THE END TIMES: a season of signs or a mandate to missions

One of the questions I am asked most frequently as a Christian Investagitive Journalist is:

“Are we living in the end times?”

The question usually refers to biblical prophesies of wars, rumours of wars, the rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, earthquakes, political upheavals, and false teachings.  Every attack on Israel is perceived as a sure sign that the end times are rapidly approaching, tensions involving Iran amplify that, and at the same time we observe the rise of Islam in the West.  And, of course, every now and then prophesies of blood moons surface as well.

And so, the question inevitably turns into a statement:

“We are living in  the end times, aren’t we?”

The short answer is yes — definitely — just as we have been doing for the past two thousand years. But having said that, we must remember that living in the end times is not the same as understanding them, so the question deserves a deeper and more thoughtful exploration.

LET ME START WITH A DISCLAIMER.

According to the words of Jesus, no one knows the date, time, or season of Christ’s return.  That should settle it.  But Christianity is not a non‑prophet institution and because the early church lived with the same tension we feel today, the quest for answers have not lessened.  Signs that seem to intensify, global instability, spiritual confusion, and a deep longing for Christ’s return. Yet Jesus consistently redirected His followers away from speculation and toward faithfulness, readiness, and mission.

In Matthew 24:36 Jesus explicitly states that  “about that day or hour no one knows… only the Father.” No angels. No humans. No Pastors.  No prophets.  Not even the Son (in His incarnate humility). Only the Father.  In Acts 1:7, after the resurrection, the disciples ask Jesus again about the timing of the kingdom. Jesus responds: “It is not for you to know the times or seasons the Father has set by His own authority.”

This is important because it shows that even after the resurrection — when Jesus is glorified — He still directs His followers away from date‑setting and toward mission.  “It is not for you to know” should be enough to answer our need for certainty.  But sadly, it isn’t.  We want to know!

So, firstly, in my opinion, it is futile to try and determine dates that are to be revealed only by God in His designated time and divine wisdom.  Yes, I can testify that the season we are currently living through aligns more closely with biblical descriptions of the end times than anything I have witnessed in my fifty years of ministry.  The only thing I know for sure is that it WILL happen.  It could be another 50 years, another 2,000 years or it could be today.  But Christ will return.  And whenever that moment comes, I know I will be ready to meet my Lord when He appears on the clouds.

Secondly, before contemplating the second coming of Christ, my priority has always been to focus on those who have not yet heard of the first coming of Christ. I find it deeply un‑Christlike (though not unbiblical) to obsess over an event that might satisfy theological uncertainties while so many are starving a spiritual death without the knowledge of a God who already came to earth two thousand years ago.

And thirdly, this question is not new. The disciples struggled with the very same issues two thousand years ago — while speaking to the One who actually came to earth as the Messiah. They had good reason to ask what we are asking today, but unlike us, they had the answer standing in front of them in person.  The principle, therfore, is the same.  Focus on the person of Christ, rather than on the event of His return.

But to honour the sincerity of the question, here is my answer.

IN MY UNDERSTANDING …

Yes — according to the Bible, we are living in what Scripture calls “the last days,” but not necessarily the final moments before Christ’s return. The Bible describes the “end times” as a period that began with Jesus’ resurrection and will continue until His second coming.

1. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE “LAST DAYS” BEGAN IN THE FIRST CENTURY

New Testament writers consistently say the end times were already underway:

• Acts 2:17 — Peter says Pentecost fulfilled Joel’s prophecy: “In the last days…”
• Hebrews 1:2 — “In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son.”

This means:  Biblically, the end times started with Jesus and have continued for 2,000 years.

2. THE SIGNS JESUS GAVE ARE “THE BEGINNING,” NOT THE END

Jesus described wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, and global gospel proclamation. These signs are real today, but Jesus said:  “These things must happen, but the end is not yet.” — Matthew 24:6–7

So, the presence of these signs means we are in the end‑times era, but not necessarily the final hour.

3. THE BIBLE WARNS OF INCREASING DECEPTION AND MORAL DECLINE

Scripture describes false prophets and false Christs, apostasy (falling away), moral collapse and the rise of the “man of lawlessness” (Antichrist)

• 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 — falling away and the man of sin revealed
• 2 Timothy 3:1–2 — “In the last days grievous times shall come…”

These patterns are clearly visible in our world.  But, in all honesty, it has been for as long as man existed.

4. THE BIBLE’S CENTRAL TEACHING: CHRIST WILL RETURN

The most important end‑times truth is not the signs — it is the certainty of Jesus’ return.

• Acts 1:11 — “This same Jesus… will come back in the same way.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 — the Lord descends, the dead rise, believers are gathered.

Christ’s return is the anchor of Christian hope.

So are we living in the end times?  Biblically: Yes — we have been since the time of Jesus. Are we living in the final phase? The Bible does not give dates, but it does say the signs will intensify as the end approaches.

The purpose of end‑times teaching is not fear — it is watchfulness, holiness, and hope.

5. THE FINAL EVENT

But the key point to consider when contemplating the return of Christ is not the WHEN but the WHAT.  What must happen before Christ will return?  According to Jesus, there is one final prophesy that need to be fulfilled:

THE GOSPEL TO EVERY ETHNOS

According to Jesus’ words in Mark 13:10, one decisive event must unfold before the end of this age:  The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

The key word here is “nations” — ethnos in Greek. It does not mean political countries or geographic borders. It means ethnic groups, cultural-linguistic families, distinct peoples.  In other words:  Every ethnos — every people group with its own identity — must have access to the gospel before the end comes.  This is not about reaching every individual, but ensuring that every distinct people group has a gospel witness among them.

WHY THIS MATTERS THEOLOGICALLY

1. God’s heart has always been for all peoples

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s mission is global and multi-ethnic.

• Psalm 67 — “Let the nations be glad.”
• Revelation 7:9 — “Every tribe, tongue, people, and nation” worshiping the Lamb.

Mark 13:10 is not a new idea — it is the culmination of God’s ancient promise.

2. Jesus ties the timing of the end to the completion of the mission

This is echoed in Matthew 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The preaching of the gospel to every ethnos is not optional — it is the final global marker before the return of Christ.

3. This is not about speed — it is about completion

The Bible does not say the whole world must be converted. It says the whole world must be witnessed to. The church’s mission is not to force belief, but to ensure access.  Every ethnos must have a gospel presence, a gospel voice, a gospel opportunity.

Once that witness exists, the prophetic requirement is fulfilled.

4. Modern missions confirm how close – and how far – we are

Missiologists estimate:

• ±17,000 ethnos groups exist globally
• ±7,000 remain unreached
• ±3,000 remain completely unengaged (no known church, no known witness)

This means the mission is advanced, but not finished.  We are living in a time where the Great Commission is measurable — and accelerating.

5. The purpose of this prophecy is not fear — it is urgency

Jesus did not give this sign to create anxiety. He gave it to create focus.

The church’s calling is clear: Finish the witness. Complete the testimony. Carry the gospel to every ethnos.

When the global witness is complete, the King returns.

 

Photograph: The Guardian:  People sit on the beach of Moutchic as smoke rises from a wildfire. Photograph: Maximilien Lamy/AFP/Getty Images