(I wrote this post five years ago but my opinion hasn’t changed.)
” He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” – Matthew 13:24-30
I believe the last days began during the earthly ministry of Jesus and the greatest event in human history was his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. As Christians we should focus on Jesus and his purposes and plans for the earth during these last days. We are living in a time of incredible harvest. An unprecedented number of Muslims are coming into the Kingdom of God. I know of one ministry alone in India that is seeing about 3000 converts a day come to Christ. D.A. Carson says,”By virtually any calculation, in the last 150 years there has been greater international mission work than in the preceding 1,800 years combined. “Scandalous, page 96.
Basically things are getting much worse and much better simultaneously. God is doing amazing things in these last days. Satan knows his days are numbered and his rage against Christians is evident. The glory of God will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea (Hab.2:13). It may look like the Kingdom is not prevailing to those of us in the United States and Europe, but we must be patient and remain faithful to the end. I believe many Jews will come into the Kingdom during the days ahead, but I think it is a mistake to keep our focus on natural Israel and a literal temple. God is presently building a spiritual temple so it’s important to keep our focus on Jesus, and the Kingdom he is building. Satan’s rage against Christians will intensify during these days of harvest. But remember this: We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (the gospel) and by not loving our lives even unto death. (see Rev 12)