End Times, are they really here?

Christian magazines, writings, prophecies of the modern day prophets and the messages of the prominent Christian ministers are loaded with predictions of the end-times. The imminence of the return of Christ in His glory, which is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is the most anticipated event of the day.

Predictions and interpretations of red moons over Jerusalem, the Syrian war, entry of Russia in Syrian war, growing persecution of Christians all over the world, especially in the Middle East and by ISIS, not to miss Africa and even India, are all taken as the indications of the imminent return of the Lord. Christians are bullied, butchered, killed, maimed, and throats cut as if they are chicken, in these countries.  

The increase in immorality in the world, especially in the West, like the legalization of the same sex marriage has only added fuel to the fire. Installation of a goat-headed statue with horns at Detroit, USA, which is the symbol of worship of Satan, and the brotherhood that engages in this open satanic worship with all the accompaniments to it, like human sacrifice and blood curdling rituals, including sexual orgies, have definitely been seen as the increase of virulence of the evil in the world.

It is the openness with which these evil and immoral acts are performed without impunity that scares a well meaning, God-fearing person. But are these indicative of a imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ as He had promised when He was on earth? What did He say about it? What does the Scripture tell us about it? We will analyze some of these.

When His disciples asked Jesus when will these things be, and what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, Jesus took some time to explain to His disciples. He said, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6 (Mt. 24:6).

So wars and rumors of even a Third Nuclear War may not be the sure indications. Yes, the world has seen the Great War and the Second World War. Still the world is on. “For,” Jesus said, “nations will rise against nations, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various parts.” Mt.24:7. Still all these He considered as only ‘beginning of sorrows.’

Famines and pestilences have stalked the world many times over, especially in war-torn countries like Sudan or Sri Lanka or Mali. Earth quakes have devastated the earth with increasing intensity, may be because the population has increased and every calamity downs a huge number of people. Still these are not the indications. “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulations and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Mt.24:9. It is not just ISIS that is beheading Christians, but Christians have been thrown to lions and bears to be torn apart and burnt on stakes, ever since the beginning of Christianity.

Still I cannot understand why in India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the supporting organization of the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the BJP itself should hate Christians and launch many atrocities against them, excepting that the Lord had said that ‘you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.’

“Lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold,” Jesus said in Mt.24:12. Paul talks of the ‘man of lawlessness who will be revealed.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Present Western Christian literature abounds with predictions like Obama being the Man of Lawlessness or the Anti-Christ; and the present Pope Francis being the False Prophet, both moving towards establishing One World Government, as predicted in the book of Revelation.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come,” said Jesus. Mt.24:14. This is scary, for today the gospel is preached all over the world through mass media. Is this a sure indicator of the end of the world?  

Bear with me till the next blog, where I will deal with it in more detail, taking up from where I have left now.