But probably not for the reasons you might imagine.
Is it the End of Days?
Short answer : yes, but with a disclaimer. The fact of the matter is that NO ONE knows the exact year, month, week or day that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God and our Savior will return to gather His saints in what we commonly call "The Rapture".
EXCEPT GOD HIMSELF.
Matthew 24:36 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."
All of the predictions and guesses and estimations about the exact day and hour actually DISHONOR God. When we start attempting to predict the very thing God told us no one knows except He Himself, we are essentially saying God is a liar and not Sovereign. That though He declared the knowledge is His alone, we can somehow feret out that which He has declared He is keeping to Himself, as if we're smarter and more resourceful than He gives us credit for.
In fact, it shows that we are determined, like Lucifer himself was when he tried to usurp the throne of God, to prove that God isn't God and we can somehow seat ourselves on His throne of All Knowing Power.
We can't. We aren't. And we shouldn't try to be. BUT - we should be awake, alert, aware and able to read the signs, just like Jesus said we should.
Stop, meditate, think about what Jesus said in Matthew 24:36.
He said that His word will stand, what He has said will NEVER pass away even though heaven and earth may pass away. His word is more solid than the heavens and earth! His word will happen just exactly as He says it will. BY NO MEANS, will His word fail. NOTHING can cause His words to fail.
We can trust and count on and have complete faith in the words Jesus speaks!
And He tells us clearly that no one, not He Himself nor the angels know when the end will come and He will return to earth. God alone has that information.
If GOD, creator and master of the universe is holding that information classified, why do people think they can figure it out on their own?
SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED?
Again the short answer is yes! The signs and seasons are there to be read and understood and it is up to each of us individually to be ready for when Christ returns! If we are completely ignorant then we won't be the least bit prepared. And we are expected to be prepared. We are to be ready in an instant, for His return could happen at any instant!
Jesus tells to read the signs in Matthew 16: 2-3 "When it is evening you say 'it will be fair weather' for the sky is red; and in the morning 'it will be foul weather today for the sky is red and threatening'. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times".
Jesus often taught by sharing parables, or stories, so people could relate to and understand what He was trying to teach. Stories of fleshly action give us wisdom concerning spiritual matters. He did this eloquently when He taught using the story of the 10 Virgins awaiting the Bridegroom.
Matthew 25: 1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who
took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
He reveals as much as has been chosen to be revealed to us; as much as we need to know in order that we are not caught completely unawares. In fact, His instruction to us is to always be ready, always be expecting, always draw close to Him that we won't be left behind.
In John 10:10 Jesus tells us exactly what is happening.
The thief comes not but to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have LIFE and have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.
Only in Christ is our hope, our salvation, our blessed life now and our ETERNAL LIFE.
End of Days? Yes, it most certainly is indicative that the time draws near.
Concerned? Yes, but not worried; not when you are a blood bought child of the Living King!
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