Satan is a cunning liar who has fooled people for millennia, and he will continue to deceive people in the last days.
The Bible says in Revelation 20:10, "The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire… and will be tormented day and night forever and ever." But before God enacts this final punishment on Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness will have one last opportunity to deceive people and fill their lives with untold misery. He revels in humanity's unhappiness.
Satan knows that he lacks Christ's power, and he has preyed on human weakness from the beginning. He has been called the "father of lies," and in the end times, he will use lies and all the cunning he possesses to lure people away from Christ.
He will manipulate nations and bring them together to fight God's people and the holy city. Many people will be misled by his lies, and the world will experience immense suffering because of his machinations, according to Christ.
Satan's Evil Unleashed
The Scripture says that as Jesus is leaving the Temple with his disciples, the men start pointing out various buildings in the complex.
Jesus tells them that everything will be destroyed. "Not one stone will be left on top of another," he says. The prophecy comes true when the Romans destroy the Temple in 70 A.D.
Later, the disciples privately approach the Lord on the Mount of Olives and ask him to tell them about the end times and his second coming. He tells them that Satan will unleash unimaginable evil and suffering on the world.
While Christ gives the disciples this warning, he also offers words of encouragement.
He cautions them against being misled by Satan and warns them about the global conflicts, natural disasters and famines that will occur as a precursor to the last days.
The Savior gives his disciples these specific warnings.
1. False Messiahs
In the end times, many charlatans will claim, "I am the Messiah," and they will convince large numbers of people to follow them, Christ says. "Don't let them mislead you" (Matthew 24:4 NLT).
2. Wars and Threats of War
There will also be wars and threats of war, as nations fight nations and kingdoms fight kingdoms. Christ says these things must take place and tells his followers not to panic.
3. Disasters
Famines, earthquakes, and other disasters will strike many parts of the world. These catastrophes will be extensive, but they will not signal the end of time, Christ explains. In Matthew 24:8, he compares the disasters to the initial pains of childbirth and says there will be more pain to come. In using the imagery of childbirth, Christ indicates that humanity's discomfort will become more intense, the pains more frequent, and the agony intolerable.
4. Growing Hatred
The world will hate Christ's followers and will arrest, persecute and kill them because of this hatred, the Lord tells his disciples.
5. Satan's Hatred Unleashed
Many people will reject Christ and betray and hate one another, he says.
6. False Prophets
False prophets and false religions will rise up. The false prophets will perform apparent miracles and give other signs that mislead people. Their false teachings will contradict the Bible and turn many people away from God. Christ instructs his followers to reject these false messiahs and prophets. They seemingly perform miracles, but they are intent on deceiving people, including God's chosen ones. "So, if someone tells you, 'Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,' don't bother to go and look. Or, 'Look, he is hiding here,' don't believe it," Christ says (Matthew 24:26 NLT).
7. The Spread of Sin
Sin will run rampant throughout the world in the end times. Belief in God's promises will grow weaker as people become increasingly self-centered. Even Christians will feel less love and compassion for others. Their love "will go cold" (Matthew 24:12 NLT).
8. Desecration
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus mentions the "abomination of desolation," which refers to an object or act of desecration in the Temple or its grounds. Daniel 9 in the Old Testament had prophesied that an idol or altar to a false god would be placed there.
Christ says that everyone in Judah must immediately flee when the desecration occurs because "there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began, and it will never be so great again" (Matthew 24:21). The Lord further explains, "In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive," Jesus tells his disciples. "But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones" (Matthew 24:22 NLT).
9. Christ Returns
In Matthew 24:29, Christ warns his disciples that immediately following these days of anguish, the sun and moon will become dark, the stars will fall from the sky and "the powers in the heavens will be shaken."
Christ will appear "on the clouds of heaven" and send his angels out "with the mighty blast of a trumpet." The angels will then bring together all of God's chosen people from around the world. Christ urges his followers to be ready because no one knows the exact time of his second coming. But these signs indicate his return is very near.
Judgment will come. God will defeat evil and establish a new heaven and earth. Then, all will be well.
As we face uncertain times, Jesus' warnings serve as both a caution and a comfort. They remind us to stay spiritually alert, rooted in truth, and unwavering in faith. While Satan may wreak havoc for a season, Christ assures us that God will ultimately triumph. Evil will be defeated, and those who endure to the end will share in the glory of God’s eternal kingdom.
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