Is the End Near?预览

Jesus’ Teaching on the End Times

Ever since Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, His followers have been asking, “Are we approaching the End Times? When will the Lord Jesus return?” His disciples were as curious about the End Times as we are today. And Jesus had much to say about the closing days of human history.

We must go to the disciples’ questions and our Lord’s replies to answer these questions. In Matthew 24, we find the Lord’s answer to His disciples on Mount Olivet (or the Mount of Olives), in a sermon known as the Olivet Discourse:

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”

—Matthew 24:1-14

To him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations.—Revelation 2:26

The end of all things is near. Therefore be solemn and sober so you can pray. –1 Peter 4:7

He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the spring of the water of life to him who thirsts.—Revelation 21:6