The Church, Hardships, and the Great Commission

The church has existed on earth for 2,000 years, yet things have gotten worse in many ways and for various reasons. Jesus knew this would happen (Luke 21:8-12), and Paul knew it (1 Thessalonians 3:5:1-11; 2; Timothy. 3:1-7) and Jude knew it (Jude 3-4, 10-16). However, there were always undercurrents of evangelistic activities by believers committed to the Great Commission. The Roman Catholic Church hindered them by insisting that salvation is by rituals and traditions (works), but God used the Reformation to revive the truth (salvation by grace through faith). Unless God sends another reformation or major revival (historically they have changed nations for the better), I don't believe we can expect things to get better. However, until the rapture, we must remain faithful to the Great Commission regardless of how terrible things get. Furthermore, as believers our future is bright:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good”(Titus.2.11-14).

Blessings!