I remember when I was about 13, my friend Danny told me something intense—that in the end times, people would gather your family and chop off their hands until you accepted the number of the beast. That stuck with me, but life kept moving forward.
I genuinely feel for those who’ve been misled over the years—waiting for Jesus to return, only to be told they misunderstood the timeline or fed another story to keep them hanging on. That kind of confusion can be really disheartening.
Even back in the early centuries after Jesus ascended, believers were encouraged to hold on, stay strong, and wait patiently. There was a powerful hope that Jesus would come back to gather his bride and conquer sin, death, hell, and Satan.
History—and Scripture—tells of dark times: plagues, famine, even heartbreaking stories of families resorting to unthinkable acts just to survive. Some of this is recorded not only in the Bible but also by historians like Josephus.
Does it resonate with most people today? Maybe not.
Still, even now, folks keep saying, “Just wait—something awful is coming.” Honestly, every year brings its own troubles, and that’s nothing new for me personally.
As for me, I don’t believe Jesus will return in the same literal way as that first generation expected. But I do believe he continues to reveal himself—in the hearts of those who rise with him and live by the Spirit of Christ.