Fascination with the End Times
The end times has fascinated me since I was twelve years old. Beginning with the Thief in the Night movie series by Mark IV in the 1970’s, I viewed every end times themed film that I could find. Since there are thousands of Christian books, documentaries and movies about the end times, other people must share my fascination. I have watched over 35 movies about the end times on Amazon Prime alone! There’s no doubt that the end times fascinate me. But God has given me more than a fascination. He has given me a true desire to understand the purpose of Bible prophecy.
Studying Man’s Ideas
I began seriously studying really studying the end times when I was a teenager. I have spent a couple of months most years in focused Bible study on the topic. Each time I saw a new scholarly study on the topic, I hoped they would clear things up. I dug in, convinced that this author or commentator had finally broken the code. By the time I was in my thirties, I was dismayed that well-meaning, well-educated theologians and Bible scholars have so many different interpretations of the same God-breathed words. Those teachers who were most confident that they had figured it out were often ungracious toward others. The more I studied what others had to say about the topic, the more confused I became. Why is the revelation of Jesus Christ to the churches such a mystery to modern-day Christendom?
A Commitment to Study God’s Word
I began listing my questions in a journal.
- If there is a pre-tribulation rapture, what are the first and second resurrections described in Revelation 20?
- What is it about the study of the end times that compels us to figure out a timeline and sequence of events?
- Is what seems like apocalyptic prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments already history fulfilled during the early years of the Church?
- Why did the Lord fill the Scriptures with chapters and individual verses about the Millennial reign, the resurrection of the dead, the Second Coming of Christ, the New Jerusalem?
I committed to only look to the Lord for answers through prayer and study of the Bible. No commentaries or other resources.
Beginning to Understand Bible Prophecy
The answers to my questions run throughout the Bible. It’s not just in Daniel, Revelation and the Matthew 24. How cool is that! Why did God devote so much of His Word to this topic? Second Timothy 3:16-17 answers the question.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
These verses instruct us to study the end times passages for training, growth and good works. I chose to study for this purpose rather than to determine a date or a sequence of events. With this focus, I began to see all the commands that fill the end times passages. Since we know these end times events are going to happen, Peter instructs us to be holy and blameless, living peaceful lives while we wait (2 Peter 3:11-14). As Jesus shared about the signs of the end with His closest disciples, repeatedly He instructed them to be alert, to watch out, to endure, not to panic – Mark 13:5-34 records 18 commands like this.
Desire to Understand Bible Prophecy
How are we doing? Do we spend our time being entertained by the end times? Do we study what others are teaching? Or do we dive into the full Word of God on this topic?
My prayer is that as we study, we will gain a biblical perspective of why God has revealed all this to us. I pray that we will apply it to our lives. May we be more interested in being ready to be the bride of Christ than we are in figuring out the timeline. May we have a true desire to understand the purpose of Bible Prophecy!
Adapted from End Times Preppers Devotionals by Lisa Gallington.
Lisa Gallington has been studying the Word since she was 12 years old, with a special interest in end times prophecy. She has a passion for preparing the Church and everyone she comes in contact with for the return of Christ. She leads women’s ministry at her church and teaches a Bible study, often connecting the studies to end times prophecies and prophetic headlines. She has authored several books including End Times Preppers Devotionals and the accompanying End Times Preppers Bible Study and Foundation of Faith: Hebrews 11.
