““Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.24.9-13.NASB2020

Many Christians believe the end is near. I don’t think so. Unpacking these verses seems to indicate a far darker time for the church than the one we are in today. All nations do not hate Christians. Certainly, the Muslim countries do as do the communist countries. Western countries overly influenced by the LGBTQ community likewise work hard against Christians as evidenced by a recent law change in Alberta, Canada prohibiting Christians from preaching out of the Bible those sections condemning homosexuality. Yet the world is not in agreement that all Christians should be killed and mistreated. However, since much of the world ignores God as He defines Himself in the Bible lawlessness has increased. God’s second highest command, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, is ignored and so lawlessness, evil against our fellow man, increases. It is only Christianity that teaches love for God is made most practical when love for man is displayed. Yet men love evil more than God, they love their own ways, their own religions, their selfish and self-centered lifestyles rather than living a life surrendered to the will of God and the work of God so the world ignores and disobeys God. But the true people of God make sharing the love of God in the Son of God their first and greatest priority for it is only when we love God first that we can truly love our neighbor well. The end will come when more Christians are doing more work causing more men to despise God, then the global persecution will come followed by the judgement of God for ignoring and disobeying the Son of God.