End Times or Not By Raphael Almeida
Are we living in the End Times? This is a question that gets asked repeatedly, especially in times like these, particularly when global events seem to center around Israel. However, this question isn’t new. Throughout generations, whenever the world has deteriorated morally, people have asked themselves the same question.
When the sins of the world manifest—in plagues, wars, earthquakes, and other disasters—each generation has questioned whether they are living in the end times. Even the disciples of Jesus asked Him a similar question. In the New Testament, they inquired, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus gave them a clear answer: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). He made it clear that their role was not to know when these things would happen but rather to focus on one mission: to go and spread the Gospel and make disciples. The end may be near, but our task is to act and live fully in the power of the Kingdom.
Jesus also prepared His disciples for what was to come in the end times.
“When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.” – Matthew 10:23
He foresaw persecutions and understood that believers would need to move from place to place as they proclaimed the Gospel. And this is exactly what happened. As we read in the book of Acts, the disciples proclaimed the Gospel and lived out the Kingdom, enduring many persecutions and fleeing from city to city.
The disciples didn’t just proclaim the Gospel wherever they went; they also lived as a shared community, holding all possessions in common and sharing according to need (Acts 2:44-45). Their communal life—their investment in one another, mutual care, and dedication to the Kingdom—was central to their mission. Through their unity and togetherness, they proclaimed the Gospel not only in words but also through their way of life.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14
So, it doesn’t matter your theological position on the end times, whether you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, post-tribulation, or none at all. These things are beyond our control. The only thing we can control is our actions and our hearts. We don’t know exactly when it will happen, nor will we know all the details. What’s important is how we live today—are our hearts in the right place? Are we focused on the Kingdom? Are we ready to act with courage? Are our priorities in line with God’s revealed will?
Jesus calls us to be radical in the Kingdom—not only in proclamation but also in our shared lives as a community. We are to live each moment with the understanding that it might be our last, and to do everything we can to declare the Gospel through our unity and shared lives.
Today, however, we tend to focus on ourselves—on personal growth, theological debates, and questions about the future. But we forget the most important thing: to live as one body in the Kingdom of God, to invest in building community, and to proclaim the Gospel from a place of unity.
So, are we in the end times? In my opinion, yes—ever since Jesus ascended to heaven. It doesn’t matter whether the end is near or far, and I know there are prophecies still to be fulfilled, but that is beyond my control. The disciples of Jesus didn’t hold back just because certain prophecies hadn’t yet come to pass. Quite the opposite—they proclaimed the Gospel as if He would return tomorrow. Not only did this not stop them; it pushed them forward with even more determination. They shared the Gospel with all their might and courage, fully understanding that their mission was to work for the Kingdom in every place and time, without allowing anything outside of their control to delay them.
“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” – Romans 13:11
Now is the time to act, to proclaim the Gospel, and to live every moment for the Kingdom of God.
With the understanding that we don’t have time to waste and that we must keep the Kingdom of God at the center of every minute, we are called to move forward together as one body and one Kingdom. Our lives are not just preparation for the future; every moment here and now is an opportunity to live out the Kingdom, invest in our unity and transformation as a community, and work for God’s purposes. Although I am far from fully living this way, it is the direction I strive toward. I invite you, too, to put Yeshua at the center, to act with the understanding that we are in the end times, and to move forward together as one body in the Kingdom of God, for in the face of eternity, all the years of our lives here are but a fleeting moment.
Kadima – forward
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