Biblical Reasons to Not Be Afraid If We’re in the End Times

5 Biblical Reasons to Not Be Afraid If We’re in the End Times
 
Even if we are in the end times, as Christians we anticipate a glorious future. Here are five biblical reasons to not live in fear of end times, but rather embrace the privilege of sharing your faith and welcoming redemption.
https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/end-times/biblical-reasons-to-not-be-afraid-if-were-in-the-end-times.html?utm_source=Daily%20Update&utm_campaign=Crosswalk%20Daily%20Update&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3499467&bcid=f46f24aeecbe04625b35030346497868&recip=551733111%20
 
5 Biblical Reasons to Not Be Afraid If We’re in the End Times
Clarence L. Haynes Jr.
Contributing Writer

5 Biblical Reasons to Not Be Afraid If We’re in the End Times
When the topic of the end times or last days comes up, many people respond with fear. I get it. When you read the events that will occur leading up to the second coming of Christ there is reason to fear, if you are on the wrong side. By the way, if you are in Christ you are not on the wrong side. That’s why you don’t need to be afraid.

In fact, you can look at these signs with great hope and expectation.

If you have looked at end times events through the lens of fear, then I want you to stop doing that. I want you to switch your thinking today...and change the way you look at end times events. I want to line up your faith and hope with the promise of Scripture. So let’s get started, because, I know you'd like some good news today. Here are five biblical reasons you can hold on to so you don’t have to be afraid about the end times:

 1. Your Redemption Is Drawing Closer
When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. – Luke 21:28 

In this chapter in Luke, Jesus is describing the destruction of the temple and what will happen during the end times. After describing these things, he then proceeds to remind you of what your response should be. Not heads down, but heads up.

In other words, Jesus is saying when these things begin to happen look for me...because I am coming soon. Your fear should be replaced by anticipation because your salvation is drawing closer. Isn’t that reason to rejoice?

Jesus is encouraging you not to be afraid. Remember, you are on his side. And sneak peek to the end of the story, Jesus wins. Because he wins, you win—so don’t be afraid. When you see the signs, that means his coming is getting closer so lift up your head and rejoice.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. – Romans 13:11 (emphasis added)

2. You Should Be Encouraging Yourself and Others
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

In this passage, Paul is describing what is commonly known as the rapture of the church. The verse I want you to pay close attention to is verse 18. What does Paul instruct the church to do? Encourage each other with these words.

It feels like there was a time in the church when we lived with the expectation and hope of Jesus’ return. I don’t know if that still exists today, but regardless, we need to look at the end times and the expectation of Christ’s return as a means of encouraging each other. When Jesus comes back, every wrong thing will be made right and every broken thing will be made well. That's something we can all look forward to. 

The world might be crazy right now, but I know it won’t always be that way...because Jesus is coming. This is not something to be afraid of, but something that can encourage you and someone else.

3. You Have Work to Do
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 24:14

Knowing that we are living in the end times, this is not the time to shrink back. There is still something called the Great Commission—our responsibility to preach the gospel and make disciples. If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid for those who don’t know Jesus, because their end is different than yours. This should compel us to want to share the love and hope of Jesus to those who don’t know him.

This will not be easy work, especially as the love of many grow cold in our society, but this is necessary work. How else will they know unless we tell them? Let’s be committed to the cause of Christ and even more so as we see the day approaching. I challenge you (and myself) to be true salt and light to a world that needs it. Let’s be godly examples in our homes, communities, and places of work. The very fact we know the signs should motivate us to action.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – 1 Corinthians 15:58

4. You Are Closer to Seeing Jesus
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. – 1 John 3:2-3

One of the awesome things about when Jesus returns is that we will see him. Isn’t that what Christianity is all about? Seeing our wonderful savior! The one who loved us so much that he suffered, died, and rose again for our redemption. In that moment, your faith and all that you have believed will become sight. One of the great beauties of it all is that we get to see him just as he is. That means in all of his glory and splendor. I know you may have experienced the presence of God before, but never like this.

This alone, my friend, is reason for hope and reason for excitement. Don’t fear his coming, long for it. What an awesome day that will be. In fact, there is this old song we used to sing which sums it up best:

What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see

When I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace

When He takes me by the hand
And leads me to the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=JjdpXBzcCh8&feature=emb_logo

5. You Are Closer to Your Eternal Home
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. – Revelation 22:1-5; Revelation 22:14

There is so much I could say, but I just want to say one thing to you…wow! On that day you and I will no longer be victims to the curse of sin which will be gone forever. We get to enjoy God’s presence forever and ever. This is the ultimate hope and destination of your faith in Christ. I implore you to cling to this hope. And as you see the signs of the end times rejoice—because your salvation is truly at hand.

I hope you are finishing this article more encouraged than when you started. The end times and the second coming of Christ are awesome events. My prayer for you is that they would motivate you to be everything that God wants you to be until he comes. Let Paul’s words be yours:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Biletskiy Evgeniy

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, author, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book, The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.