The End Times will be a battle between the ways of God and the ways of Satan. A battle between good and evil. A war between light and darkness. Honestly, we can already see that battle raging in today’s world, but it will intensify the closer we get to the Second Coming of Messiah!
So grab your Bible and let’s see what the Bible says about darkness in the End Times.
Difficult Times
In 2 Timothy 3, it describes the end times as “difficult times” and gives a very descriptive list of the character traits that we can expect from people who oppose the truth and our biblical faith.
It says, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.“
And continuing in verse 8, “…these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith.”
And then in verse 13, “But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 8, 13 (NASB)
It’s not very encouraging to hear that things will go from bad to worse. Some of you may have a natural reaction to want to escape such difficult times.
But, as Christians, we have victory through Jesus, who has already defeated evil on the cross. When the times get dark, it’s our greatest moment to shine His light into the darkness. And, we must remember that light is most valuable in the darkest moments.
We read in I Thessalonians 5, verses 1-11…
“Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NASB)
This is a very important passage about the End Times. Some Christians have used it to say that we will escape the evil to come. But that’s not the case. Rather, Paul is telling us to use this passage to encourage each other to stay on the alert as the Day of the Lord approaches. And Paul details the armor that will help us in the battle of good versus evil, which includes the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation as our helmet.
Fulfilling Our Ministry
Those who have placed their hope in Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, need to stay focused on God’s overall plan. We are placed on this earth to shine forth God’s love to a lost world. That’s not an easy task but it is our calling.
We read in 2 Timothy 4:3-5:
“For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“
In a world of darkness, Christians will endure hardship and persecution, but we must stay focused on fulfilling our ministry!
In I Peter 2:9, the apostle Peter gives us a great reminder of who we are and our divine task…
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…“
The gift of salvation is an incredible gift. We need to be willing to share the Good News of the Gospel with those who are still trapped in the domain of darkness…no matter the cost. So they too, can be rescued, have their sins forgiven, and be transferred into the kingdom of His marvelous light! (Colossians 1:13-14)
And, I’ll close with probably the most well-known passage on how to fight the good fight of faith against the powers of darkness. These are spiritual tools that we will use more and more as the days grow ever darker.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
[And the apostle Paul goes on…]
18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, 19 and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20 (NASB)
So today, as children of the light…it’s time for us to take up the full armor of God, standing firm and fully alert. So that we can make known the Mystery of the Gospel of Truth to a dark world.
We have a high calling on our lives! Let’s go out and fulfill our ministry!
