Q: Why is it essential for Christians to study the book of Revelation, and how does it uniquely reveal the character of Jesus?
A: Some Christians say, “Why should we bother to study the book of Revelation? There's nothing relevant about the End Times. I want sermons and books that tell me how to live today.” The truth is, there's no better way to know how to live today than to know what's happening tomorrow. Bible prophecy can do more than fill our heads; it can fill our hearts and change our lives.
That’s why we need to see Jesus as He is revealed in the End Times. You and I can have calm and courage when we know the One who holds our future. In Revelation 22:13, Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Jesus is in control of all that is, was, and ever will be. And in the end, it’s all about Him.
Q: You emphasize that Jesus is the central figure in biblical prophecy. How can focusing on Him bring clarity and hope in the midst of complex end-times events?
A: Jesus is the primary subject of the Bible. He was the object of every biblical writer's pen. It was Jesus whom the prophets had in mind when they described His first and His second coming. Paul said in Colossians that He’s the agent of all creation. John showed in Revelation that He’s the focus of the End Times. To put it simply, the world begins and ends with Jesus Christ; and so do you and I. The more we understand Jesus’s roles that He will fulfill in the End Times, the more we will understand the entire Bible.
Jesus Christ is the be-all and end-all of biblical prophecy. As the central figure of the End Times, Jesus is the One who plans, controls, and directs the events that are yet to come. As we understand who Jesus is now, and how He will reveal Himself even more fully in the End Times, we find answers to life’s deepest questions, like, “What is my purpose?” “How can I have a relationship with God?” And: “What does the future hold for me?”
Q: Many Christians feel overwhelmed by the current global turmoil and cultural darkness. What encouragement can you offer them based on the promises in Revelation?
A: Many Christians are scared to death about the End Times. As they see current world events that appear to be lining up with Bible prophecy, they’re worried about what the future holds, wondering, “What will become of us?” Well, the simple answer is Jesus is coming for us. That is our hope. The End Times shouldn’t cause us to fear but give us hope and anticipation!
That’s why I decided to take a fresh approach to studying this topic. In Jesus Revealed in the End Times, instead of walking you through the events that will occur in the End Times, I shine a spotlight on Jesus, the Person who will be fully revealed in the End Times. That can bring relief to us when we understand who Jesus really is.
Q: You discuss the rapture in your book; what does Scripture teach us about this event, and how should believers prepare for it?
A: The word rapture means to be “caught up” (1 Thess. 4:17). The Greek word is harpazo. Translated into Latin, it’s rapturo—or rapture. The rapture of the Church is the future event when Jesus will retrieve all living Christians from the earth. When Christ appears at the rapture, Christians will rise to meet Christ in the air, and the Church age will end. At that time, God will turn His attention back to the nation of Israel and restart His stopwatch to complete His work with Israel during the tribulation.
The rapture could come at any moment, and the key thing is to make sure we’re ready to meet Christ. Knowing that the rapture is imminent should motivate us to godly living. No one wants to be caught unprepared when Jesus raptures His Church. When we grasp the suddenness of His swift return, we’ll crave more personal Christlikeness!
Q: The Tribulation is a time that brings fear to many people. How should we view this period through the lens of Jesus’ ultimate victory?
A: Immediately after the rapture, there will be seven years of terrible suffering—a period the Bible calls the tribulation. During the tribulation, God will bring retribution on Israel for rejecting Jesus as Messiah. But He will also redeem those who do trust Him as Messiah.
When we study what the Bible says about the tribulation, we must keep in mind that even though God will pour out His just wrath upon unbelieving Israel and the world during the tribulation, His hope is that His wrath will bring about repentance.
Q: What does the Bible reveal about the Antichrist, and how can Christians remain discerning as we approach the fulfillment of End Times prophecy?
A: During the tribulation, a world dictator called the Antichrist will rule the earth. Halfway through those seven years, this ruler will betray Israel and unleash unparalleled persecution for the final three and a half years, a time that is called the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21).
The Antichrist won’t appear until after the rapture, but Christians today still need to know the truth so we can be discerning when it comes to “little a” antichrists, or false teachers. Jesus said, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (vv. 4–5). We currently have our share of false messiahs, spreading false gospels. John warned us to be wary of them, telling us that the “spirit of the antichrist” is already in the world (1 John 4:3).
Although there have been religious charlatans and hucksters in every age, Jesus said that as we get closer to the end, we’re going to see the number of these false teachers increase. So it’s more important than ever for Christians to study Scripture and know the truth so we can recognize and reject false teaching.
Q: You write about the Second Coming of Christ as the climax of God’s plan. What does this event mean for believers and the world at large?
A: At His first appearing, Jesus came to conquer sin and death— to redeem Israel and all who would believe so we might, in the words of John, “be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). However, at His second coming, Jesus will descend as the Conqueror. At His Second Coming, which will occur at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will overthrow His enemies and inaugurate an earthly kingdom that will endure for a thousand years.
Q: How does the book of Revelation show us the sovereignty of God and the assurance that evil will not prevail?
A: As we see all the evil in the world today, our perception is often deceptive. Though it may appear that Satan is winning the battle between good and evil today, we can have hope because Christ our Conqueror will deal a death blow to evil at His second coming. That is why you and I can be “more than conquerors” today (Rom. 8:37 NIV).
Q: With increasing hostility toward Christianity in today’s culture, how can believers stay spiritually strong and focused on Jesus?
A: When we keep our eyes on Jesus and see Him revealed in the End Times, we gain a deeper understanding of His majesty and sovereignty that steadies us, strengthens us, and gives us a secure confidence about the future. A deeper understanding of Christ as He is revealed in the future helps us put our present troubles in perspective. Even more important, looking ahead enhances our worship as we see Jesus more clearly in His present and future glory.
Q: What practical steps can Christians take to remain faithful and prepared as we await the fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan?
A: As we await the rapture, Christians can study Scripture and focus on deepening our relationship with Jesus. In Jesus Revealed in the End Times, you’ll discover several practical steps we can take to live out our salvation day by day, including:
- Accept Jesus as Messiah, the Anointed One.
- Believe Jesus’s prophecies about your eternal future.
- Trust Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away your sin.
- Celebrate Jesus as the Conqueror who destroyed sin and death and will one day return to destroy evil.
- Honor Jesus as King of your life.
- Revere Jesus as the Judge who rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.
- Worship Jesus as Lord, He who makes all things new and provides your eternal home in heaven.
- And begin today to live with the continual awareness of Jesus’s friendship with you.
Q: You emphasize hope as a major theme of your book. How can Christians cultivate a spirit of hope, even when facing personal or global challenges?
A: A lot of people I talk to these days are searching for hope. Whether they’re worried about the direction of our world or dealing with challenging relationships and situations in their own lives, they want to know, “Is there any hope for my future?”
God wants to fill us with hope, and we don't find hope just in knowing about events; it's in knowing the Person who controls those events, Jesus Christ. That's why in this book, instead of marching through the events of the End Times, we look at the different roles Jesus will fulfill in the End Times. Roles that give us hope. This unique view of the End Times will give you a new sense of calm and courage about the future. You’ll see that Jesus not only knows our future, but He has planned our future. He is Lord over all—not just the future of the world, but of your future as well.
Q: For those who are new to studying prophecy, what foundational truths about Jesus and the End Times would you encourage them to start with?
A: Over the course of my studies in biblical prophecy, I’ve made many lists and studied many charts. Based on Scripture, I believe I reasonably know what is going to happen at the coming end of the age. But there’s something much more important than just knowing what is going to happen. It’s about knowing Who is going to come to make it all happen!
That’s why I encourage Christians to read Jesus Revealed in the End Times. This book focuses on Jesus, and it will help you understand the foundational roles He will play in the End Times. Each chapter of this book highlights a certain aspect of Christ’s activity in controlling future events:
- Jesus the Subject of Prophecy
- Jesus the Messiah
- Jesus the Prophet
- Jesus the Lamb
- Jesus the Conqueror
- Jesus the King
- Jesus the Judge
- Jesus the Lord
- Jesus Our Friend
As we see the End Times through the lens of Jesus Christ, we’ll stop fretting about the future as we know Jesus more deeply, see Him more clearly, and praise Him more joyfully.
Q: As we look to the future, what do you believe is the most urgent message Jesus has for His Church in these days?
A: It’s my sincere prayer that the Church today will come to a greater understanding of Jesus and a deeper sense of awe for what He has done on our behalf, as well as what He will do for us in the future.
As we look to the future, the figure we see clearly looming over all the events is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is Lord over our past, our present, and our future. And that glorious vision of Jesus should fill each of us with everlasting hope!
