Are We Living in the End Times?
Are we living in the end times? Our generation is not alone in asking this question. Almost every significant catastrophe throughout history has provoked this question from Christians and non-Christians alike. Even the first generation of believers faced confusion over this matter.
The Christians in Thessalonica faced this dilemma. Paul addresses this question in 2 Thessalonians 2 and gives them (and us as well) encouragement to enable them to stand firm and not be shaken in their faith. These Christians had been told through various means that the day of the Lord had already come and that the persecution and trials they were experiencing in Thessalonica were actually part of God’s judgment. The implication was that they had missed the rapture (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and that they were now the recipients of God’s wrath.
Truly this would be a horrifying prospect. Paul addresses this crisis of faith by reviewing the big picture of how the day of the Lord would unfold prophetically. In this passage Paul doesn’t so much give a timeline of the end but he gives us an overview of events that will be part of the day of the Lord. He describes three major events that will be part of the day of the Lord. First, he reminds us that “the apostasy” will come. This is not just any falling away, which happens in every generation but a specific falling away from the faith that occurs in conjunction with the day of the Lord. This falling away is tied to or caused by the “man of lawlessness.” The arrival of this individual is the second major event that will be part of the day of the Lord. This man is the very personification of rebellion against God. He is called "the Beast” in Revelation 13 as well as the antichrist. The antichrist is not Satan but is empowered by Satan. He will appear in a messianic way and deceive people, even using signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9). Even though he will eventually set himself forward as a god to be worshipped (2 Thess. 2:4), people will still follow him. Finally, all of this will occur because God’s restraint will be removed. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 reminds us that though this world is fallen and Satan is at work, God is still in control and limits Satan’s activity. When the day of the Lord comes, that restraint will be removed. This itself will be part of the judgment of God on this world for those who have rejected Christ and chosen to love sin (2 Thess. 2:12). Again, Paul describes the day of the Lord like this to help us understand that we are not presently experiencing what he is describing. We do not have to fear that we have missed God’s salvation and that we are experiencing His wrath because as challenging as present times are, we are not living through anything like what the day of the Lord will be.
Paul makes clear one other aspect of the big picture of the end times that we must keep in mind. He reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 that when Christ returns, He will come in triumph and defeat the antichrist and all the forces of hell. Of that lawless one the Bible tells us that “the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” When Christ returns He will come triumphant. Romans 16:20 says it this way: “The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under our feet.” That’s the most important thing we need to remember about the end times. Jesus returns triumphantly and we will be with Him!
Therefore, we can stand firm. We don’t have to be shaken every time something happens in the world. We don’t have to be fearful because God has already told us the outcome. We can stand firm because our identity in Christ is secure. We are beloved by God and chosen by God (2 Thess. 2:13). We can stand firm in the truth of the Gospel.
Here are some practical suggestions on how to apply this. First, don’t get your eschatology from the internet. Just because someone has posted a video to YouTube or preached a sermon or written a book or delivered a podcast does not mean they are a reputable source. There are plenty of false teachers out there or those who seek to profit off of the fear of gullible people. Test everything you read/hear/see with Scripture (1 John 4:1).
Second, we can all be sensitive to the fears that people have in these days. Instead of getting caught in conversations about various conspiracies and end times predictions, point people to the hope of Christ. That’s what will bring hope to the people around us. When people ask us with legitimate concern if we are living in the end times we have a firm foundation and good hope to share.
If you would like to learn more, follow this link to our message on 2 Thessalonians 2.