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In Part 2 we talk about why Jesus is coming back to earth and whether we are living in the end times. Head HERE to read.

My favorite meme right now is the one that says, “me looking outside trying to see what chapter of Revelation we’re doing today.” 🙂  It’s a welcomed dose of humor in this time of a global pandemic, economic challenges, political division, and a reckoning around racial injustice.

But on a serious note, these crazy times have Christians and non-Christians alike asking questions about whether the world is ending (cue JP Saxe and Julia Michaels 😉 ) and if Jesus is coming back soon. In this series, I want to lead us into a chat about all things end times and Jesus’ return: signs of the times, the Tribulation and God’s judgment, the rapture of the Church, what Heaven is really like. All the things.

Isn’t it impossible to understand the end times and Bible prophecy ?

First off, as curious as you may be about the end times and as relevant as the topic may feel right now, you’re probably a bit intimidated to study it in Scripture. And you’re not alone. For some reason, we stir up so much fear around this subject in the Church.

I used to be afraid to study the return of Jesus. I was told that it was all so symbolic and mystical that we couldn’t really understand it anyway. That was enough for me to lose motivation in learning about it at all. Has that been your experience too?

At a conference I attended during college, a preacher stood on a stage and told a group of young adults that while there is much symbolism in biblical prophecy, the basic outline of events is really straightforward and accessible to every believer to understand. He prayed for us that we would no longer have fear around studying the return of our Savior and that God would help us understand His Word on the topic of end times.

From that day forward everything was different for me. As I studied the Bible myself and learned from godly teachers, the end times actually started to make sense to me. It’s become one of my favorite topics and I’ve grown in my relationship with Jesus so much from studying it. Of course, I don’t have every little detail figured out completely and I don’t think any of us will. But God has given us so much information about the return of His Son in the Bible.

^“Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, ‘Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?’ Jesus told them…” (Matthew 24:3-4, NLT)

When the disciples asked Jesus about His return and what would happen at the end of the age, He directly answered their questions with a ton of detail. (Matthew 24-25) He didn’t brush them off and say it was too hard to understand so just forget about it. God placed all of this information in His Word about the end times so all of His followers could understand it, learn from it and be ready for His return.

I want to give you permission–just like that preacher did for me–not to be fearful and intimidated to study the return of Jesus in Scripture. I want to invite you to grow in your knowledge of God through studying His plan to wrap up the end of this age and return to rescue His people.

Does it even matter if we understand the Bible’s teaching on end times?

Yeah, it matters a ton. Something I’ve heard so often from Christians about end times is, “it will all pan out how God wants it to!” It’s meant as a joke, but may I suggest it’s not as funny as we think?

Just because it will all pan out according to God’s plan doesn’t mean it will all pan out well for you. The fact that God will fulfill His purposes doesn’t automatically mean you as an individual will be prepared to respond well and thrive spiritually when these events finally start to unfold.

Jesus warns us so much about how we need to be on guard against deception, to be prepared, and to endure. (Matthew 24:4, 24, 42-44) Those final years leading up to Jesus’s return will be the greatest time of testing the earth has ever experienced (Matthew 24:21-22 // Luke 21:34-36). Surely, it’s not something to have a casual attitude about.

If you think it doesn’t matter anyway, since believers will be taken to heaven before all the end times events get really crazy and you won’t be here for it, I’d encourage you to read part 4 of this series.

We’ll take a deep dive into what the Bible says about the most debated question in the study of the end-times: the timing of the rapture of the Church. (The rapture refers to Jesus gathering His people from all over the world to meet Him in the air at His return.)

Christians have differing views on whether Jesus raptures the Church before, during, or after the 7-year Tribulation, which is okay. Regardless of what part of it you believe you’re present on the earth to experience or not, though, this is your story.

Here’s what I mean by that. You will experience the birth pains to some extent–the signs of the times and global turmoil that will intensify the closer it gets to Jesus’ return. (Matthew 24:3-14) I think we’re in that phase right now.

When Jesus comes back, you will either be raised from the dead and gathered with fellow believers to meet Jesus in the air, or you’ll be alive on the earth and gathered with fellow believers to meet Jesus in the air. Then we’ll be with Jesus forever, worshipping Him and reigning alongside him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re a part of this story! There’s no getting out of it. 😉 This is actually about the next billion years of your life. You’re going to spend more of your existence as a human–literally forever–living in the next age than you’ll spend living in this one. Isn’t that wild to think about?!

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:2-3, NLT)

This is our HOPE! The return of Jesus matters not only because of the intensity of it that we need to be prepared for, but because it is the fullness of the salvation Jesus promises us.

When you and I put our faith in Jesus for salvation, He forgives our sins and welcomes us into personal relationship with Himself. Then, He sanctifies us as we walk with Him, helping us grow in relationship with Him and in holiness. But He promises to come back for His people one day, to live on the earth with us, and to rule in peace and righteousness as King with us at His side.

In a world filled with turmoil, I’m glad Jesus offers us a hope anchored in who He is as our Savior and King forever.

In Part 2 we talk about why Jesus is coming back to earth and whether we are living in the end times. Head HERE to read.

Let’s Talk: Have you struggled with fear or confusion in learning about the return of Jesus? How has God been helping you overcome that? Discuss this post in the comments below.