It's Time to Choose - Part 1

Part 2 - What Will You Choose?

[Darris McNeely] As the world enters a new year, let's understand what is happening and where we are in God's timeline for the nations. Most importantly, what does this mean for the choices before you?

History, it seems, is accelerating. Consider where we are in the march of history as God moves the world closer to the climax—the second coming of Jesus Christ. That day will come, and we need to watch for significant events announcing this event. Even when times seem calm, time marches on and we must continue to be mindful. The Bible has a term for ignoring what's happening. It's called sleep. Spiritual sleep is as lethal as carbon monoxide gas—silent and deadly.

Listen to what God inspired the apostle Paul to write. He said, For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. Therefore let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 6).

This does not mean we should expect the end to come at any moment. There are definite signs and trends preceding the catastrophic events before Christ's return. This end may not come as swiftly as we might anticipate, and today's trends help to inform us. While we live in the end time, there are indications that this world has some time left.

Scripture encourages discerning the time and responding accordingly. Even if the wait before the onrush of final calamity is longer than we might expect, that is no reason to let down. Events could still move quite quickly. However long we have, it is an opportunity to make good use of the time available.

The question is, what will you do in terms of the way you live your life and raise your family? This is a time for choosing, and it is vital that we understand what you should do.

There is an episode from the Bible that illustrates a time of choice. In 1 Chronicles 12, we have the story of people embracing the leadership of King David, whom God had chosen to be king in place of Saul. When Saul died, David was made king over the southern tribe of Judah. But the northern tribes still followed the house of Saul, propped up by his general for several more years. As the north's leadership was fracturing, realization was dawning that the future lay with David. And we see how some were negotiating a moment with wisdom and with courage.

This was especially the case with the leaders and people of the tribe of Issachar, as they pledged loyalty to the new king in the south. Notice how the wording is, "...of the sons of Issachar, who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their command" (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Those described here made a hard assessment of the events of their day. Power was shifting. God was moving among His people. Yet they had to choose who they would follow. Their future depended on their choice.

We're at such a moment. Our world is shifting. God is moving among the nations and guiding events to His eternal purpose. We are tempted to look to men and leaders for their wisdom and skills. But if God controls big events—and He does—then you should know what His plan and purpose is. God is the leader, and we should be following Him.

This is about choosing to serve the one whom the Father has chosen to rule the world—Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and ruling King. It's about rejecting the current ideologies, most of which further confuse people about God, biblical values, and true spiritual principles. It certainly is not about any of the current world religions. They're bankrupt when it comes to the teaching that leads to worshiping God in spirit and in truth. It involves us today trusting Christ and the Father to move today's world to the time when the Kingdom of God comes to earth, recognizing what is happening, and submitting to Christ's rule even now.

God's Kingdom is not yet here ruling the nations. When it arrives, you will know. And it's important to prepare now for the coming change in world order and the calamitous times that it will usher in. But how close does that change? Will the world be set free from the way things are tomorrow? No. There are specific events yet to occur before Christ's second coming.

Scripture shows that a final revival of the Roman Empire will emerge in Europe. It will dominate the globe. This future event will catch many by surprise.

The prophet Daniel foretold an intricate detail—the rise of a great power centered in Europe. This is the Roman Empire. It would rise after his time becoming a great power with multiple episodes between the time of Christ's first and second coming. History shows this empire—the Roman Empire—had many lives. The world awaits the final revival of this system that will dominate end-time events. It's one of the prophetic signs to watch for before Christ's return. But we're not yet at this point.

How can we know? Because Europe today cannot unite and command a leading role in world affairs.

The European leaders have come to Washington to consult with American leaders on how to end wars of aggression in Europe. American power shapes the negotiations among these nations to determine trade, military power, and diplomatic outcomes.

We have a very helpful booklet that you can find and begin to read at ucg.org/bt508. There you will find greater detail on this important topic and links to other information. You can also read and order our free study aid, Seven Prophetic Signs Before Jesus Returns.

Now here's another prophetic sign to watch for. The world's preeminent superpower today, the United States of America, will be greatly diminished in power, even suffering devastation at that time. We know that because we understand the identity of the United States along with Great Britain and other related nations in Bible prophecy. American leadership on the world scene was foretold in Scripture, as as the nations fall to the end time European power.

How close are we to that outcome? We don't know. Change can come quickly, but for the present, American power in the world remains dominant. Other international power blocs, including the European Union, lag significantly behind.

Let's look at another event telling us we're not quite yet at the time of the end.

On June 22, 2025, America sent bombers over Iran, striking and destroying its nuclear capacity. That attack stunned the world. It reset strategic relationships in the region. There are other Arab states that fear a nuclear Iran and it showed how Israel and America were prepared to act in preventing further escalation of conflict in the region. No other world power could do what the United States did that day. It's bombers flying halfway around the world for a precision strike and then returning unharmed to their base in mid-America.

Another prophetic sign foretold by the prophet Daniel is an attack by a power called the King of the North against the King of the South. Now in brief, this is a European power attacking a Middle Eastern-based power because of provocations. This event is foretold in Daniel 11:40. Let's read what that prophecy says, "At the time of the end, the King of the South shall attack him and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through."

This key event spoken of by Daniel triggers further in-time events, and this event has not yet happened. The point? Yes, America flew over Europe to bomb Iran. But this prophecy shows that it will be a European-based power involved in the event described by Daniel. The event described by Daniel has not occurred. World power is not aligned so it can happen. That lets us know the end is not yet. The international scene must yet change dramatically before the final calamitous events of the end of the age. It appears the United States will continue to lead the world for the short term.

Consider one more prophetic sign.

I mentioned the state of Israel. Conflict in the Middle East centers on the presence of this Jewish state. There is a reason the state of Israel exists. Bible prophecy says it will. Christ prophesied it would. And you need to understand what the Bible says about Israel in the time of the end. Be careful to not let anti-Semitism cloud your biblical view of this situation.

Again, I point you to our study aid, Seven Prophetic Signs Before Jesus Returns, at ucg.org/bt508. There are helpful links and greater detail and information on this important topic we're discussing.

The book of Revelation details the end of the age revolving around a global economic boom that promises peace and prosperity. Merchants of the earth will prosper with the rise of a global power called Babylon the Great, led ultimately by the end-time European power. This system will combine politics, religion, and economic prosperity, creating an unprecedented world order. At the heart of the current peace movements in the Middle East, we can see a path leading toward that. For now, American power drives all this.

The point again is this. We are not yet at the time of the collapse of America and the rise of the final European power and the calamity that immediately precedes the return of Jesus Christ. We clearly see that history is moving, the stage is being set, and God's prophetic word stands sure.

The question is, will you choose to seek God and the righteousness of His coming Kingdom? That will be the focus of part 2.

Go to ucg.org/bt508 for helpful links and greater detail on this important topic. And there, you can also read or order our free study aid, Seven Prophetic Signs Before Jesus Returns.