3 Guarantees at the End of the World (and how to prepare)

Reading what Jesus says about the end of the world can be a rough experience - especially if you've never really considered what Matthew records him saying in Matthew 24.

After watching the movie Armageddon, "The End" became real for me. I was young and probably got too caught up in the loss of romance. Regardless, it left me with a lot of questions.

Over the years, I have sought answers about the end times. As a pastor, I have studied different theologies around what scripture says about what will happen next.

What I have discovered is that while there is a diversity of perspectives, scripturally speaking, there are at least three guarantees about the end of the world—and only one way to prepare for it.

Guarantee 1: There will be an end.

They say that two things are certain: death and taxes.

I'll leave taxes up to economists. But I can say that Jesus' return at the end of human time is unavoidable.

In 1964, Robert Lamont published in Christianity Today that the return of Christ is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament and that this teaching occupies 1 in every 25 verses from Matthew to Revelation. Others have said that for every verse about His birth, there are eight about his return. In the New Testament, one of every 30 verses talks about Jesus coming back.

However you count, you cannot deny that there will be an end of this life on earth - either through our human death or Jesus' return.

Guarantee 2: You can't control it.

Matthew records Jesus saying nobody except God the Father knows when Jesus is returning. In other words, we cannot control when it happens.

Throughout history, there have been predictions of dates, events, and locations of when, where, and how Jesus will return. Jesus is clear; nobody will know. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 describes Jesus' return coming like a thief in the night.

It will be unexpected and you cannot control when, where, or how it will happen.

Guarantee 3: You will not be able to take anything with you.

Human logic tells us that we entered the world with nothing, and the same is true when we depart from it.

When reading the story of Job in the Bible, we will discover when life falls apart, Job says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised". (Job 1:21)

Thousands of years later, Paul tells Timothy that since we brought nothing into the world, we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:7).

We don't bring anything with us at the beginning and cannot take anything with us at the end.

So, how do we prepare for the end?

Jesus says to "keep watch and be ready" (Matthew 25:13).

Jesus explains that keeping watch is like having oil in your lamp. Biblically, oil often represents the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

Jesus has already filled us with His Holy Spirit. It is already alive in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit always helps us see Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46) and give glory to God the Father (John 12:27).

And how do we know that we’re filled with the Spirit?

We faithfully love God and love people by serving our neighbors like Jesus until “the end”.

What do you think? Send me an email, or let's schedule a time to talk.

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