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
Every time I hear someone talk about the end times it's talk of war and of natural disasters.
Thing is, we've had wars, possible wars, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, and hurricanes since before Jesus was born. How do we know these wars, these disasters, are the signs of the end? Of course, Jesus said we wouldn't. But he gave another hint. A hint it seems most people forget: the Gospel preached all over the world.
That's something new, something definitive. We can know when this has happened (or at least infer it, on available information). And it hasn't happened yet. There are still people - think of Africa, Asia, and South America - who do not know the Word. There are still missionaries determined to bring it to them. The Word is being spread even to the almost unknown parts of the world.
Maybe this will be fulfilled in our lifetime; maybe our children's or their children's. The only thing I'm reasonably certain of is that it will happen as Jesus foretold.
What then? The Rapture, Tribulations, Jesus coming down from heaven in all His Glory? I don't know. No one can. I do know I need to live my life as Christ-centered as I can. Because: And then the end will come.
