Pastor Aaron Olinski

When Jesus' disciples asked Him what the signs of the end of the age would be, He gave them a sobering and detailed response in Matthew 24. This chapter is one of the clearest places in Scripture where Jesus lays out what we can expect before His return. He talks about wars and rumors of wars, false prophets, persecution, and eventually, the rise of the Antichrist.

Many people today ask, “Are we living in the last days?” The signs described in Scripture certainly seem to mirror the world we’re living in—division, deception, conflict, spiritual apathy, and global unrest. Jesus warned that these things would happen, but He also made it clear that we are not to be caught off guard.

This message is not about stirring up fear. It’s about helping us live alert, with discernment and urgency, in light of what’s to come. One of the key figures in end-times prophecy is the Antichrist, and Jesus doesn’t shy away from addressing his rise to power and influence. Understanding this helps us respond not with panic, but with wisdom and faith.

The Antichrist: A Deceptive and Powerful Leader

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus refers to a prophecy from the book of Daniel:


"The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the holy place."

This moment is what Daniel calls “the abomination that causes desolation.” It marks the rise of the Antichrist—a global leader who demands worship and desecrates what is holy. He sets up an image of himself and calls the world to worship him.

But here's what we must understand: the Antichrist will not appear as someone obviously evil. He won’t look terrifying or act foolish. He will be:

• Intelligent and articulate
• Charismatic and persuasive
• Globally influential
• Initially seen as a peacemaker and unifier

People will admire him. He will bring a false sense of peace and stability, but his true intent is to oppose God and persecute God’s people. Eventually, he will turn against Christians and the Church, unleashing severe persecution.

This raises personal and sobering questions:


Will we be persecuted? Will we face suffering? Will we be martyred for our faith?


Possibly. And that possibility should shape how we live right now. We are not promised a life free of opposition or hardship.

The Cost of Following Christ in a Comfortable Culture

The challenge we face in the American church is that we’ve grown too comfortable. We rarely talk about persecution or martyrdom, assuming those are things that happen “over there” in other parts of the world. But the truth is, the spirit of the age is increasingly hostile to true biblical faith—even here.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

We need to come to terms with the fact that suffering for Christ is not a foreign concept. It's a part of the Christian walk. And as the days grow darker, the call to boldness and unwavering faith will grow stronger.

The Tribulation: A Time of Great Suffering

Another crucial aspect of the last days is what Scripture calls the tribulation. This is a period of intense suffering, often misunderstood or sensationalized. But biblically, the word simply means a time of great trouble, difficulty, and distress.

Daniel describes it as “a time, times, and half a time,” or three and a half years. Elsewhere, it's referred to as 42 months. During this time, the world will experience:

• Chaos and disorder
• Famine and scarcity
• Disease and destruction
• War and conflict
• Christian martyrdom

But again, the question arises: Why does all of this have to happen?


Because there must be judgment. Sin demands a consequence. Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death.” God’s justice cannot overlook sin. If there were no judgment, then Christ’s sacrifice would be meaningless.

But the beauty of the gospel is this: Jesus took the penalty for us. He bore the judgment, He paid the price, and now we have new life in Him. This is the foundation of our hope.

Judgment vs. Tribulation: Understanding the Difference

While we may experience the trials of tribulation, believers in Christ are not under God’s wrath. That distinction is crucial.

Tribulation comes as part of living in a fallen world, especially in the final days when the devil’s influence intensifies. But God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus at the cross, and those who belong to Him are covered by His blood.

To help us understand this, we can look to a powerful example in the Old Testament. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were living in Egypt when God brought judgment on Pharaoh and the Egyptian people for enslaving His people.

There were ten plagues—each a form of divine judgment. Were the Israelites still living in Egypt during those plagues? Yes. Did they experience the same wrath as the Egyptians? No.

God made a clear distinction between His people and those under judgment.

The final plague, the death of the firstborn, reveals this powerfully. God told the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on their doorposts. When the angel of death came, he passed over the homes marked by the blood.

Those covered by the blood of the lamb were spared from judgment.

In the same way, we are covered by the blood of Jesus—the Lamb of God. So while we may go through hardship during the tribulation, we are not objects of God’s wrath. We are secure in Christ.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?

There’s still much we don’t know about how the tribulation will unfold or how it will impact different nations. Specifics about timing, locations, or even political alignments are not laid out in Scripture.

We might ask, “What about America?
”

Truthfully, the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how individual countries will be affected. But what it does tell us is that the Antichrist and the false prophet will rise under the influence of Satan, but only for a time.

And then comes the moment we are longing for.

The Return of Jesus: Our Blessed Hope

In Matthew 24:30–31, Jesus says:

“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”

Jesus is coming back. That is our hope. And it’s closer than we may think.

Are We in the Last Days?

When we study Scripture and look around at the world, it seems clear that many, if not all, of the biblical prophecies are coming to pass. So, are we in the last days?

Very likely.

But it’s worth remembering that every generation since the early church has believed the same. The first-century believers expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. And every generation since has felt the same urgency.

Jesus anticipated this, and He spoke clearly in Matthew 24:36:


“No one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

Let that sober us. If even Jesus doesn’t know the exact day, then we must resist any person or group making bold predictions. Instead, we are called to live watchfully and wisely.

Living with Passion, Purpose, and Repentance

So what do we do with all of this?

The answer is simple: we live with passion and purpose. We live every day as if Jesus could return today. Because the truth is, none of us are promised tomorrow.

God has placed a calling on our lives—to bring glory to Him, to advance His Kingdom, and to share the gospel with the world around us. That is why the Church exists. We are His plan to share the message of salvation until He comes again.

And as we wait, we must also take a hard look inward. The Church today must repent.

We must repent of:

• A religious spirit
• Harsh judgment toward others
• Criticism and division
• Compromise and complacency

Instead, we must return to a place of reliance on the Holy Spirit. We need to be unified, not divided. We need boldness, not fear. And we need to fall in love with God's Word again.

Final Encouragement: Don’t Fear, But Be Ready

If all of this feels heavy or even frightening, remember this: God is not the author of fear. His Word brings clarity, peace, and hope. The more we understand Scripture, the less anxious we become.

So dig in. Read the book of Daniel. Study Revelation. Go back to Exodus and see how God protected His people.

This isn’t about fear. This is about being faithful.
It’s about living fully awake to what God is doing and fully surrendered to His calling.

And above all, it’s about this:


We are the Church.


We are His people.


We have a mission to fulfill until Christ returns.

Let’s be found ready. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."