The Folly Of Fear

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The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

- Proverbs 29:25

It's the end of the world as we know it. So goes the refrain from R.E.M.'s 1987 hit single. Released the year leading up to Edgar Whisenant's 88 Reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988, the track is an observation on a society steeped in apocalyptic fervor, highlighting the consequences of fear based prophecy teaching.

To the detriment of the Church, this gloomy paradigm of the end times has conditioned many believers to fear the thought of living through the last days. This is a major victory for the enemy. A Body paralyzed in fear is no threat to Satan when he makes his last stand.¹

But the Spirit is on the move, and the veil of fear is being cast aside. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear are beginning to understand that the years leading up to the return of Jesus will be the finest and most glorious hour in all of Church history.

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The Great Harvest

Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares can help us better understand the end of the age dynamic. In this parable, a landowner finds weeds sown amongst his wheat field. Not wanting to uproot the wheat (believers) with the weeds (rebellious), the landowner waits until both have grown to their fullest measure before harvesting them.²

Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

- Matthew 13:30

Even though unprecedented rebellion will be a hallmark of the last days (a point most often emphasized), the Church will be shining radiantly in the midst of the darkness. The Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed (and demonstrated) in every corner of the globe as a witness to the nations by a refined, unified Body.³

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Help Is On the Way

Before the Kingdom comes, the Church will walk a difficult, narrow path.⁴ This much is certainly true. But they won't do it alone. In the same way the first century apostles were empowered by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the last days Church will receive the same assistance.⁵

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions… I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth…before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

- Joel 2:28-31

After the Church has been emptied of all attachment to the flesh by the pressures of the last days, Michael the archangel, who once cleared a path for Daniel to receive his heavenly transmission, will clear the airwaves once again when he casts Satan out of heaven, allowing the Spirit to be poured out onto the Church in unprecedented measure.⁶

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The Gates Of Hell Will Not Prevail

Some may still have a hard time seeing the last days as a time of victory for the Church, as it's most often taught as a period of God's wrath. But Scripture says it's only those aligned with Satan who will be subject to God's wrath, not us.⁷ Understanding why God is hurling His judgements to the earth is critical.

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth.

- Revelation 8:4-5

Scripture tells us God's judgements are actually a counteroffensive launched in response to Satan's assault on the Church.⁸ What's more, the Church will take an active role in pronouncing these judgements (Hint: This is why they're numbered.) Far from being the victims of an end times pummeling, the Church will be the conduit through which God’s judgements are delivered.

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We Are The Champions

Beloved, the last days aren't the end of the world. They're the beginning of the restoration of God's creation, which will be set free from the curse of sin.⁹ The last days are the narrow pathway into the Kingdom of God where we’ll rule and reign with Jesus forever.¹⁰ Those final, formative years will prepare the Bride to walk into eternal glory.¹¹

But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

- Luke 21:28

If the Church is to fulfill it's calling to take the Gospel to all nations, then we must be the calm, steady voice amidst the storm of escalating world events. Regardless of what the future holds, we know the ending to this story, and the Lord's perfect love will cast out all fear for those who seek Him.¹²

Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not!”

- Isaiah 35:4

1. Isaiah 35:4, Psalm 118:6, Luke 12:4, 2nd Timothy 1:7

2. Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

3. Matthew 24:14, Ephesians 4:11-13, Revelation 3:18,

4. Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 118:10-21

5. Joel 2:28-31, Daniel 11:32-33

6. Revelation 12:7-9, Daniel 10:2-21

7. Revelation 14:9-10, 16:2, 1st Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9

8. Revelation 8:4-5, Matthew 16:18-19

9. Acts 3:19-21, Romans 8:18-23

10. Revelation 20:6, 22:5

11. Revelation 19:7

12. 1st John 4:18