“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
— Revelation 3:10

I have news for you, beloved. Life is going to get harder. But Jesus said in Revelation 3:10 that if we live for Him completely now, we will be able to stand as the world becomes increasingly darker and more oppressive.

The time to prepare for difficulty is not when it comes. You have to get ready for hardship beforehand. Our military personnel don’t prepare for battle when they’re in the midst of the fighting. They train in advance so when the conflict comes, they will be able to stand.

I can promise you this: we are not headed for a utopia. There will not be lasting peace on earth until Messiah Yeshua comes and reigns over the world. Until then the world is going to get worse.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:1 that “in the last days difficult times will come.” Jesus said, “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold….For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matt. 24:10–12, 21).

Right now the Holy Spirit is restraining the enemy and the chaos he wants to unleash in the world. But as we get closer to Messiah’s return, the Holy Spirit will begin to draw back, and then pandemonium will arise.

Now is the time to get ready. We need to practice loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength today, not tomorrow. Jesus promised that if we practice putting Him first today, when things get difficult, we will overcome. In fact light shines even brighter in the darkness.

Yeshua is coming soon, but until He does, we will see more and more chaos and hardship arising in the world. We are not to fear. But we must be serious and get prepared while we still can.

Father God, I know that in this world there will be tribulation, but Your Word declares that You have overcome the world. Lord, help me not to fear suffering but to live confidently as I look forward and prepare myself for Your return. Strengthen me by Your grace so that I will be faithful to You until the end.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Revelation (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2020), Used by permission.