When a reader knuckles down and reads Luke 21 they may find it scary. In full concentration, read the chapter and especially the part about the wars and rumors of wars, and persecution forecast. It's unnerving!
Every generation feels like the 'last days' are upon them because it seems that's what is exactly happening in the world in their respective 'today.' There are all those things happening and it is greatly distrubing even to the point of insominia and/or depression for some people as they think about it all.
We try to predict, yeah this'll happen soon. The end is here.
But in another place Scripture states,
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (Matthew 24:36 ESV).
Therefore, we cannot speculate. What should we do about it then?
I know of one person who sets her alarm for 9 pm each evening. It's a reminder to stop and pray for the current wars to cease. For instance, the Russian-Ukraine conflict; the Hamas/Iran/etc-Israel dispute and the M23 rebels in Goma, Congo who wreck terror on every side, and other such conflicts that crop up. She prays for the victims and their families of these tragedies that have been killed, maimed physically and emotionally and the tragic exigencies that war allows under its cover: human trafficking, rape and the like. She prays these people will get help to escape and to heal.
All the misery war brings is immeasurable and yes, we plead with God to stop it all. We say,
"Come, Lord Jesus" (see Revelation 22:20)!
But we need to stop and think of the spiritual aspect. Do these people know Christ? Have they accepted Him as Savior yet? We pray more do come to do so before the end comes.
Regarding persecution, Jesus says something very encouraging to the people who undergo it. He says they will be brought before various authorities and that,
"This will be your opportunity to bear witness" Luke 21:13 ESV.
What's more, we don't have to prepare speeches. Jesus instructs further,
"Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict" (Luke 21:14-15 ESV).
Persecution can come in soft and hardcore conditions. One brother recently told me that many of the debates of Charlie Kirk were discussed at work. This brother, of course, states his view from a biblical perspective as did Charlie. He said all those pro-choice and etc people at work dismiss him as not being relevant to today's society. He speaks. He's salt. He does his part in these last days, bearing witness to God's stance and endures this soft persecution. But they don't want to hear. Those colleagues are now responsible whether they accept God's view or not.
Those verses (13, 14 & 15) though, bring hope into the dire situation. May all who go through these things endure until the end. May God give us all the courage in these scary, unnerving times. In Jesus' name I ask. Amen.
~ ERC September 2025 ~
Based on Luke 21:10-19, especially verse 13-15 ESV.
Sing, Just a Little While, along with the Gaither singers.
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