“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 of these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24: 6-8
Watching the news today can be quite unsettling. From powerful earthquakes in Mexico to devastating hurricanes like Harvey, Irma and Maria, it seems to be one disaster after another. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. Who can forget the military threats and conflict filling our news cycle? There’s the ongoing Syria conflict, threats from Muslim terrorists, and recently rising tensions with North Korea. So how are we to respond in the face of increasingly uncertain and fearful times?
For starters, we should not be surprised to see natural disasters and wars increase. Jesus speaks about an escalation in both number and intensity as we near the End Times and His second coming. They will be signs. And while we will never know the exact day and hour (Matt. 24:36), we should pay attention. Jesus says, “Be alert.” As you watch and read the news, always view it through a Biblical lens.
If you are not a follower of Christ, I urge you to read about Him in the four Gospels. Pay particular attention to His teaching on His second coming. It is time to move from spiritual slumber and blindness to ready anticipation. If you’re a follower of Christ, the signs of His coming are intensifying. May this only urge you to “stay alert” and focused on the mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus before we all run out of time.
Have more questions about the End Times and recognizing the signs of which Jesus spoke? Key insights to these questions and more are available in Bryant’s latest book, The Stage is Set, available in paperback, Kindle, and CD at www.amazon.com or anywhere books or e-books are sold.
