The big news this week has been President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs he began to directly begin a trade war with countries around the world, including our closest allies. The tariffs and their consequences will directly and indirectly hurt Americans.
As I write the Dow Jones has already plummeted nearly 4%, and futures markets like the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ began falling within hours after the president’s final announcement on his tariffs. Not only does this trade affect Americans, but it would directly impact our closest neighbors both in proximity and trade:
- Canada
- Mexico
- European countries
One of the most basic commands of God is to love our neighbors (Exodus 23:4-5, Leviticus 19:18; 34, Mark 12:31). This is because man’s sinful nature puts self first and doesn’t look out for the interests of others.
Selflessness is a worldly practice, not a divine one or one that God permits among His people (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). As we prepare for the Easter season, we need to keep in mind that God showed us true love is sacrificial for others, not selfish (John 3:16).
As the stock market and the economy continue to crumble under this administration we see a basic truth about this fallen world, it is temporary and this temporary kingdom will not last (Proverbs 23:4-5, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Luke 12:10). You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or billionaire to know that all things in this life will come to an end at some point (James 4:14).
The End
The older you get, the more aware you are that temporary things in this life cannot satisfy and don’t last long enough to chase (Proverbs 11:28). You also realize that this world and our time in it will come to an end.
The dictionary defines and as, “The part that lies at a boundary, a point where something ceases to exist; death.” I recently celebrated the 28th anniversary of the accident that almost ended my time here in this life for good.
Sometimes, we have to nearly lose everything to realize just how temporary this life and world are. The Bible has a lot to say about the end of this world because it is God who created it and will destroy it in the end (Genesis 1:1, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 21:1).
God’s original plan was to dwell with His creation here on this planet, but mankind wasn’t content with what God had given them and wanted more (Genesis 3:-28). Because of mankind’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world (Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-20).
The Bible tells us that all creation grieves and waits in expectation of the end of this world (Romans 8:12). The reason why this world will end is to make room for the new perfect earth and Heaven where the creation will once again dwell with the Creator for eternity (Romans 8:21, 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about the end of this world.
‘Aḥărîṯ
The ancient world was corrupt and full of wickedness, sin, and idols. Things were so bad that the Torah tells us God regretted making His creation and decided to destroy it (Genesis 6:5-7).
God planned on ending His creation then, but relented because of Noah and God’s divine mercy. That is why God promised never to flood the earth again, but it will eventually be destroyed by fire (Psalm 97:5, Isaiah 34:4, Nahum 1:5). This world will end one way or another, regardless of what we do.
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for the end is ‘aḥărîṯ and it can also mean “Latter times,” depending on the context it is used in. In Judaism, the end of this world isn’t the end of time, there will be later days in Heaven with God.
Through His prophets, God gave His people many warnings and signs about the end of this world. Below are some of the common Jewish signs of the end of this world before the Messiah comes.
- Immense suffering and tribulations
- Gathering of the exiles
- Restoration of the Temple
- Economic fluctuations
- Social rebellions
- Widespread despair
- A final world war
- Hatred of Israel
- The Messiah arrives
Jesus also warned the Pharisees and His followers about the end of this world (Matthew 24:3-36, Luke 21:1-38.) The Disciples wanted to know when and what signs look for, but Jesus just wanted to be prepared (Matthew 24:3).
Because this world is temporary and will end Jesus taught His followers not to put their hope into this temporary world, but to store up treasures in heaven where they won’t be destroyed with this world (Matthew 6:20).
In His Olivet discourse, Jesus described the destruction of the temple and the end of this age, this prophecy is like the Jewish apocalyptic language of the end times (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21).
Jesus warned how the hearts of God’s people will grow cold and the disobedience of God’s law will increase (Matthew 24:2). God’s people will turn to false prophets and idols who promise them earthly greatness and riches to make them happy (Matthew 7:15.)
The Apostle Paul also warned us that in the end times, God’s people will become lovers of money and feel good dreams and boastful (2 Timothy 3:2). We know Paul was talking about God’s people because the lost and the corrupt world have always wanted and pursued the temporary pleasures of this life. That is why God set His people apart from this fallen world, to be different (Exodus 19:6.)
Israel
Israel was I was always a part of these end-times prophecies because God’s people were to be a nation dedicated to God and not the ways of this world. It is Israel and the people of God who are to be the rulers of the world to come in the latter times (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22).
As I write this Israel has bombed a U.N. shelter in Gaza. Israel continues the pursuit of power in the region and the hatred and attacks in the region will continue to escalate just as the biblical prophecies warned it would in the last days (Isaiah 11:12, Ezekiel 38:1-39, Joel 1:6, Zachariah 12 1-14.)
The wars in the Middle East will only get worse until Jesus who is our only Savior returns and gathers His people and overcomes this world just as the Bible and Jesus predicted (Daniel 7:21, Revelation 19:19).
Israel is called to be a nation dedicated to the ways of God, not this fallen world that is perishing because of mankind’s sin:
- Greed
- Prideful
- Unloving
- Consumed with power
This week President Trump also announced he would put a 70% tariff on Israeli goods, even after Israel canceled its tariffs on US goods. All of this war and fighting over money and temporary greatness by God’s people is one of the clearest indicators that the end is near. The Bible warned us that God’s people will turn to whatever makes them happy (2 Timothy 3:4). Jesus made it clear that the hearts of God’s people will grow cold to the things of God in aḥărîṯ!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In