June 14: The Countdown (part 3)

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning or the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21

Jesus paraphrased from the book of Daniel here (12:1). The moment that His priestly role ends, He will stand up and the second (final) phase of the countdown to His quick return begins. It is during this time that chaos beyond anything we have seen so far will break out. Henceforth, there will be no “switching sides.” Like the shut, sealed door of the ark, those who are in are in and those who are out are out. The apostle John was given a solemn pronouncement by the angel which describes what Jesus referred to when He spoke of “the night . . . when no one can work” (John 9:4). The angel speaking to John said it this way:

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11

This second and final phase of the countdown will soon be upon us. But even the solemn statement above should give hope to anyone who recognizes in himself or herself any unbiblical ways, practices, words, or thoughts. The invitation to confess and forsake these ways is still open! You do the possible: come to Jesus in repentance. He will do the impossible: create in you a clean heart!

In recent decades, one of the most popular deceptions of the enemy is the idea that the church will be secretly swept up to heaven before the great tribulation. Satan knows that this is not so, and it is his hope that the time of trouble will destroy your faith. If you are unprepared to go through times of severe testing, you will fall for deceptive teachings. Resolve to untangle yourself from these through the study of God’s word. Take courage to face what is ahead. Faithfulness to the Savior is of infinite value. Buying into religious-sounding yet unbiblical schemes, or whatever pettiness this fallen world hurls in your direction will bring only ruin. There will indeed be living, breathing Christians walking this earth at the end of time (see 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:22