End Times Signs: A Call to Hope, Not Fear

Introduction: The Fascination and Fear of the End

Wars and rumors of wars. Famines and earthquakes. Nations in turmoil. For centuries, every time a new global crisis erupts, many people—both inside and outside the church—begin to wonder: "Is this it? Are these the signs of the end of the world?" The topic of end-times signs has always held a powerful fascination, often accompanied by a great deal of fear, speculation, and sensationalism. Newspaper headlines are scanned for prophetic fulfillment, and complex charts are created to predict the timing of Christ's return.

But what was Jesus' original intent when he spoke about these signs? Was it to give us a secret code to predict the future or to fuel our anxiety? Absolutely not. When Jesus taught his disciples about the "signs of the times" in passages like Matthew 24, his goal was to prepare them, not to scare them. He gave them these signs not so they could build a timeline, but so they could cultivate a specific heart posture: one of steadfast endurance, sober-minded readiness, and joyful hope. This article will explore Jesus' own teaching on the signs of the end, aiming to rescue the topic from the realm of fear and speculation and restore it to its rightful place as a source of profound comfort and motivation for the believer.

The Olivet Discourse: Jesus' Main Teaching (Matthew 24)

Jesus' most extensive teaching on the end times is found in what is known as the Olivet Discourse, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. As he sat with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, they asked him, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). Jesus' answer is complex, and it's crucial to understand that he appears to be speaking about two events simultaneously: the impending destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (which happened in A.D. 70) and his ultimate, final return at the end of history. The signs for the former serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of the signs for the latter.

The "Beginning of Birth Pains"

Jesus begins by warning his disciples not to be alarmed by certain events, because they are not the end itself, but merely the "beginning of birth pains" (Matthew 24:8). This is a vital analogy. Birth pains are a sign that a baby is coming, but they are not the baby itself. They also increase in frequency and intensity as the birth draws nearer. Jesus lists several of these "signs":

• False Messiahs: "Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many."
• Wars and Rumors of Wars: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."
• Natural Disasters: "There will be famines and earthquakes in various places."
• Persecution: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."
• Apostasy and False Prophets: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."

Jesus' primary instruction regarding these signs is "do not be alarmed." He is telling his followers to expect these things. The presence of war, disaster, and persecution is not a sign that God has lost control; it is a confirmation that we are living in the "last days"—the period between Christ's first and second comings. These events have characterized every century of church history, reminding each generation to live in a state of readiness.

The One Definitive Sign: The Preaching of the Gospel

Amidst all the general signs, Jesus gives one specific sign that must be fulfilled before the end can come:

"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

This is the church's great missional mandate. The primary sign we should be looking for is not a political event in the Middle East, but the progress of the Gospel among unreached people groups. This shifts our focus from passive, fearful speculation to active, hopeful participation. Our job is not to predict the end, but to proclaim the Gospel and thereby help to bring about the end. This gives the church a clear and urgent purpose in every generation.

The Abomination of Desolation and the Great Tribulation

Jesus speaks of a future time of unparalleled distress, quoting the prophet Daniel: "So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’... then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:15, 21).

The interpretation of this sign is a key point of divergence among different eschatological views.

• For Premillennialists, this often refers to a future seven-year period known as the Tribulation, during which a world ruler, the Antichrist, will rise to power and ultimately desecrate a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, demanding worship.
• For others, this prophecy had its primary fulfillment in the events leading up to A.D. 70, when the Roman armies besieged and destroyed Jerusalem and its temple. They see this historical event as a pattern for the kind of tribulation and persecution the church will face, in varying degrees, throughout the church age.

Regardless of the specific timing, Jesus' point is to warn his followers that there will be times of intense suffering and persecution, and they must endure in faith.

Conclusion: Watchful, Working, and Waiting with Hope

The biblical teaching on the signs of the times is not meant to be a roadmap for predicting the future, but a compass for navigating the present. Jesus did not give us these signs so we could be panicked speculators, but so we could be prepared and purposeful servants. Our response to these signs should be threefold:

1. We should be Sober, not Scared. Jesus told us to expect these things. When we see wars, natural disasters, and moral decay, we should not be surprised or fearful. We should see them as reminders that this world is not our home and that our King's return is drawing nearer. They confirm the truth of Scripture, rather than undermining it.
2. We should be Ready, not Lazy. The unknown timing of Christ's return is a call to holiness and readiness. We are to live each day as if it could be our last, living in obedience to God, loving others, and stewarding our time and resources well. As Jesus warned, we must be like the wise servants who are found working faithfully when the master returns.
3. We should be Missional, not Insular. The clearest sign of the end is the proclamation of the Gospel to all nations. This gives us our primary task. Instead of retreating from a chaotic world into a holy huddle, we are called to go into it as ambassadors of hope, sharing the good news that the King is coming and that all who turn to Him can be saved.

Ultimately, the signs of the times are signposts of hope. They are the birth pains that precede a glorious new birth. They remind us that history is not a random, meaningless cycle, but a story that is heading toward a beautiful and guaranteed conclusion: the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to wipe away every tear, to right every wrong, and to establish His kingdom of perfect peace and justice forever. This is our blessed hope, and it gives us the courage and purpose to live for Him today.