut off.” Psalm 37:20-22
Mocking the Christians. “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’… But by His word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:3-6). During the Antichrist’s rule, we need to share with people the gospel, the truth of Christ’s 1st coming and salvation through Him, and the truth about Christ’s 2nd coming and the rapture of the church. But most unbelievers will think we’ve gone crazy, that we have lost our minds, and therefore will make fun of us, mocking and taunting us. But remember, Jesus was mocked and ridiculed. Might we see it as a privilege to suffer like our Savior suffered, and for this, we will be eternally blessed. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps… and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats; but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” 1 Peter 2:21-23
Hating and killing. “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). During Daniel’s 70th week, Christians will be seen as a terrible menace, a harmful blight, a spiritual plague, as ones who need to be dealt with, as ones who need to be put to death. Unlike any other time in history, unbelievers will be united, emboldened and impassioned in their hate for Christians, so much so that they will want to kill them, to rid the earth of them. You can see how serious and deadly this situation will be, for the leader of the world, his military forces, people you don’t know and people you do know, even your own family members, will want you dead. “I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9). “They poured out the blood of saints and prophets” (Revelation 16:6). The sinners in the world will be so deceived, for by wanting to kill you, they will think they are doing what is right, but instead will be doing what is wrong, and in fact, what is the most outrageous and unrighteous thing they can do. “An hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). “Do not fret because of evildoers… trust in the Lord and do good… for evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:1, 3, 9
Betraying family members. “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death” (Luke 21:16 ). Many unbelievers will turn against family members who are Christians, and turn them in to the authorities. Can you believe this, that members of your own family, ones whom you have loved and prayed for, will betray you, and want you to be persecuted and killed? It may be your mother or father, your brother or sister, your son or daughter, an aunt or uncle, or a first or second cousin. I tell you, do not be surprised that people you have known so well, whom you have grown up with, whom you have spent time with, whom you have loved so deeply, will hate you so much. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Being hated by your own family members will unquestionably be one of the saddest and hardest things for Christians to go through in the end times. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us… For I am convinced that neither death, nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37
Repenting, at least some of them. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). We have been talking about the attitudes and actions of unrepentant unbelievers living on this earth in the end times. But this verse, along with Matthew 28:19-20, instructs us to do what is good, specifically, to be preaching the gospel and making disciples of all the nations. And some of our preaching will bear fruit. God wants to know that some of the unbelievers living during this time, by His grace, will repent of their sins and be saved. Though the world will be filled and controlled by unbelievers, our compassionate God will have mercy on some of them, “snatching them out of the fire” (Jude 23), causing them to be born again, and giving them eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
This window of mercy for lost sinners extends right up to the end of this age. You don’t know who will repent of his sins and believe in Christ, and so keep showing your love, and sowing the gospel seed, believing that God will save some of the unsaved (John 4:34-38). In Jesus’ instruction about the end-times, He says, “The gospel must be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:10-11). Do you see what God is telling you? When you preach the gospel, you may be arrested and persecuted. But you are not to be afraid. You are to live your life full out for the Lord by loving the lost and sharing the gospel, in hopes that the unsaved will turn from their sin and trust in Jesus, and be forgiven of their sins and be given eternal life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24
Eating, drinking, and shocked. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: They were eating and drinking, they were buying and selling, they were planting and building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:28). A pseudo peace will be seen on earth during the Antichrist’s rule, and the deceived unbelievers will be so happy, living life like everything is just fine. Yes, life will be better than what they had been going through, for the famines, wars, plagues and economic distress, for the most part, will be gone. Not only that, but there is the “good news” that Christians are being dealt with, are being turned in to the authorities and killed.
Sinners will be saying and singing, “Happy days are here again.” Unbelievers will be doing the things they were doing before, and life will seem to be back to normal. “For as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38-39). Suddenly and unexpectedly, there will be these great signs in the heavens, the trumpet will sound, and immediately the Son of Man will be seen coming in a cloud with power and great glory – and all the Christians will be raptured off the earth. “There will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left” (Matthew 24:40-41). The unbelievers will be dumbfounded, completely surprised, and in great fear.
