Living in the Last Days: Biblical Insights

We face a moment where the world is changing dramatically and everything feels like it’s in flux.

There are wars, hunger, genocide, strange illnesses, earthquakes, floods, shifts in laws and order, and robots taking over human responsibilities.

Widespread apathy and ridicule, religious hypocrisy, and people’s growing indifference.

Given the current state of the global landscape, it’s natural to ponder if we’re in the midst of significant prophesied events.

Interestingly, the Bible foretells various occurrences that collectively serve as ‘the signs’ indicating that we are indeed in the midst of the last days.

In this article, we’ll look into the Bible’s insights on the last days.

Setting aside personal viewpoints, we focus on the scriptural perspective.

The Biblical Response

In the New Testament, Paul reflects on the arrival of “the end of the ages” nearly 2,000 years ago, both for himself and the brethren.

All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.

1 Corinthians 10:11

For two millennia, the faithful church has rooted its conviction in this expectation, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of this truth today.

Therefore, scripture has foretold many things that, together, help us identify this truth. Some of these are:

Large Scale War:

Jesus foretold, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”

The Bible also symbolically described a horseman taking peace from the earth in Revelation 6:4.

A concept that aligns with the current reality of about 9,000 nuclear warheads worldwide.

These warheads grant mankind the capability to endanger human life multiple times over.

The last days, if not curtailed by God’s intervention to save His creation—humanity would ultimately use such armaments to blast itself off the face of the earth.

Never before in history has technology been available to do that.

This clearly shows that we are approaching the return of Christ.

In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

Matthew 24:22

Famine:

Another sign the bible gives to us is famine.

The Bible, yet again, predicts food shortages through a symbolic horseman whose ride will result in famine on a large scale.

I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, ‘A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.’

Revelation 6:5b-6

The world is already witnessing food shortages and famine in different regions.

Countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are facing severe food crises, as well as Yemen, South Sudan, and parts of Afghanistan among others.

Conflict, economic instability, food insecurity, prolonged drought, and natural disasters all contribute to conditions that align with the Bible’s predictions of widespread famine.

Great Earthquakes and Diseases:

Jesus said in Luke 21:11, there will be widespread earthquakes causing immense suffering and loss of life.

Moreso, epidemics of severe diseases.

We’ve seen this evident in the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to impact global health.

As well as in outbreaks of the Ebola virus, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, monkeypox, and influenza, to name a few.

Deteriorating Attitudes, Breakdown of Families and Religious Hypocrisy:

In 2 Timothy 3:2-4, the Bible foretold that people will love only themselves and their money.

They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God.

Children would become increasingly disobedient to parents, and ungrateful.

Nothing will be considered sacred by them.

Unloving and unforgiving, they will slander others and lack self-control.

Cruelty will prevail, and they will show no interest in what is good.

Friends will be betrayed, recklessness will be common, and pride will be inflated.

Pleasure will be loved more than God.

There would be a form of religious hypocrisy, where individuals may outwardly appear to be godly but fail to genuinely live by God’s standards.

The intensity of these attitudes will escalate to the point that these times could rightly be described as “critical and challenging.”

Increased Prophetic Understanding and Global Preaching:

In “the time of the end,” as foretold in the book of Daniel, people will gain a significant increase in their knowledge of Bible truths.

This includes a precise understanding of these prophecies.

Furthermore, people will preach the gospel throughout the entire inhabited earth.

And the last days would be distinguished by the simultaneous fulfillment of all these prophecies.

When Will the World End?

Will the signs of the end of the age usher in Christ’s return?

Jesus said: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

He added that the timing of the end would be unexpected, “at an hour when you do not expect him”.

Despite the uncertainty of the exact timing, he outlined a set of events, that will signal the period before the end of the world.

The Bible refers to this era as “the time of the end,” “the end times,” and “the last days,” as discussed earlier.

The Next Big Thing

Jesus is coming back again…soon!

You probably must have heard this repeated claim of Jesus’s imminent return, and over the years, grown skeptical.

So is it all lies? Certainly not!

Christ tells His church that nothing will stop Him from coming back.

After living an exceptional life, sacrificing Himself for us, rising from the dead, and ascending to heaven to give His Spirit to the church, Jesus accomplished many significant acts.

The next major event in world history will be His return.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to figure out when this will happen.

And instead of making guesses or wild calculations, it advises us to “keep watch” and “be ready” since He will come at an unexpected time.

The uncertainty of Jesus’ return date should inspire us to live each day as if He could come back at any time.

We should remain vigilant, especially during these last days.

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

Revelation 22:12