Are We in the End Times?

I’ve had several people ask me that question over the last few months, and my answer is that it all depends on what you mean by the term “end times.”

If someone is asking, “Do you think we’re getting closer to the Second Coming of Jesus?” then the answer is definitely yes, because that day is coming, and each day that passes brings us one day closer to his Return.

I think, though, that most people are really asking, “That time I’ve heard about when there’s a one-world government, the mark of the beast, worldwide death and catastrophe, and so on, is it about to start?” Another way of asking this question is, “Are we almost at the end of the world?”

Sometimes when people ask this question, they are also thinking about some things that Jesus mentions in Matthew 24-25, the “Olivet Discourse.” This is a somewhat difficult passage because Jesus is intertwining lessons about the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened in AD 70, only about 40 years after his sermon, and the end times, which haven’t occurred yet. 

As part of his lesson, Jesus warns his disciples against false signs that the end is near. People claiming to be Christ, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes will all be normal events during our time, not necessarily signs that the end is near. Jesus goes on to say that we will experience persecution, martyrdom, apostasy, betrayal, and hatred even within the church. These are all things that will happen in our age; they are not signs that the end is near. They’re like Braxton-Hicks contractions in pregnancy; they remind you of what is inevitable, but if you call an ambulance and rush to the hospital, you’re going to be sent right back home. They are a reminder of what’s ahead, but they are not signals that it is time.

To understand whether we are close to Jesus’s Return, it’s important to understand some of the key events of the end times. What I’ve written here is just a brief overview, leaving out many details, but it should help us to answer the question of whether we’re in the last days. 

The next end time event will be one of the greatest things we will ever experience — the Rapture. This event is for believers only, and it will result in the removal of the church from the world. I’ll discuss the Rapture in more detail in my next post, but know that the Rapture can happen at any time, it will involve Christians and only Christians, and Christians will not be on the earth to experience what comes after the Rapture.

At some point following the Rapture, there will be a seven-year period called the Tribulation. Sometimes this is called the “Great Tribulation,” but the Great Tribulation only refers to the final 3.5 years, or the second half, of the Tribulation. The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly when the Tribulation will begin. Some scholars believe that the Tribulation will begin immediately following the Rapture, but the Bible doesn’t state that, so there could be a delay between the two.

The Tribulation will be a horrible time of death, destruction, and judgment of sin on earth. The books of Daniel and Revelation tell us most of what we know about this dreadful time. For our discussion, here are some highlights:

There will be an emergence of a 10-nation government somehow connected to the old Roman Empire. Out of this nation will come a leader who will make a treaty with the nation of Israel. This treaty will begin the Tribulation. The Jewish people will resume sacrificial worship in a temple in Jerusalem, and they will be under the protection of this leader via the treaty (Daniel 2, 7, 9; Revelation 17). 

God will seal 144,000 Jews as witnesses during the Tribulation (Revelation 7), and Two Witnesses will begin to evangelize throughout the world (Revelation 11). Many people will come to Christ during the Tribulation as the result of these witnesses.

Halfway through the seven years of the Tribulation, the leader of the 10-nation government will expose himself as the Antichrist. This is the “little horn” in Daniel 7 and the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10. He will break his treaty with Israel, beginning the 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist will stop the sacrifices from taking place in the Temple (Daniel 9:27; 12:11) and set up the “abomination of desolation” there instead (see Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15). We’re not sure exactly what this is, but it will be connected to the Antichrist’s demand that people worship him as God. He will lead a one-world government and be the focus of a worldwide religion, the worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:4-10). 

God’s judgment of sin during the Great Tribulation will be unlike anything the world has ever seen, with death and destruction followed by more death and destruction. Still, most people will refuse to worship God. This period will end with the Battle of Armageddon when Jesus will bodily return to earth in all his glory (Revelation 19:11-21; Matthew 24:27-31). This is the Second Coming of Christ. What an amazing day this will be!

At the Return of Jesus, the Antichrist and his right-hand man, the False Prophet, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20). Satan will be bound for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3), and Jesus will rule the earth as King from Jerusalem for 1000 years in a perfect physical kingdom. This period is known as the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-6).

I’ve left out lots of details, and there are many more things that will happen after the 1000 years, including the release of Satan, one final rebellion, and the end of the universe as we know it as God creates a new heaven and a new earth. Keep in mind that I’m not writing a book on prophecy here. I’m only attempting to answer the question, “Are we in the end times?”

Let’s get to the answer to that question. We know that the next great event is the Rapture, and it can take place at any time. At some point after the Rapture, the Tribulation will begin. 

But what must happen before the Tribulation begins? 

First, the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and animal sacrifices will resume there. At the mid-point of the seven years, the Antichrist will break his treaty with Israel and stop the temple worship. So it is safe to say that the temple will have to be completed before the Tribulation begins. Today it seems impossible for a Jewish temple to be built on the temple mount in Jerusalem. The mount is currently occupied by the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, two of the holiest sites in Islam. So if you hear of the construction of a Jewish temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem and we haven’t been raptured, get ready!

The Tribulation will also see the emergence of a 10-nation group that has some connection to the old Roman Empire. Out of this confederation will eventually come the Antichrist and a one-world government. Before he rules the earth as the Antichrist, though, this leader will sign a peace treaty with Israel, offering his protection from attack. It is possible that this 10-nation group could begin to form before the Rapture, so this is another thing to keep an eye on.

When it comes to the end times, remember that Israel is God’s focus. Don’t be overly concerned about wars and pandemics and immorality; keep an eye on Israel.

So, are we in the end times? Yes and no. Remember, the Rapture could happen at any second, so we should always be prepared. 

But are we at the start of the Tribulation? Not yet. There is no recognizable 10-nation group connected to the old Roman Empire, and there is no temple in Jerusalem. We’re feeling the beginnings of the birth pains, but it isn’t time yet. The troubles we’re experiencing are just enough to let us know that the time of judgment is still waiting over the horizon. It’s out there, and it’s inevitable.

As Christians, of course, we do not need to fear the Tribulation. The next event for us is the Rapture, and I’ll talk more about that next time. Unless, of course, the Rapture beats me to it.

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