Scared to Death, and Doomed. “There was a great earthquake… the stars of the sky fell to the earth… the sky was split apart like a scroll… and the kings… and the great men… and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves… for the great day of God’s wrath has come” (Revelation 6:12-17). In the end times, there will be these great signs in the heavens, and a great earthquake, and the whole world, in great shock, will be stopped in its tracks. But Christians should know that these heavenly signs and this earthquake are signaling the end of this age and the return of Christ. But the unrepenting, unsuspecting unbelievers will be totally caught off guard and greatly afraid. There will be “men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:26). Christ-rejecting unbelievers will be scared to death when they see Christ’s sudden return, and wanting to get away from God, they will find no place to hide. Christians will be suddenly taken from the earth, the day of the Lord will come, and unbelievers, left on earth, will be doomed, forever damned and punished by God.
Remaining unrepentant. “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands… they still did not repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or of their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21). Unbelievers alive at the rapture of the church will be punished during the day of the Lord, and remain unrepentant. Their hearts will get harder, and it will be obvious that they still hate God and Christ, and Christians and Jews, and therefore, will be justly judged for all their evil thoughts, words and deeds. “They deserve it… Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments” (Revelation 16:6-7). As the ungodly are rightly and greatly afflicted, they will not be broken, they will not be softened, but will be hardened all the more, and hate God all the more. With fists raised high, these children of the devil and worshipers of the Antichrist, will defiantly and madly cry out blasphemies against the King of kings and Lord of lords. “They worshiped the dragon… and they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4
Punished in hell. “He will be tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” (Revelation 14:9-10). These unrepentant unbelievers will receive the mark of the beast, and they will go to hell, and later be cast into the lake of fire, where they will be punished forever (Revelation 20:15). This will be the sad but righteous reality for the God-hating, Christ-hating, Christian-hating, Jew-hating unbelievers. Jesus solemnly tells us, “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth… Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… Then they will go away to eternal punishment.” Matthew 25:30, 41, 46
This is not one of those feel-good, ear-tickling, prosperity-gospel messages, but in fact, is one of the most mind-sobering, complacent-smashing, holy-producing messages in the Bible. God really wants you to know what it’s going to be like during the days of great tribulation, what the unbelievers will be like, how they will act, how they will treat you, and what they will be saying. What is called “great tribulation” will be great tribulation. But even during these difficult days, you will have a great opportunity to serve the Lord, and do the work He has called you to do. If God has planned for you to be alive at this time in history, then be assured that He will lead you, encourage you, provide for you, and use you for His purposes, giving you all the grace and peace you need.
What else do you need to know? What else do you need to do? When there are tough times, we can easily lose sight of God, we can get afraid, we can forget what we are to do, and how we are to live. But you are not to be surprised when life gets hard, for God has already told you in His word about these difficult days in the end times. And you are to be prepared, you are to be ready for whatever may come. Let me remind you of truths you need to know, promises you need to believe, and commands you need to obey, for knowing and living by God’s word is vital for your spiritual survival and success as a Christian.
