What will happen in the last days?
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 (Read Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21)
What will it be like in the last days? While many speculate and come up with fantastic stories, we ought rather listen to Christ Himself to learn what will happen.
When Jesus’ disciples pointed out to Him the huge stones and the beauty of the Jerusalem temple, Jesus told them that the days were coming when not one stone would be left upon another.
When they asked Him further about when this would happen and when Christ would come and the world would end, Jesus pointed out to them that many deceivers and false prophets would come, even claiming themselves to be the Christ. His disciples were not to believe them or follow them.
They would hear of wars and threats of wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes, famines, diseases. Jesus said not to be troubled. These are only the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus’ own disciples would be persecuted and betrayed, hated of all nations, and killed.
The judgment prophesied against Jerusalem would come to pass, and the temple would be cast down and destroyed (cf. Luke 19:41-44) - an event which was literally fulfilled when the Roman armies under Titus surrounded and destroyed the city in 70 A.D.
Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14; cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 13:10; 16:15-16). And that too has happened, with the Gospel of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus being proclaimed around the world, beginning with the witness of His apostles and continuing until this day.
“And, then shall the end come.” Once the Gospel has been preached in all of the world and the last of God’s elect comes to faith in Jesus as Savior, the end will come (cf. 2 Peter 3:9-10). Then there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. Then the powers of the heavens shall be shaken and all the tribes of the earth will “see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30; cf. Rev. 1:7; Acts 1:11).
Those who have placed their faith in Him will lift up their heads and rejoice at His coming. Those who neglect and refuse to believe the Gospel will mourn when they see Him because they did not repent and believe on their Savior and are condemned to the everlasting punishment prepared for the devil and his evil angels.
Dearest Lord Jesus, we thank You for dying in our stead and winning for us pardon for all our sins and the everlasting joys of heaven. Graciously keep us in the true and saving Faith unto life everlasting, for the sake of Your shed blood. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll, Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]
For the Record, Pages 4 on 11/17/2010