Just wondered about the end times. Will people of a different faith than Christianity be given a chance to convert before judgement day?
The book of Revelation indicates that in the last days there will be no one ignorant of the gospel and the consequences of rejecting it and following the corrupt world system:
Revelation 14:6-11 NASB And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (7) and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." (8) And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." (9) Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (11) "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
But we have no guarantees that we are on the cusp of the end, so we must be diligent to proclaim the good news to the lost, both by doing it ourselves in our own circle of influence, and by supporting those who do as missionaries in other areas.
And do you believe judgement day is in the near future or a much longer time? I know that no man knows the hour. Maybe I shouldn't speculate about this.
I used to believe it was coming in my lifetime, but I am not so sure now. We are called to be ready no matter whether He comes for us personally (we die) or for His church corporately (the rapture):
Matthew 24:36-44 NASB "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (37) "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. (38) "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (40) "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. (41) "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. (42) "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (43) "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. (44) "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
We are free to speculate on times and seasons, but avoid setting a date for His return. We can now see wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes... but Jesus said these things are only the beginnings of birth pains. Birth pains start off at intervals, but as the birth draws near, the pangs become stronger and more frequent. If we are indeed living in the last days, expect wars, famines, and earthquakes to become more frequent and severe as the time approaches.
