Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two young children, husband to a beautiful young wife, Erika, and unabashed proclaimer of the Gospel around the world, was shot in cold blood in front of thousands of adoring fans, and some enemies. The details are still pending, but at this time, the alleged killer has been caught, and the weapon has been secured.

However, there is more going on here than the details of one man’s assassination, and the throws of a nation’s sadness at this time.

Times and Seasons

Jesus spoke of our age often in His teaching recorded in the New Testament. Here are a few examples of what Jesus said about our days:

10 “And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will deceive many.

12 “And because lawlessness is multiplied, most people’s love will grow cold.

13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.  (Matthew 24:10–13, LSB)

9“But see to yourselves; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be beaten in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them.

10 “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.

11 “And when they lead you away, delivering you up, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

12 “And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

13 “And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.  (Mark 13:9–13, LSB)

12“But before all these things, 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.

13 “It will result in an opportunity for your testimony.

14 “So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

16 “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,

17 and you will be hated by all because of My name.

18 “Yet not a hair of your head will perish.

19 “By your perseverance you will gain your lives.  (Luke 21:12–19, LSB)

I chose these passages in order to summarize Jesus’ teaching to the disciples concerning the time period from His own death, resurrection, and ascension, to His next coming. I have no intention of debating how I came to the eschatological conclusions I did in these passages. It is enough for now to see these selected passages as addressing the time between the ascension of Christ to His Second, Premillennial, coming.

Let’s cover this period a bit from these passages, and then look at some things Paul wrote as well. When we pull these teachings together, we get a complete picture of our age. In fact, we have the authority to tell people what is happening in the world even as it is happening. In other words, these passages give us discernment. And, when we have discernment, we have clarity, and with clarity comes courage.

Betrayal: The Tone of the Age

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10 “And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  (Matthew 24:9–10, LSB)

9 “But see to yourselves; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be beaten in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them.

10 “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.  (Mark 13:9–10, LSB)

And, perhaps the most precise record of this age is found in the book of Luke. He wrote:

“But before all these things, 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.  (Luke 21:12, LSB)

The deliverance of which Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus as speaking of is not the deliverance from something, but deliverance to something. It is a deliverance that is, in each record, going on to speak of being “betrayed” by those who were perceived as friends.

In each record, being “delivered” is the idea of “betrayal,” a handing over by a trusted friend. The condition of the age will be that of being betrayed by confidants, and ending up in the synagogues, courts, and even some kind of capital punishment. This betrayal will come in a variety of forms. Luke wrote,

“But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,  (Luke 21:16, LSB)

It is the reality that we, as the saints of God, have to come to grips with. Those who might be dearest to us, even within our families, are the same who would become the very ones who would willingly hand us over to legal punishment, even illegal execution.

The world is not done hating Jesus Christ. Whether the nation of Israel, or the Gentiles of every nation, the disdain for the Son of God is not completed. However, because they cannot reach into heaven and pull Him down, they must do what it takes to destroy those who follow Him.

False Christs: The Savior of the Age

But there is more to the age. During this time, the whole world will endure the self-professed messiahs who appear to rescue the world. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record:

“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  (Matthew 24:5, LSB)

“Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.  (Mark 13:6, LSB)

And He said, “See to it that you are not deceived; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Do not go after them.  (Luke 21:8, LSB)

According to Jesus Christ, the plan of God will progress with false Christ’s, betrayal, violence, and deception. This is a sad testament. However, it is a testament to the condition of the world under the influence and leadership of the Serpent, Satan, the Devil.

In the midst of this condition, however, Jesus gives us wonderful consolation. Again, in each case, He tells us that we will be preserved, even if handed over to death. We will not perish (Luke 21:18). That is, we will not suffer ultimate fate at the hands of God’s enemies. even in our death by betrayal, we will truly live! Endurance is the key. Endurance to preach the gospel, in spite of threats, deception, and pervasive error.

Paul’s Warning: Violent Times Are Coming

3:1 But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  (2 Timothy 3:1, LSB)

Paul would know. Being left for dead, persecuted regularly, imprisoned numbers of times, and ultimately beheaded by Rome. This man knew persecution and violence. He wanted Timothy to understand the days ahead of him, days that would be characterized by trouble and hardship in the name of Christ.

The above mentioned verse is interesting because Paul told Timothy that “difficult” times will come. However, the Greek word that Paul used for “difficult” is best translated, “violent, dangerous.” It is the idea of imminent danger being the character of the people around Timothy. He gives a list of these people in the following verses, a list I won’t take the time to review.

However, notice the list begins with “self-love.” It is the quality of self-absorption, or self-infatuation. It is an aggressive defense of the priority of one’s self over, and against, the love of others. In a word, it is selfish, arrogant, entitlement.

What is even more amazing is that these qualities are likely what will characterize the church, the body of Christ since v. 5 indicates that these people will hold to a form of godliness, but will have denied its power. This is Christendom. This is the kingdom of God which is populated with tares that look like wheat, wolves that look like sheep, and the unrighteous who act righteous.

Coupling these things together, along with numerous other passages from letters in the NT like 2 Thessalonians and of course, the book of Revelation, we get a grim picture of the future.

Conclusion

In short, the plan of God, which culminates with the shattering of rulers, kings, nations, and peoples in the wrath of God (Psalm 2:9; cf. Revelation 19:15), has as its necessary component a mood of the age wherein the wrath of God is increasing (Romans 1:18), and will culminate in the seals, bowls, and trumpets of the Tribulation.

If we endure, and preach the gospel to every nation, we will enter into our rest with victory, reward, and peace.