By Dr. Anne Davis

I have sensed a general apprehension among many, and an eager anticipation among others, that the “end of time” described in the Book of Revelation is approaching.

Many point to disasters around the world. Perhaps the greatest sign has been the covid plague. As of the date of this writing the number of deaths in the United States is approaching one million, and worldwide there have been 5.6 million deaths. Then we saw a disastrous tsunami that almost destroyed the island of Tonga after the eruption of an underwater volcano. Are these signs of the coming Great Tribulation?

Let us leave our emotions aside and turn to the Word of God.

I will begin with some thoughts on Revelation, the last book in the New Testament that is directed specifically to Yeshua’s faithful disciples. Have you dedicated your life to living in a way that pleases God? If so, the messages in Revelation are for you.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants [δούλοις αὐτοῦ – his slaves or servants], the things which must soon take place. Revelation 1:1

If you are a dedicated servant of your Lord Yeshua, the messages in Revelation should not prompt fear or anxiety because you will perceive these words as instruction, that is, if you are willing to consider the mysterious messages about what God is doing and why.

We are first drawn to the phrase “must soon take place.”  Revelation was written over 2,000 years ago, so what does “soon take place” really mean?

The imminent expectation of the fulfillment of prophecy, even though it mysteriously points to something far distant, is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. This kind of prophecy has nothing to do with encouraging eager anticipation of the end of time! So, if that is your current thinking, then put it aside.

Let me explain. Living with the thought that the end of time is approaching requires us, on a daily basis, to face the future judgment. Let me repeat. Living with the thought that the end of time is approaching requires us, on a daily basis, to face the future judgment. This powerful message encourages us to walk in ways that please God so we can stand with confidence in the day of judgment. It also helps us appreciate Yeshua’s words.

It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; Acts 1:7

There is an unfortunate tradition that has led many in the Christian community astray, which is the theological teaching that all believers in Christ will stand before the judgment seat and be found righteous because they have believed in God’s son. Although belief in God’s son does indeed give us the promise of future eternal life with God, it does not negate God’s judgment that will determine how we have lived our daily lives with Christ.

I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened…and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds [ἔργα – works, actions]. Revelation 20:12

We also hear the Apostle Peter comment on the future judgment after he describes ways that Christian believers can be tempted to sin. Peter declares this stark warning to all Christian believers.

The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment. 2 Peter 2:9

Who are the godly? They are the ones whom God perceives as righteous and worthy to come into His presence IF they continue to follow their Lord who is teaching them how to avoid the temptation of sin. Who are the unrighteous in these words of Peter? They are the people of God, both Jew and Gentile, whom God does not perceive as righteous. The unrighteous ones, we are told, will face punishment in the day of judgment. [See my four books on the Remnant that you can find on Amazon for a carefully researched study of the Remnant in Scripture].

Please don’t misunderstand me. All God’s children, both Jew and Gentile, have the promise of future eternal life with God. By “eternal life” we mean coming into the presence of God, which requires a righteous condition to avoid death caused by sin.

I always explain that, in this sinful world, complete perfection is not possible, and I point to Noah whom God saw as righteous (Gen 6:9). Yet, Noah was not perfect. After becoming drunk with wine, his sons “walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father” (Gen 9:23). Nakedness is a biblical symbol of exposing one’s sin. However, God found Noah to be righteous. So, Peter’s words about the righteous and unrighteous people of God begin to inform us that God will select a Remnant whom God will consider righteous and worthy to carry on His great plan to bring about a new heaven and a new earth. The role of the Remnant will be to work under the lordship of Yeshua to eventually bring all of God’s children into His righteous presence.

I suggest that if you think you are worthy to participate in the future role of the remnant, you are not yet righteous in God’s eyes because this is the sin of pride. God requires humility in those He will find worthy at the time of the future judgment, and He requires that we stand faithful to the end, even unto death.

A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23

Furthermore, I suggest that those who are trying to bring God’s righteous ways into our country by their own efforts do not know God. Our role is to live our own righteous lives to shine the light of God into the world. It is God’s responsibility to activate those who will perceive His righteous ways. If we try to impose God’s ways on others through legislation, guilt, or any other worldly action, then we are trying to “play god”. We do not know and trust the true God.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

I also suggest that if we judge those whom we perceive as contrary and dangerous to the ways of God, such as homosexuals, immigrants, or those with flawed belief systems, then we are inflicting harm that can lead to guilt, despair, and misery. Our role is to demonstrate the love of God with those unfortunate ones without judging them. Then, it is God’s responsibility to penetrate the hearts of those whom He chooses.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful; do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Luke 6:36-37

Now let us address what our response should be to an evil leader. Again, we must turn to Scripture where we learn that God can raise up godly and moral leaders for His people, but then He permits evil and immoral leaders. We can turn to the Hebrew Scriptures to see this pattern. Many kings “did evil in the sight of the Lord”, and when this happened the people resorted to idolatry. Other kings were “pleasing in the sight of the Lord” and these kings took action to combat the idolatry of the people by tearing down their high places.

What is important is that God is in charge of raising up both good leaders and allowing evil leaders. What, then, should be our reaction to those who are immoral and evil?  Our role is to stand faithful despite criticism by the ones around us. One reason for God permitting both good and evil is to select those who are faithful and worthy to participate with the Lord Yeshua in the next chapter of His work to create a new heaven and a new earth. (Again, I send you to my 4-book series on the Remnant that you can find on Amazon).

Before all these things [signs that the end of time is approaching], they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. Luke 21:12-13

Did you hear the last words? These tragic events “will lead to an opportunity for your testimony!” So, let me conclude where I began with the Book of Revelation. Remember that Revelation is written to Yeshua’s faithful disciples who have dedicated their lives to living in a way that pleases God.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Revelation 2:10

Fifty-seven times we hear God in His Word crying to us, “Do not fear!” Yet, we know there will be a judgment when God will scrutinize our lives to determine the extent of our dedication as faithful servants under the direction of our Lord Yeshua. We do not know whom He will choose as worthy to participate in the Remnant and I suggest the reason is so we will continue to commit our daily lives to pleasing God.

Why, then, should we not fear the coming judgment if we do not know whether we will be selected to participate in the Remnant, which means we might be found unworthy in God’s eyes? I suggest that those who can clearly see the prophetic future as God has made it known in the depth of His Word, which explains HOW God will eventually bring ALL His people into His righteous presence, have no cause to fear. These people know God.

Let me end by sharing with you my own personal thoughts. I trust God to choose those who will best serve Yeshua in the coming battle against Satan and who will have the ability to shine forth the light of God in the Millennial Kingdom. If I am not selected, that’s okay with me because I am convinced that God knows best. I also know that the work of the Remnant will eventually bring all of God’s children into His righteous presence, which Christians call Eternal Life and Jews call the World to Come.

May your days be filled with joy knowing that our God of love and compassion is in charge of what is happening in the world today, and may you stand faithful in a life that shines forth the love of our magnificent God.

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