Sunday after Ascension (1 June 2025)

We read in 1 Peter 4:7, “the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer”. Today I would like to meditate on what ‘The End’ means in this verse. Today, sermons about the end are very popular. Some say we are in tribulation period and the second or third trumpet mentioned in Revelation are already blown.

On Ascension Day, we meditated about the second coming of Jesus with Biblical evidence. According to our Holy Bible and Christian faith, Jesus will come and as a bridegroom to receive the church during rapture and as a king to Jews during second coming. According to prophet Isaiah 57:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 and 17, rapture will happen before tribulation.

In continuation, today let us meditate about end day signs according to Jesus’ words and the Holy Bible. John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Jesus. He preached saying, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus also preached saying, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. 2000 years ago, both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. When we hear this, we have a question within us ‘when will the end come?’ The disciples of Jesus also had the same question in their minds. In Matthew 24: 3 we read they asked Jesus about the signs to identify the end time. Jesus did not give a clear answer to their ‘when’ question. He said in verse 36: “of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” However, Jesus gave a detailed answer to the ‘what’ question. His response is in the same chapter from verse 4. Specifically, He says about the signs of the end days in Matthew 24 from verses 4 to 14. Some of the signs and cautions that Jesus mentioned are

1)       Take heed that no man deceive you

2)       Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars

3)       There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes

4)       They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you

5)       Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake

Today, we can see most of these signs happening around us. False teachers and prophets have increased in number. They are deceiving the people with their false doctrine. There are people who call themselves as Christ and deceive the people. In Matthew 7:15 Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” The false preachers do not preach a completely wrong doctrine. Instead, their teachings are very attractive and polished. It is very difficult to differentiate a 2% wrong doctrine when presented with a 98% Biblical truth. Although provided in small doses, the soul is corrupted over a period of time because of these incorrect teachings. We have to be careful about these false prophets and preachers. Jesus didn’t shop with cautioning us about false prophets and preachers. In Matthew 7:16-18 he told us how to identify them: “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” We are called to be vigilant about the preachers and their preachings. We are called to identify the false prophets and preachers through their words and actions that do not align with their teachings.

We have had two world wars, war among nations and many civil wars within the countries. We read news about the possibility of a third world war. We were in lockdown because of a pandemic a couple of years back. Still COVID virus and other infections are troubling the world. We hear about famines in other countries. In many countries, Christians are facing persecution because of their faith. We do not know when we will lose the freedom to worship in our country. However, in Matthew 24:8 Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows”. 

So when will the end be? We have the answer in Matthew 24:14: “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”. We do not know when that will be except the Father in heaven. 

In Matthew 24: 37-39, Jesus compares the end days to Noah’s period. During Noah’s time, wickedness increased in the world. God commanded Noah to build an ark. Noah simply trusted and obeyed God. Noah and his work would have looked like madness to the people of the world. They would have mocked and made fun of him. But before the flood and destruction, God shut Noah and his family in the ark. Noah and his family were saved. They were saved because Noah obeyed God. In the same way, we are called to obey and trust in God and follow all of His commandments. What we do and our faith may seem to make no sense to others but our foundation should be on the solid rock Jesus Christ. We may be mocked and hated for our faith, but we will be the bride ready to meet the bridegroom. Just as God sealed Noah’s ark before the flood, the Church will be raptured before the tribulation period begins. If we follow the commandments set for us, we do not have to worry about the tribulation because we will be with Jesus during antichrist reign. 

Bible talks about two tribulations. One is tribulation in our day-to-day life. Another one is  the tribulation during antichrist’s period. In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus has lived His life as an example for us to follow to overcome earthly tribulation. Our goal is to be ready to meet Him as the bride. If we endure to the end, we will be saved from the Tribulation period.  The only way to overcome the world is to watch and pray. As 1 Peter 4:7 says, “the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer”. Let us receive the Comforter Holy Spirit who will guide us in all things and watch unto prayer. Amen!