Signs of the End Times

The Christian is asked to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who endured great tribulation. All tribulation then must stand in the light of Christ Jesus who was ‘despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Smitten by God, and afflicted’ (Isaiah 53). However, this important aspect of Christian doctrine is sorely missing in our churches today. The absence of this theology of suffering is to the detriment of the believer living in the end times. Without it they are left unarmed and powerless to stand in the face of tribulation. For many, all suffering must be avoided at all costs and prayed away. Many churches today are responsible for creating a sugar coated gospel. But this version of the gospel bears little relation to what the Bible, Jesus and the early church taught. The Bible teaches that a true Christian will not only enjoy the power of Christ’s resurrection; they will also have to embrace a fellowship with his sufferings. (From Chap