Earth’s Prophesied End

"Hoping for the best but expecting the worst…" this is how the crisis makes us all feel. Is it the beginning of the end?The world has seen crisis before, has seen times of prosperity and of economical decline. But what is it that individualizes the times of the end? In his description of apocalyptic times, Daniel the prophet sees 4 beasts rising but the last one marks the end of the world as we know it now.

"So different and much more terrifying "are the words used by the prophet Daniel to describe the last beast. What do they mean? "What was the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place of three of the others-the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and seemed greater than the others."

"I was told by the one standing there: "The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom to appear on earth. It will be different from all the others - it will trample the earth and crush it to pieces. All ten of those horns are kings who will come from this kingdom, and one more will follow. This horn will be different from the others, and it will conquer three other kings. "This king will speak evil of God Most High, and he will be cruel to God's chosen ones. He will try to change God's Law and the sacred seasons. And he will be able to do this for a time, two times, and half a time. But he will finally be judged, and his kingdom completely destroyed.

"Then the greatest kingdom of all will be given to the chosen ones of God Most High. His kingdom will be eternal, and all others will serve and obey HIM."

So, after reading this prophecy three characteristics of the last horn become clear:
He will speak evil of God Most High
He will be cruel to God's chosen ones
He will try to change God's Law
Although, he will cruelly persecute Christians and he will succeed in that for a limited period - a time, two times, and half a time - it is not him that will win the final battle. Jesus Christ will come as King and Judge on the clouds of Heaven as He promised and will end this time of great tribulation.

In the book of Mathew, Jesus describes the end using the following words: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. 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. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 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. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 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. " Mathew 24:4-14

Are we living those times today? Well…it is a pretty clear picture of what we go through. However, as Christians we all need to examine ourselves, we need to deepen our relationship with God so that we would stand firm to the end the day when God comes.

Another concern for most Christians is the issue of legalism. If we do the things we do for Christ from a mere feeling of duty or in an attempt to "gain some favor" from God, it is time to realize that love and only love is what God is pleased with. For instance, if you don’t cheat on your spouse because you’re afraid you’ll get caught and not because you love her/him, than I’m afraid there’s a domination-control situation and not love. Serving God out of love and not in a spirit of legalism are two concepts that make an immense difference once we realize how strong we’ve been held captive in a religious system and we did not really know Christ as He is.

Do you know God? Have you met Jesus Christ? If not, make it a priority…we never know if tomorrow is ours!
By Claudia Miclaus
Published: 5/4/2009