1. Remember that God is sovereign, that He is in complete control. There are no accidents, nothing just happens. God has planned out all things on this earth, including all the details of your life; and everything in this world, and everything in your life is going exactly according to His design. Yes, you are to pray, and plan your way, but you are to also know that God will direct every one of your steps. He causes all things, even the difficult things, the evil unbelievers, the wicked Antichrist, the great persecution, to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:10-12, Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8:28
2. Don’t be afraid. It may seem like there’s lots to fear, but in reality, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Your loving Father is not only sovereign and in complete control, but He is also infinitely wiser and stronger than the devil, than any of your enemies. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid, what can mere man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4). Through the Holy Spirit, He is always with you, and will lead you, instruct you, use you, protect you, and bring you safely to His heavenly kingdom. And don’t forget that God has a lot of angels out there, and in ways you cannot see or understand, is also using them to help you and keep you safe. “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11, Psalm 34:7). Not only should you not be afraid, but you should be strong and courageous, you should be a brave fighter, a good soldier for God and His glory. “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons… Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah 4:14, 20
3. Be strengthened by the love of God. The truth of God’s great love for you needs to be deeply embedded in your heart. No matter what happens, know that the Lord loves you, cares for you, forgives you, has compassion on you, and will bring you home to heaven, whether by death or by rapture. Jude 21 reminds you, “Keep yourselves in the love of God as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” You keep yourself in the love of God by remembering your salvation in Christ, believing His promises, being in fellowship, and by obeying God. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 14:9-10). “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love…” 1 John 4:16
4. Receive God’s grace so you can be who He wants you to be, do what He wants you to do, and joyfully make it through all your trials. You will never lack the power, strength and ability to live rightly for the Lord in the end times. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work… My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, 12:9). “May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” 1 Peter 1:3
5. Be in a good church. You are not to be alone, and you are not to be a loner. You are a member of the church, and you need others, and others need you. As much as possible during times of tribulation, you need to stay connected and close to other believers, working as a team, praying for one another, and encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. “God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 1 Corinthians 12:18, Ephesians 4:12-16, Hebrews 10:25
6. Do the work God gives you to do. Reading this article might get you thinking about the possibility that you might suffer in the end times, but don’t focus on that. Instead, think about how you are to serve the Lord, and carry out the work He wants you to do. Be focused on finishing strong for God by completing the work He has planned out for you. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus instructs you to “do business with this until I come back” (Luke 19:13), meaning that you are to use the unique gifts and talents God has given you for His work and His glory. While you live on this earth, be excited and committed to do all that God wants you to do. Once your work on earth is done, then His angels will bring you home to heaven. “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers.” Acts 13:36
7. Trust in the Lord. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks a very important question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” At this time, Jesus is asking you and I this same question. Will you have faith, will you be trusting God at the coming of Christ? Might you have this mindset, to trust the Lord and His word, from the present time to the end of this age. You need to walk by faith, and as times get tougher and we get closer to the return of Christ, you need to keep walking by faith. No matter what happens, rely on the Lord, and trust Him for wisdom, grace, peace, direction, protection, and for all that you need. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
8. Have hope in your heart. As a Christian, you have so much to look forward to – being in heaven, being with believers, being in a new glorified body, and most importantly, being with Jesus. For you to keep moving ahead with faith, joy and peace in your heart, you have to have hope. You need to know that living for the Lord is well worth it, that the sacrifices you are making and the trials you go through are short-lived, and soon you will see Jesus face to face, and be with Him forever. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
9. Know and believe the truth and promises about Christ’s second coming, the rapture, and the future God has for you. Read, believe, and meditate on prophecy passages like Matthew 24:29-31, Luke 12:35-59, Luke 17:20-37, Luke 21:7-36, John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 1 Corinthians 15:42-58, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 10:37, 2 Peter 3:3-18, Jude 24-25, Revelation 1-22, and other sections of Scripture that speak specifically about the return of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the coming kingdom age.
10. Tell others the truth about the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and our glorious future. “Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight” (Luke 3:4) was the purpose of John the Baptist in the 1st century, and it is our purpose here in the 21st century. As John told people about the 1st coming of Christ, is it not our duty to tell people about the 2nd coming of Christ? Be excited about the return of Jesus, and be looking forward to seeing Him. Tell your family, friends, fellow church members, co-workers, neighbors, and even people you meet on the street, about the coming of Christ, as well as the day of the Lord. Tell them that Christ is coming to rescue the believers, the children of God, and take them to heaven, and warn them that He will pour out His wrath on those who don’t believe in Him, on those on earth who remain unrepentant unbelievers.
11. Be a watchman. “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17). In these remaining years of the end times, we are to be watchmen. We are to be telling people that the prophetic word of God is being fulfilled in the world around us. “You know how to analyze the appearance of the sky, but why do you not analyze the present time?” (Luke 12:56). The men of Issachar understood the times, and so too we need to see how God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled in today’s world, and then be telling others (1 Chronicles 12:32). We are not to keep what we know about Christ’s coming to ourselves; tell others about how He will soon return to rescue the believers from the earth, and then pour out His wrath on the unbelievers who remain on the earth.
