In the past 3,400 years, the world has been at peace less than ten percent of the time—about 268 years total. The question of why God allows bad things to happen has puzzled believers and skeptics alike. By examining this issue through the lens of biblical prophecy, particularly the Millennium—a future thousand-year reign of peace under Christ's leadership—we gain a broader perspective on suffering and divine purpose. It's important to remember that suffering is an inevitable part of our journey, a reality that can reassure us and help us prepare and mobilize Christians to share the truth of the Gospel.
The Spiritual Origins of Suffering
We can trace the origins of suffering back to Adam and Eve. Their sin in the Garden of Eden, as described in Genesis 3, destroyed the perfect harmony God established between Himself, humanity, and creation. After eating the forbidden fruit, the couple knew they could no longer stand in God's presence unashamed. So, they attempted to hide from Him and shift the blame. The cancer of sin spread quickly, leading to the world's first murder in the next generation (Genesis 4:8).
The situation has not improved. Mankind's propensity and ability to harm one another have increased exponentially. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, at least nine countries possess nuclear weapons. Each nuclear-armed submarine in the U.S. Navy has seven times the destructive power of all the bombs dropped during World War II. Some scholars believe Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24:6-7 points to another world war. This interpretation seems probable, given that nearly all the major nuclear powers are actively working to increase their nuclear capabilities.
As the effects of original sin continue to ripple outward with increasing intensity and frequency, the problem remains the same. War, lawlessness, and hatred originate in the human heart, largely as a by-product of greed. From our earliest days, we fight a battle against our fallen nature that longs for what we do not have.
The Spiritual Solution to Suffering
Our world will continue to splinter as history hurtles toward the End Times. We cannot prevent bad things from happening, but we can change ourselves. While it would be tempting to respond with anger, despair, or apathy in the face of such futility, God calls us to stand firm in our convictions. There are many facets to faithful Christian living, but let me recommend five practical principles for facing all the bad things that go along with living in the world of the end. Remember, our faith is not just a support in times of suffering, but a powerful tool that can guide us through the darkest of days, empowering us and giving us hope.
Our world will continue to splinter as history hurtles toward the End Times. We cannot prevent bad things from happening, but we can change ourselves.
Stay calm.
Even as Jesus predicted "wars and rumors of wars," He told His disciples, "See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6). The tragedies rocking our world grieve Almighty God, but they do not surprise Him. Ours is a God who raises up nations and rulers—and brings them low—according to His perfect plan for our lives and our world. The Bible encourages us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7).
Trust God.
The pain of our circumstances never exceeds God's power or faithfulness. Psalm 46:8-9 says, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire." God has appointed an end date for the reign of sin and suffering. If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we can be completely confident that our future is utterly and joyously assured. In the words of the apostle Paul, "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). Being confident in troubled times isn't about having everything figured out; it's about trusting the One who has everything figured out.
Give Generously.
Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). And the apostle John wrote, "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18). People are hungry in our world today, but we can feed them. People are sick, but we can minister to them. This is not a time for Christians to cling to our possessions. As we await the Millennium, when God’s perfect provision will endure for one thousand years, we can choose to be the people God wants us to be.
As we await the Millennium, when God’s perfect provision will endure for one thousand years, we can choose to be the people God wants us to be.
Be Thankful.
Trusting God and maintaining an attitude of gratitude is difficult when we get bogged down in a scarcity mentality. We can prepare our heart for living in troubled times by focusing on all the ways God has provided for us in the past. Scripture tells us, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This passage does not say we have to be thankful for everything but in everything. No matter where we find ourselves in life, we can reshape our view of the present by reviewing what God has done for us in the past. And when we adopt an attitude of gratitude, it changes our heart. We begin to see God's goodness and our ability to minister to those around us.
Keep the Faith.
On October 7, 2016, the Turkish government imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson on charges of "support of a terrorist organization" and "political or military espionage." He spent 735 days imprisoned in the New Testament city of Smyrna under deplorable conditions. Pastor Brunson struggled to persevere during his ordeal, but the Lord did not forsake him. He reported, "Each day, I focused on fighting through my fear to reach a place where I surrendered myself to whatever God had for me."1 Now, he senses an urgency to prepare the global Church for increasing persecution. "I believe the pressures that we're seeing in our country now are going to increase, and one of these pressures is going to be hostility toward people who embrace Jesus Christ and his teaching, who are not ashamed to stand for him.... My concern is that we're not ready for this pressure. And not being prepared is very, very dangerous on a number of levels."2
Following Jesus has always carried a cost. When Paul wrote the letter known as 2 Timothy, he knew he didn't have long to live. Tradition and substantial empirical evidence suggest that Paul penned his epistle from Rome's Mamertine Prison or somewhere similar—a dungeon in a former well located a dozen feet below ground. Facing the end of his earthly journey, Paul had no regrets. "The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Do you love the Lord's appearing? Living for the Lord involves sacrifice, labor, and danger. Those eager for Christ's return persevere because they know their final salvation and righteousness are sure. As we see bad things happening all around us and to us, Christians don't have to be afraid because we know the One who is in charge. The Lord is on His throne, and one day He will return to right every wrong.
The Lord is on His throne, and one day He will return to right every wrong.
Knowing the truth of what the Bible teaches us about the Millennium is not just a nice story or comforting metaphor but a future reality. In this coming golden age, the resurrected Christ will reign in complete power. He will command total dominion over all of the lands and peoples on earth. His government will be made up of the saints, who will take part in ensuring His perfect peace, justice, and righteousness.
1Andrew Brunson with Craig Borlase, God's Hostage (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2019), 79.
2'Hostility Toward People Who Embrace Jesus Christ': Pastor Brunson Predicts Intensified Persecution of US Christians," CBN News, December 10, 2020, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2020/december/hostility-toward-people- who-embrace-jesus-christ-pastor-brunson-predicts-intensified-persecution-of-us- christians.
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