I’m sure this group is sincere — but the Bible cautions us against making guesses of this kind. Jesus said that regardless of what is happening in the world, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).

The Bible does teach, however, that as the time for Christ’s return approaches, Satan will greatly intensify his efforts to stop God’s plans. One of the ways he will do this is by sending “the man of lawlessness” into the world — a powerful leader who will strike out at God’s people and lead a rebellion against God’s work (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The Bible calls him “the deceiver and the antichrist,” because he will turn many away from Christ by his lies (2 John 1:7).

This is one reason why we must base our lives on God’s truth as it is found in His Word, the Bible. In it we discover the truth about God and about Christ — and the more we know of God’s truth, the harder it will be for Satan to deceive us.

Make the Bible part of your life every day. Read it … study it … memorize it … learn from others who know it and believe it. With God’s truth in our hearts “we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).