ALL THREE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS record Jesus’ prophetic statements opening the beginning of end-times events. There will be a sudden unmistakable paroxysm of agony affecting the entire world. He says, “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive.” (Matt. 24:21-22) Mark and Matthew both quote Isaiah for the next events: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Isa. 13:10, 34:4; Mark 13:24-25, Matt. 24:29)

This is eschatologically significant in respect to the judgments that befall the earth. These same events are described in the Book of Revelation by John. “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth.” (Rev. 6:12-13) At this time, even the mighty of the earth will try to hide from “the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev. 6:16-17)

We should ask ourselves who can withstand these times; how we can personally endure such events. These will be long days of incredible anxiety and hopelessness. Water, food, shelter, medical services and medication, and personal safety—the most basic of necessities—will be at best intermittently available. All norms of culture, all societal and national resources, all of the primary and secondary infrastructures that connect mankind in its various activities—these will be strained past their breaking point. The threat level will appear to be, and in fact will be, existential; people will be aghast at the overwhelming odds against survival—except for Christians. At just the right point in this cataclysmic tension, pre-ordained by the mercy of God towards those who believe, Jesus will appear. “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” (Mark 13:26-27)

Paul also speaks of this future event. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed.” (2 Thess. 2:1) He advises his audience—and us—to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior.” (Tit. 2:12-13) These are heartening and encouraging words to those who are prone to anxiety, which is all of us depending upon the pressures within the trials that we face.

Perhaps, as we view the world around us with discouragement and distaste, we pray for a hastening of the Day of the Lord. The prophet Amos warns, “Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.” (Amos 5:18-19) We are both drawn to the time when the Lord will return and righteousness will begin and hope is realized, and cautioned about living in that time, when the motivations of our hearts and the works of our hands will encounter great trials.

The Lord’s voice is sobering; he warns “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:32-33) He gives the example of a master who has left his servants in charge of the house, they not knowing when the master will return, and says “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:36-37) Matthew’s gospel adds, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (Matt. 24:45-46)

Come he will, and both the faithful and the unfaithful will be subject to the master’s scrutiny and judgment. The unfaithful servant he will “cut to pieces and assign a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:51) Not so the faithful servant, who lives in expectant hope. In Luke, inferring a future time of judgment, Jesus says, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” (Luke 18:7-8a) But then he adds, pensively, and we are warned, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)

Paul also cautions us: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12) When Jesus returns, he “will come down from heaven, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

Q. Am I faithful in the hard times; will I be faithful in the hardest time?