12. Remember the example of Jesus, and of saints from the past:
– Think of Jesus, the holy One, living in this unholy world, being hungry, slandered, mocked, beaten, persecuted and killed. “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
– Think about Lot, and how he suffered when he was living in that wicked city of Sodom. “He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men… that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds… the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation.” 2 Peter 2:7-9
– Think of Job and his great trial, and the great suffering he experienced. “‘Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10
– Think of Joseph being in that Egyptian jail for those 13 years (Genesis 40-41). “They afflicted his feet with fetters, he himself was laid in irons. Until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” Psalm 105:18-19
– Think of David, and all the trials and persecution he went through, even from his own family members. “Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men who devise evil things in their hearts; they continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; the poison of a viper is under their lips” (Psalm 140:1-4). Psalms 27, 31, 34, 52-55, 59, 140-143
– Think about what it was like for Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, as he saw his own people being killed, and the city of Jerusalem being destroyed. “I am the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of His wrath. He has driven me and made me walk in darkness and not in light. Surely against me He has turned His hand repeatedly all the day. He has caused my flesh and skin to waste away…” Lamentations 3:1-18
– Think of all that Paul went through, being hungry, beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, falsely accused, and much, much more. “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things.” 1 Corinthians 4:11-13
– Think about what is written in Foxes Book of Martyrs. There we read about hundreds of saints who were persecuted and killed in all kinds of ways, and they all loved Jesus, lived for Jesus, and were willing to die for Jesus.
What we are going to see taking place in the coming days, at the very end of this age, is not something totally new. Persecution of God’s people has been happening ever since the days of Cain and Abel. What is new is that this great tribulation in the days of the Antichrist will be global in nature, taking place all over this world. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name… For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, not ever will.” Matthew 24:9, 21
Think about the future, and the fact that you might be on this earth during the time of this great tribulation brought on by the Antichrist. Who are you to think that you should not suffer for the Lord, that somehow, you are exempt from great persecution? Might you be living for God, and be willing to die for God. Might you not shrink back from suffering for your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And look at the promise of God, how He says you will be victorious during this time of great tribulation: “They overcame him (Antichrist) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11
13. Be in the word of God. Be in the word of God today – don’t wait until times get tough. Love the word. Delight in the word. Read the word. Study the word. Pray over the word. Memorize the word. Meditate on the word. Believe the word. Obey the word. Teach the word. I can’t stress enough your need for God’s word. And now is the time to get God’s word into your heart! There is nothing more important than this! I mean that – there is nothing more important than getting God’s word into your heart! “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:9). “They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake your precepts… If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:87, 92). “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
14. Remember that suffering results in great blessing and glory.
– “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they treated the prophets who were before you” Matthew 5:10-12). Do you see it? Persecution results in blessing, joy and great rewards in heaven!
– “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). You need to know that the little suffering you go through is only for a very short time compared to the great and eternal blessings you will receive from God.
– “To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). The suffering you experience is Christ’s suffering. In reality, you are suffering with Christ. What a wonderful blessing!
15. Be excited about seeing Jesus, and being with Him forever. You are not to focus on any suffering that may come your way. You are to fix your eyes on Jesus, your Lord, Savior and King. Think not of the difficulties that may lie ahead. Think about being with Jesus, the One who loves you so much more than anyone else. And think about how you will be with Him forever and ever.
– “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
– “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
16. Christ is excited about seeing you. I hope you realize this, that Christ is in heaven, and with love in His heart, is looking down on you. He knows what you are going through, and what you will go through, and He deeply cares for you, always wanting the best for you. What you don’t always see is that His ways are higher than your ways, and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). I think of the Jews when they were suffering in Egypt, under the hand of that other antichrist, that wicked Pharaoh. Here is what God said to Moses: “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction” (Exodus 3:16-17). I think of God’s promise to Christians living during the time of that final Antichrist, that God will “give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” Might Christ’s love for you encourage and strengthen your heart. And remember, He can’t wait to see you, and be with you. Here is Jesus’ prayer for you: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for you have loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). Here is what Jesus says to you, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:7