Hi folks, as you open the Word of God, we see that the Lord has given us clear signs so we might know the season of His coming. He said in Matthew 24 that we are to watch, for we do not know the day or the hour, but we can discern the times, just as we know summer is near when the fig tree puts forth its leaves.
These days, events in our own nation remind us that the Scriptures are not silent; they are speaking plainly.
Consider what we are seeing right now in the United Kingdom. A recent video shows a simple man trying to enter what was once a regular hotel, now used by the government to house those who have come seeking asylum. Security turns him away quickly: “It’s not a hotel anymore. Please leave.” Inside, one man shares he has been there for eleven years, eleven long years, with room, food, and provisions, all provided by the taxes of hardworking people here.
Meanwhile, many of our own citizens sleep on the streets, and the costs mount up into billions each year. The system is strained; backlogs mean some wait years for decisions, and the burden grows heavier on the nation.
We read in the news of plans moving forward for digital identification, mandatory in some ways, tied to work, services, and benefits. It begins small, perhaps, as a convenience to stop fraud or control borders, but it builds toward something larger.
Many see echoes of older ideas, where everything is tracked, and access depends on compliance.
Friends, this is not the mark of the beast spoken of in Revelation 13, not yet. That mark comes in the time of great tribulation, when a man will demand worship and control all buying and selling. But these things show us the spirit at work: a world moving toward central control, where freedoms we once took for granted may slip away.
The Bible tells us these are marks of the last days. In 2 Thessalonians 2, we read of a falling away, a departure from truth, and lawlessness increasing. In Matthew 24, nation rises against nation, famines, earthquakes, and yet, the gospel goes forth.
We see deception, wars, rumors of wars. And yes, even the economic pressures, the shifting of peoples, the drain on resources, these fit the picture of a world groaning, preparing for the time when the restrainer is removed and things accelerate swiftly.
But listen, child of God: do not be afraid. The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). These signs are not to trouble us but to comfort us. They say, “Your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). We who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture hold to the blessed hope: that before the wrath falls, Christ will call His church home. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
So what are we to do in these days?
First, stay in the Word. Let it dwell in you richly. Teach it to your children, verse by verse, so they know the whole counsel of God. Hide it in your heart that you might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).
Second, pray without ceasing, for our leaders, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives (1 Timothy 2:1-2); for wisdom as a father, especially with little ones who need extra care; for the remnant who stand firm.
Third, love your neighbour, even in hard times, speak truth with grace when you can, but guard your family. And fourth, look up. Do not let the world’s systems steal your peace. Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Saviour (Philippians 3:20).
The wheat and tares are being separated, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 13. God allows these things to reveal hearts, to call His people back to faithfulness. The world tightens its grip, but Jesus is coming soon. Perhaps today. Keep watching. Keep waiting. He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Maranatha, beloved. The Lord is near.
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