7 Ways to Respond During the End Times

We live in a period where the world is becoming worse instead of better. We also live in a time where the arrival of a New World Order is very near and the arrival of the antichrist & beast system could be imminent.
1 John 4:3 says that “… the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

Therefore during such times, it can be easy to worry, fear and be discouraged as we witness the events in this world go on from bad to worse.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns that the end times will be a difficult and evil era in the world because humanity will increase in wickedness.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 says: But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

In the Bible, we are warned about the coming of the Antichrist and the arrival of the mark of the beast and the turmoil that will precede the Antichrist’s arrival. We are also warned about the great tribulation that will occur during the Antichrist’s temporary reign on Earth (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-18).

In Matthew 24:1-51 and Luke 21:5-36 Christ prophesied about the end times and He warned people about various events and tribulations that would unfold and precede His second coming.
However, Jesus not only gave us warnings about the end times, but He also gave us advice and guidelines as to how we should respond during these end time events.

So based on the end time prophecies spoken by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:1-51 and Luke 21:5-36, below are 7 Ways to Respond During the End Times…

 

1. Do Not Be Led Astray (Matthew 24:4; Luke 21:8)
The end times is a period where massive global deception will increase. The deception will occur spiritually, socially, culturally and even psychologically.
Matthew 24:4 says: And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.”

When speaking about the arrival of the man of lawlessness or antichrist, Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 that the coming of the antichrist will be “by the activity of satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Therefore global deception will be very dominant during the end times, hence why Jesus says that we should not be led astray. Instead we should exercise good Biblical judgment and spiritual discernment.

 

2. Do Not Be Alarmed or Terrified (Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:8)
During the end times, the genuine Christian believer should not be afraid or live in constant anxiety. Christians should not be surprised by the events occurring in the last days because the Bible has already revealed that such things must happen before Jesus Christ can return.

In Matthew 24:6 Jesus says: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”

 

3. Learn to Endure (Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:19)
Because the end times will be filled with difficult problems and tribulations, Jesus encourages Christians to learn to endure the tribulations and to stand strong in Him.

In Matthew 24:13 Jesus says: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

In Luke 21:19 Jesus says: “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

Endurance means: to suffer, withstand or sustain something unpleasant, difficult or painful

James 1:2-4 NLT says: Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Therefore endurance during a time of tribulation or persecution is godly thing.

 

4. Be Attentive & Ready for the Coming of Christ (Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:42-44)
The end times do not only reveal the coming of the antichrist and the mark of the beast. However, the end times are a sign that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is very near. Therefore Christians must be attentive and ready because Jesus Christ will appear when we least expect it.

In Matthew 24:42,44 Jesus says: “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming… Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

In Luke 21:28 Jesus says: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Only Jesus Christ can bring an end to all the tribulations that are occurring in this world and only He alone can offer redemption and salvation to those who truly seek Him.

 

5. Beware of the Temptations and Cares of this Life (Luke 21:34; Matthew 24:38-39)
The world offers us temptations and temporary things that can hinder us from genuinely knowing God or seeking after Christ. Therefore during the end times, the temporary cares of this life and the desire to be accepted by the world can also prevent us from being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.

In Luke 21:34-36 Jesus says: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.  35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.”

In Matthew 24:38-39 Jesus says: “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,  39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

 

6. Be Watchful and Pray (Luke 21:36)
Discernment and prayer are very important, especially during the end times. There will be a rise in spiritual deception during this time (Matthew 24:24), plus a rise in global deception (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11) and the wickedness of man in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This necessitates the need to be more prayerful and exercise spiritual discernment during the end times.

In Luke 21:36 Jesus says: “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Therefore according to Jesus, prayer and discernment gives us strength to endure and escape the terrible things that will be happening during the end times.

 

7. Remain Faithful to God (Matthew 24:45-51)
During the end times it is important to remain faithful to God and to remain obedient to His word. Why? It’s because during the end times, man’s faithfulness to God and His word will be tested. People will be made to choose between God and the things of this world.

The Bible says that many people will depart from the true faith and instead fall into worldly and demonic deceptions.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 says: Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

Therefore no matter how difficult and tempting things many become during the end times, Christ calls us to remain faithful to God and His word and to anticipate His return to Earth.

 

The End Times is an Opportunity to Know and Preach the Gospel of Christ

Even though the spirit of the antichrist is already in the world according to 1 John 4:3, Christians must nevertheless continue to preach the true Gospel.
Jesus said that He will return again but this time to judge and rule the Earth. Therefore during the end times it is more important than ever for Christians to evangelize and share the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 says: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

We are all sinners who have sinned against a holy and righteous God. All sin requires punishment and death, because the Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

We cannot pay the debt or atone for our sins by our own works of righteousness. Therefore we need a perfect Saviour. We need someone who is perfect who can pay the debt or atone for our sins on our behalf (1 John 2:2).

Our salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus the Son of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Christ died on the cross to save humanity from sin. Through His blood, He paid our debt for sin which we cannot pay by our own works. He bore our sins on the cross so that if we believe and receive Him through faith as Lord and Saviour, then we become born again and escape eternal punishment.

John 3:16-18 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.  18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Therefore the Gospel message and the imminent return of Jesus Christ is the most important message that people need to hear during the end times.

Jesus Christ proclaimed and warned that He is returning. Are you ready?