People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world (Luke 21:26, NRSV).
Jesus gives a list of end-times signs in Luke 21. In this list, He says, “People will faint from fear and foreboding.”
There are many types of anxiety and hundreds of differing phobias, but there is an end-times fear that will be unique to the latter days before Jesus returns.
We are experiencing that fear now.
Have you had a foreboding about what is going on in the world right now? End-times fear knows that something is amiss, that our entire civilization and all that we know and love is in jeopardy.
This fear comes from the upending of security.
People doubt the Bible, rebel against God’s ways, and turn to inexplicable ungodliness. Culture and nations will be shaken – what was thought strong will be revealed as weak.
Jeremiah the prophet spoke to a rebellious Jerusalem, saying . . .
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle (Jeremiah 19:3).
Ungodliness can only go so far before disaster strikes!
Like the judgment of God on Jerusalem, our land and world have fallen over the precipice of irrecoverable evil.
Luke 21 further describes the causes of end-times fear . . .
When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies!!!! (v. 20)
Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days (v. 23). (Note: There are 123,000 women pregnant in Gaza right now and over 700,000 in Israel!)
There will be great portents and great signs from heaven (v. 11). There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars (v. 25). (Note: The U.S. government announced this week that there have been over 270 documented reports of UFO’s/UAP’s in the United States in the last eight months.)
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (v. 10). (Note: Last year [before Gaza], there were 55 active conflicts in the world.)
Can we overcome our end-time fear? Can we have confidence, faith, and peace? Jesus says . . .
Do not be terrified, for these things must take place first (Luke 21:9).
This will give you an opportunity to testify (Luke 21:12).
You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls (Luke 21:17-19).
Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).
The terrible events and consequences of the end-times do have an ultimate solution. We need not fear, as we can trust in Jesus!