Hope in God

The Christian faith is one of hope. The Bible reveals in advance to believers that their destiny is going to be glorious. They will receive a new body that can never decay or die again. They can also look forward to a new Heaven and a new Earth, where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain. Above all, they will see the glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ in the new Jerusalem, the Holy City where the great street is laid with gold and the walls are made of precious stones.

This is the hope we have in God who will bring all these promises to pass. But before that happens, the Bible describes a series of events that must soon take place. They concern the end of the world. They are highlighted here so that we will not lose hope when drastic world events begin to happen.

First, it is the 7 years of terrible time on earth. This is called the Great Tribulation. During this period, there will be widespread chaos, disasters, sufferings and death on the earth. Thousands of millions of people will die from famine, war, diseases, wild beasts, earthquakes and from the judgement of God.

In the middle of the 7 years, a tyrant called the Anti-christ will also rise to power. He is empowered by Satan and assisted by a false prophet. He will rule the earth cruelly and force everyone to worship him. Those who do not obey him, he will kill with the swords or take them into captivity.

He will also force everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or forehead. Without this mark, which is a symbol of submission and allegiance, no one can buy or sell. For three and a half years, he will commit atrocities much worst than Hitler and other dictators combined.

But Christians are not left without hope. During this horrifying period, a supernatural event will suddenly take place. Jesus Christ will come down from Heaven to gather faithful believers to himself in the clouds. This will happen in a blink of an eye. This is called the Rapture. When this happens, believers will disappear from the earth to be with the Lord forever. They will escape terrible sufferings that will continue right to the end of the 7 years.

Christians are divided over when the Rapture will happen. Most believe that it will happen before the Great Tribulation starts. In this case, believers will escape everything. They will not go through the 7 years of hell on earth. Some believe that they will go through but before the worst could happen, the Lord would suddenly come for them. But no matter when the Rapture will eventually happen, we can trust God and hope in his perfect timing to rescue believers who are alive at that time.

However, not all Christians will escape. Jesus makes it very clear that the Rapture will take place suddenly and those who do not live right will miss it. They will be left behind together with all the unbelievers to go through the Great Tribulation. For this reason, Jesus warns his followers that they must be ready at all time. For the Rapture will come suddenly, like a thief in the night. This is a solemn warning to live according to God’s way so that no one will miss the Rapture.

After the 7 years are over, another great event will take place. Jesus Christ will return to earth with the armies of Heaven to rule the world from Jerusalem for 1000 years. Christ will overthrow the armies of the Anti-christ and cast him and the false prophet alive into the Lake of Fire. Satan will also be bound with a great chain to stop him from deceiving the nations for 1000 years. During this Millennium rule, there will be peace, prosperity and security from end to end.

After the 1000 years are over, Satan will be released. He will go out to deceive the nations and gather them for war against Jesus and his people in Jerusalem. But fire will come down from Heaven and destroy them. Satan will also be thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer forever and ever.

Then, another great event will happen. This is called the Great White Throne judgement where God will sit to judge the dead. Since the dead usually refers to those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, this judgement might refer to the judgement of the unbelievers. But some believe this judgement is for all people, including Christians. Whatever it is, if anyone’s name is not written in the Book of Life (those who are not saved), he (she) will be thrown into the Lake of Fire to be punished forever.

After this fearful event, God will create a new Heaven and a new Earth, the eternal home of righteous believers. There will no longer be any enemy to contend with nor any tragedy to face. Clothed in a new resurrected body, they will never fall sick or die again. They will live in peace and bliss forever with God and Jesus Christ in their midst.

Therefore as believers, we have great hope! The redemption of our bodies and the glorious joy of living with God in his eternal Kingdom forever. So, let us anchor our hope on God and possess what he has prepared for those who love him.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, thank you for saving me through Jesus Christ. Now, help me to anchor my hope in your promises of eternal life so that whatever happens, I will obey you and remain faithful to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen