What God said would happen is unfolding before us, and there’s no reason to fear. In fact, this is a sign to encourage you. God is on the throne; He knew this would happen long before it did, and nothing surprises Him. He chose you to live in this time. Matthew 24:21 says, “For there will be a great tribulation such as never occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor will ever occur again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.”

When you read the Book of Revelation, you see the same warnings: tribulation, danger, calamity. Without God’s intervention, no one would be saved. The Greek word used for tribulation in the New Testament is thlipsis, which means great affliction, anguish, pressure, and persecution. Some of you may feel that this describes your life right now. Keep waiting and watch as events unfold.

In Matthew 24:6, Jesus tells us, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is still to come.” He continues, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places, but these are just the beginning of birth pains.” This prophecy aligns with the Book of Revelation, where John sees the four horsemen. Revelation 6 describes the opening of the seals, where the first horse, a white one, represents conquest. The second, a red horse, symbolizes war; the third, a black horse, represents famine, and the fourth, a pale or green horse, stands for death. These events point to the challenges we will face: war, famine, and death.

Jesus also speaks of great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, alongside fearful events and signs from the heavens. In Revelation 6, when the sixth seal is opened, a great earthquake occurs. Jesus’ words and the prophecy of Revelation are intertwined, describing the end times in vivid detail.

Matthew 24:29 says, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” Revelation 6 echoes this, saying, “The sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood.” These events are signs of cataclysmic changes in nature.

While some interpret these as signs of judgment related to solar and lunar eclipses, it’s important to understand that eclipses are part of the natural course of events. God can use them as signs, but they are not always specific indicators of judgment. The true meaning lies in the cataclysmic shifts in nature and the upheavals described in both Matthew 24 and Revelation.

Finally, Jesus warns that stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. In ancient times, any heavenly light was called a star, including planets, which were known as wandering stars. This prophecy likely refers to meteor showers, asteroids, and other celestial events impacting the earth.