Fighting Apathy – Standing Firm

By David Dombrowski

Have you given serious consideration that we are living in the last days? Jesus spoke of the end times in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. I think it is safe to assume that all three chapters are referring to the same discussion Jesus had with his disciples. In all three, as they view the temple, Jesus speaks of the destruction of the temple (that happened in 70 AD), and all three refer to further inquiry from His disciples in the evening at the Mount of Olives as to what the end times will be like.

(Note: In Luke 21, the Mount of Olives (Olivet) is not mentioned until verse 37 at the end of the chapter.)

And now, how does the prospect of living in the end times affect you? If you are watching the news (hopefully, from an accurate and trustworthy source), it may cause you to be fearful and anxious, as tensions are mounting throughout the world. Yet, in none of the three accounts does Jesus tell His disciples that they should be fearful or worried. He does mention, however, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). However, Jesus was not a fearmonger, and Paul tells us, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Prophecy is not about inciting fear in a believer as much as it is an exhortation to be prepared and encouraged for the Lord’s return. The book of Revelation tells us, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

So, how can we be prepared for the Lord’s return? To begin, we, as Christians, need to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle. As a first step, this may sound too simple, but it’s really not. Please take notice that after Jesus shared with His disciples what will be happening in the end times, He finishes with an exhortation to be awake as a church. Consider His words in the Matthew account:

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Matthew 24:42-43)

Apparently, Jesus was and is very concerned about our being prepared for His return because in the chapter that follows, He shares two parables about preparedness: In the parable of the ten virgins, they all fell asleep just before the bridegroom arrived, but only five of them had oil in their lamps with which to meet him. The other parable is the parable of the talents where the lord of his servants gave each of his servants talents (money) to invest in wise endeavors. This suggests an active and aware church where God has given each of us giftings of various types and degrees for us to use for God’s glory in His harvest of souls, as opposed to a sleeping unaware church.

Yet, much of the church is asleep today—even of those who think they are awake. In the Mark account of what Jesus shared on the mount of Olives, we find these words at the close of the chapter:

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13: 35-37)

I share these thoughts with you because at present, there is an avalanche of delusion being poured out on the world. To the discerning eye, much of it looks like insanity. Consider all of the antisemitism that has erupted following the October 7th attack on Israel. And the Jews are under attack for wanting to defend themselves. Consider the banners that have been made in Iran, beckoning for the assassination of President Trump. Consider also all the accusations that have been made by Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, inciting hatred for the Jews and presenting revised versions of who assassinated Charlie Kirk (or even questioning that he was assassinated at all!) with the accusations of who really killed Charlie Kirk ranging from his bereaved widow to “the Jews.” Somehow, the Jews end up being blamed for any ill thing that happens in the world when, in truth, God has placed them in a position for blessing the world—and this, they have done, for centuries.

Nor should we forget all the false practices and teachings that have flooded into the church (with a sleepy church that has allowed this infiltration). Christians have been enticed by the New Age, Reiki, Yoga, contemplative meditation, Catholicism, Calvinism, NAR, and the list goes on. These are all substitutes for the Gospel. The apostle Paul always adhered to the simplicity of the Gospel because that is what changes people. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Please be aware that Satan could not be happier than to discourage Christians into giving up. I partially blame Calvinism for the state of apathy I often sense happening in the church, Bible schools, and seminaries. Calvinism has grown exponentially, and it is built on a false, philosophical foundation that, unlike the Gospel, places everyone in a position of fatalism. Fatalism brings about a sense of hopelessness and inability to make any positive changes in that everything appears to be locked in, and consequently, there is nothing we can do to change it.

Let us remind ourselves again of what Bible prophecy is all about. It is not about feeling hopeless because the future is already mapped out. Rather, it is about warning, alerting, and even waking up the church. Yes, all of the Bible’s prophecies will be fulfilled, but that is not a passive, fatalistic message, but a call to action—even if all you can do is pray and spiritually stay alert and awake, for the coming of the bridegroom grows nearer every day. I do realize that for many of us this is a time when it is easy to feel discouraged and like giving up.

When God showed Daniel in a vision things to come, Daniel felt sick for days (Daniel 7:15). But he also offers words of encouragement for us: He predicted with great accuracy the coming of a corrupt king who would defile the temple. We now know him to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes (d. 164 B.C.), of whom Daniel prophesied, “his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits” (Daniel 11:28; emphasis added). However, Daniel then says, “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32; emphasis added). In other words, those who know the Lord shall accomplish great things. I believe we can apply this to our own lives today, as Christian believers, knowing that we can make a difference; we should be hopeful that God can use us, even in the midst of all that is going on around us, in the church and in the world.

In the remainder of Daniel 11, beginning with verse 36, we are transported to the end times prophetically to a global repeat of what happened in Antiochus IV’s reign. The book of Revelation describes those days and speaks of believers who will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). Even in the darkest of times, we can be comforted and strengthened in remembering that the Lord has told us, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). This we can hold onto, come what may.

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