Many Christians today believe that we are living in the end times. As evidence, they point to events in the Middle East or the wider world and they match various biblical prophecies in the Old and New Testament (NT).

According to the NT, the end times will culminate in the Second Coming of Christ when his followers will be rewarded, and evil vanquished. The first time Christ came to our planet, he came as our Saviour to redeem humanity through his death and resurrection to reconcile us with our Creator.

The Second Coming will be one of triumph and glory, and everyone will behold the arrival of Jesus. Scripture tells us that there will be the sound of trumpets and multitudes of angels will accompany him on his return.

Satan knows his time is short, hence he will cause all manner of deception, chaos and confusion before his final judgement. In the end, however, at Christ’s appearance, Satan will be destroyed by the splendour of the Lord’s coming.

Some Christians and non-Christians ask, “Why is Jesus taking so long to come back”? It is because our Lord is patient, wanting all to repent and know him as their Lord and Saviour.

Jesus offers us eternal life and a personal relationship with him. Only Jesus can save us from our sins. This is why he came into this world as God, yet in human form, the man Christ Jesus. What a truly amazing thing it is then to be in a relationship with the creator of the universe!

There have been, unfortunately, many cults in the past, who mistakenly taught that their era was the time for Christ to return. So when this did not transpire, many were left confused or even disbelieving. Some cult members have committed suicide or even taken the lives of others. One of the most infamous of these end times cults, was in Waco, Texas, with David Koresh. The Branch Davidians holed up in a compound in the town believed that by battling local law enforcement (who they believed represented Satan), they could bring about the second coming. Of course, all this ended in tragedy, with unnecessary loss of life on both sides. Jesus clearly warns us against false prophets or people claiming to be him, for this very reason.

As was mentioned in the first paragraph, many of the followers of Christ, believe we could be in the end times now. Whether it be world events or things happening closer to home, there is a strong possibility that we could be.

The Lord’s return will be a shock to some, and not just for atheists or followers of other faiths. It could also be for some Christians, who are not deeply rooted in their faith – so-called Sunday Christians – who think after worship on a Sunday, they can just put God back in his box until the Sunday following. While it is good such people believe in God and attend church, they seriously need to read scripture and enter into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

No one as it clearly states in scripture can know for sure when the Lord will return. It could be tomorrow, or 10 years time, or even a thousand years from now. However, when Jesus does return, let us be spiritually and mindfully prepared for it.

John 14:1 – 3 “Let not your hearts be troubled…in my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; so that where I am, there you may be also”.

Mark 13:32 “But about that day or the hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the father”.

God bless you xxx.