If I were to poll this community on which Bible topics most interest them, I’m guessing that the doctrine of end times would be tops on that poll. For most folks, that doctrine is so intriguing because there’s so much mystery surrounding it and because it’s going to be the climax of the drama of history. The Day of the Lord is going to come, the day of Jesus’s return. That’s when the hero comes to save the day, when Jesus bursts in and lays all the bad guys low, and when everything is set right and gets better.

But a proper understanding of the end times tells us that it’s going to get worse before it gets better. In fact, it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul tells us something awful must happen first before Jesus returns for the Day of the Lord. He says the apostasy must happen. Apostasy means to abandon your previous position, your previous loyalty. It’s to defect to the other side. When the apostasy comes, it will be a great, identifiable, and unique abandonment of the Christian faith. It will be a worldwide rebellion against God.

And this apostasy will be led by a human figure whom Paul calls “the man of lawlessness.” Elsewhere in the New Testament, he is called the final Antichrist and the Beast. He will be a world government leader who will be under the power of Satan. He will exalt himself to a position of highest praise and call on people to worship him as god.

And to gain the worship, that loyalty He will desire, he will use many means of attraction that lure people away in the great apostasy, even signs and wonders. But he’ll also use coercion and force. There will be a great tribulation upon the people of faith, leading to further apostasy. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will deceive many. And because lawlessness is multiplied, most people’s love will grow cold… For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

Beloved, I don’t know all of the exact details. I just know that according to the Word of God, it’s going to get better, but it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. And the one who endures to the end will be saved. Are you ready? May you cling to Jesus and never let go, no matter how difficult it gets. He’s your only hope.

Change begins in you!