Are We in the End Times? Prophecies Involving Israel, Fears of 'Annihilation' and 'Darkness'

Max Lucado has covered a lot of ground over the years as a pastor, author, and Gospel communicator. Most recently, he released a book about the biblical end times titled, "What Happens Next? A Traveler's Guide Through the End of this Age." It's a subject Lucado felt compelled to tackle. He said the "condition of the world" and the things happening in Israel, Gaza, Russia, Ukraine, China, Taiwan, and other locations compelled him to action.   "[There is] this sense that the world feels super fragile right now ... like we're one press of a red button away from annihilation," he said. "There's just ... this angst in the world. So, those two things kind of came together, and I began to take seriously more teaching and study on this topic." While the topic of the end times can sometimes spark anxiety and worry, Lucado also addressed why these subjects should usher in peace. "It has been used to scare people or manipulate people," Lucado said. "It should not. Jesus, when he wanted to encourage His followers on the night before His crucifixion, He spoke about end times."   He continued, "[Jesus] said, 'Don't let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. [In] my Father's house are many mansions.' He went on to tell them that He would come and get them, and so He used the promise of His return as a way to lift them out of anxiety and sadness."   Lucado said Jesus' return is a "key fixture of Scripture" and that it's mentioned more than 300 times in the Bible and in nearly every book of the New Testament. "It's a dominating, primary theme of Scripture, that Christ will return," Lucado said. "And it should give us hope. In these days, it feels so dark; it feels so desperate. The promise of the return of Christ, in which the world that's upside down now will be turned right side up — for some people, it's the only hope they have."   The preacher said his desire is to follow the Apostle Paul's advice to help others fix their minds on "things above, not things of the Earth." It's the promise of Heaven, he said, that should become the focus. Listen to him discuss this, prophecies about Israel, and more.