How will the world end?

Discerning the Signs of the Times

Hitchcock continues:

Have you ever wondered if events we see in our world today could be signs of end-time events? Do the daily headlines foreshadow what’s coming in the future? There are two extremes on this issue. Some engage in reckless speculation and see every headline as a sign of the times. The worst form of this is setting dates for Christ’s coming. The other extreme is scoffing at the idea of signs of the times and ignoring them altogether. The mediating position lies between these two extremes. Hitchcock sets forth several significant signs of the times that point toward what the Bible predicts for the future. These signs are like runway lights that are lighting up as the coming of Christ approaches.

The Coming Time of Tribulation

“While there is a great deal that’s positive and hopeful about the future for God’s people, there is also a dark side that we can’t gloss over if we are faithful to God’s Word,” advises Hitchcock. “The Bible describes a time of great tribulation that is coming upon this world in the end times – a time unlike anything the world has ever experienced.” Hitchcock believes that God’s people will be raptured to heaven before this time of tribulation begins. “However,” he notes, “God has told us about it beforehand, even though we won’t be here, because we are His friends, and He wants us to know what lies ahead so we are moved to pray for our world and faithfully witness for Him.”

Antichrist Rising

“The Bible tell us that a final world ruler is coming who will control the world economically, spiritually and politically,” says Hitchcock. “He will be the future, final opponent of Jesus Christ. He will rise during the Tribulation to dominate the world. As important and interesting as it is to know about the character and course of the coming Antichrist, it’s essential to remember that the teaching about the Antichrist was not given to make us anxious but to make us aware. God has revealed this information to us not so we become preoccupied with the Antichrist or recklessly speculate about his identity, but to show us where this world is headed and to assure us that God is in control. Our awareness of God’s final victory over the Antichrist and evil assures believers that both the present and the future are firmly in God’s grasp.”

The March to Armageddon

“People everywhere have heard the word ‘Armageddon,’ but few probably know what it means,” writes Hitchcock. “In our culture it’s come to mean any terrible cataclysm, or is a catchword for the end of the world. Armageddon is a real place in northern Israel where the Bible says the nations of the earth will gather for one final death struggle at the end of days. Hundreds of millions will be involved in a gigantic world power struggle centered in Israel. Even now, the world is moving toward this final war. The nations are taking their predicted places. The escalating Middle East crisis is setting the stage and beginning the buildup. The world is rushing to Armageddon!”

Making Sense of the Millennium

“The word millennium means one thousand years,” continues Hitchcock. “The Millennium is the one-thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. All believers agree that Jesus is the King and that He rules over His kingdom. But there is disagreement over how Jesus rules and when He will rule. There are three main views of the nature and timing of the millennial reign of Christ. Mark Hitchcock presents each of these views, gives reasons why people hold them, and then provides six reasons why he favors the premillennial view. Understanding these views and coming to one for yourself will help you understand where we are on God’s prophetic calendar and make sense of what’s happening today.”