Events of recent years cause Christians to wonder if these things are yet another sign of the End Times. I don’t think there is a firm answer. It is unsettling.
We are living in turbulent times. As I write this, Russia invaded Ukraine two days ago. Despite Putin’s denials that he was not going to invade, he did so anyway. And, this is not a quiet invasion, but rather violent by all accounts on the news. Are we surprised? Most of us are probably not. He’s taking a page out of the Russian playbook for invasion. It happened at night, just like the invasion of Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic (or Czechia) in 1968. He shut down as much of the communication ability and now is after prominent members of the government. Yup, same old, same old.
Selling One’s Soul Has a Price
I am not being cavalier about this, but I lived through the Czech invasion, even though I was only 10 at the time. The Russians could not be stopped then, and they will not be stopped now. Nobody came to our aid, and just like now, nobody can rush in and help Ukraine. Hopefully, the economic sanctions will do something.
Why does Putin act? That is the billion-dollar question. I think more sinister forces are driving him than just his personal megalomania. He’s a pawn, which he is happy to be. Selling one’s soul to the devil has a price, however.
Is This Another Sign?
As Christians, we cannot help but wonder if this is yet another sign of the End Times. Although I don’t believe there is a firm answer, I think this is yet another future event casting its shadow into today. Understanding what those future events are, helps us deal with what is going on, for we gain confidence knowing God is ultimately in control. Later, I will be discussing one of the signs, being wars and rumors of wars. (I think we’ve just lived through this one, but I am sure more are to come.)
Pay Attention but Don’t Be Distracted
Paying attention to what is going on in the world around us, is important, but it cannot distract us from our purpose. Our purpose is to prepare the world for Christ’s return. We are to be beacons of light of God’s truth. So, pay attention but don’t be removed from your true path and purpose. Getting all riled up helps only if you then turn it over to the Lord through prayer. Today, I was reading an article by Roger Barrier, explaining about Gog and Magog. (I have more on that in a future post). But Roger had a quote that I think is very appropriate for today.
“Live as if Christ is coming back in the next 10 minutes. Plan as if he’s not coming for another thousand years.”
Amen to that.
So, watch for the signs, as Christ instructed us to do:
Luke 12:56
56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? (Jesus Bible)
Matthew 16:2-3
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’
3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. (Jesus Bible)
Commentary on Matthew 16:2
In Christ’s time, as primitive as their method of predicting the weather was, their ability to discern spiritual matters was worse. They had the long-promised and long-awaited Messiah in their midst and refused to acknowledge Him. (MacArthur Study Bible Notes NIV)
My Reflection
I believe Christ exhorts us to study God’s word with care. We take so much time in understanding things of this world, but we often forgo the Word of God.
A few years ago, I would have thought that I don’t need to study about the End Times, nor read Revelations. For I’d been told, all I need to do is ensure that I am ready, when the time comes. Be that at my death or if I am blessed enough, for the Rapture. But I believe that was wrong. Jesus himself exhorts us to study and know the word, so we can interpret the signs of the times. This is what propels me forward, and what has driven me to write.
Don’t be like the Pharisees
As Jesus spoke to the people in Matthew, the irony was that He was the sign from heaven that the Jewish people were waiting for, he was the promised Messiah, yet, the Pharisees and Sadducees of the day chose not to believe, despite all the miracles that Jesus performed. Those miracles proved who he was! (Jeremiah Bible, study notes on Matt 16:2-3)
As Dr. Jeremiah says, “God reveals the truth to those who honestly seek him (Mat 7:7)”.
Thank you for reading.
Blessings
Jana
Roger Barrie, Gog and Magog: Who are they and what do they have to do with the Last Days?