The End is Near!

Over the past few days since the Israeli attack on the Iranian Nuclear Facilities, I have been asked over and over these questions: Rabbi, is this a sign of the End? Does this mean Yeshua is coming back soon? Did you listen to what a certain Preacher said about the prophetic nature of this attack? Have you seen this new video on YouTube about how this attack fulfills this prophecy or that prophecy? The truth is that the recent attack by Israel against the Islamic Regime in Iran has not caused me to watch one video, listen to one sermon, or read the latest book on the end times.

You may ask me why, but the answer is that I have been a believer for nearly 45 years and I have honestly lost count of the times that some religious Chicken Little ran around “prophetically” screaming the “End is Near.” No, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely believe in Biblical prophecy and that there is a coming judgment upon the world which will result in an end of this present world and the creation of a new world. However, it seems as if every year, and sometimes more than once a year, a Pastor or Rabbi will come out with a new “word” from “Above,” proclaiming that at any moment Yeshua (Jesus) is coming back. This constant “crying wolf” is not only dangerous to the body of Messiah but it affects the testimony of the body, both within and without. It also dilutes the body’s trust in the prophets and the Gift of Prophecy. 

This is not to say that we shouldn’t preach and teach about the End of Days and the Return of Yeshua. Of course we should. But we should do so from a position of faith and excitement and not from a place of fear. While fear is an excellent motivator, fear cannot save anyone. We must not try to scare people into the Kingdom of G-D, we must love them into the Kingdom of G-D. After all, G-D is Love even in His judgement. Fear lasts only until the cause of our fear leaves our minds. Love lasts eternally. 

I remember a time when I was a brand new believer in Messiah. I went to a service with a “Prophesy Preacher.” He screamed and yelled for an hour about every scary thing from Genesis to Revelation. When he finished, hundreds of people ran crying to the altar to beg G-D to forgive them and keep them from all of the things the preacher said were coming upon the world any moment. Then, I watch those people over the next few days, months and even years as the things that the preachers said would happen at any moment didn’t happen. Their fear subsided and with it many of them lost their faith and walked away from G-D altogether. Many years later, I heard that the preacher had also walked away from G-D.

I really can’t say that all of those people walked away from G-D because of prophetic words that didn’t come true. But, I can say that those failed prophecies didn’t help them keep their faith. There is a reason Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10:

8 Love never fails— but where there are prophecies, they will pass away; where there are tongues, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is partial will pass away.

Because our redemption and relationship with Yeshua cannot be built on prophesies or  prophetic words, our redemption must be built on love because love never fails.

The bottom line, and my answer, whenever a new event happens that causes fear and drives people to ask questions like the ones above is always: Our walk with G-D should not change based upon events or circumstances. Just like in a marriage, our love-based relationship with G-D should not change because our situations are better or worse, rich or poor, in sickness or good health, so that in our deaths we won’t part. 

So, as people run around shouting “The End is Near,” I know with absolute assurance two things: First, one day one of these people will be right, and second, nothing about my relationship with G-D will change because they do.

As you watch the war between Israel and the Iranian Islamic Regime, the wars between Russia and Ukraine, as well as conflicts between the many other nations around the globe, just remember instead of walking in fear, walk in love. Remember what we read in 1 John 4:18-19:

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us.