Matthew 24
Matthew 24:4-8 NIV
[4] Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. [5] For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. [6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [7] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are the beginning of birth pains.
From these verses it sure seems like the end of times are here but theses things have been happening since Jesus’ death. In fact, statistics show the generally the world is the most peaceful it has ever been. I was approached I Boston by some young men who told me that Christ has indeed risen again and was a Korean man. I remembered verse 4 & 5 and ended the conversation there. I later did an internet search and there is indeed a movement claiming that this man is Jesus come back to earth. It is unfortunate that many are deceived in this way by this man and others who also claim to be the Messiah come back to earth. How easily we are led astray.
Matthew 24:9 NIV
[9] “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
Christians around the world are facing this type of persecution. How lucky we are that we currently live in a nation that does not persecute believers in this way.