Interesting Times
An expression we often hear – and probably we use ourselves from time to time is, “we live in interesting times.” It may depend on who we are saying this to, but it is a soft way to address what the Bible says will be the most horrendous time in human history.
To the Church in Philadelphia Christ said, “Because you have kept My commandment to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). It is generally understood that the “hour of trial” is a reference to the tribulation. For example, the Ryrie Study Bible notes, “A promise that believers will be delivered from the tribulation period that will come upon the entire earth.”
Again, Christ pulled no punches in describing the severity of this time which will come on the whole world. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved …” (Matthew 24:21-22).
In our thinking regarding this present world, we need more than to just have our curiosity aroused [interesting]. We need our spiritual perspective to be hot.
These end time events are for a godly purpose. It is about bringing people to the knowledge of God’s existence and purpose for creating man in the first place. As God said through Zechariah, “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’: and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God’” (Zechariah 13:9).
It will take the heat of the tribulation to bring stubborn man to this point of acceptance.
However, it should not be so for us. We know about these events, we know the time in which we live, we know that time is short, we know that spiritual growth does not happen quickly. We know to act now to be ready – to persevere. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).
It has been a time of national Thanksgiving in the U.S. this week. We can all be very thankful for the knowledge God has graciously granted to us of His plan and purpose. Let that thankfulness motivate us to spiritual action.
Brian Orchard
