The book of Romans ends with a strong call for believers to keep our eyes on the future, looking forward to the completion of our salvation, "For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11). The Final Things refers to the final judgement, the final condition of the redeemed, and how we are to live today in light of these revelations. Christianity says that we are not to be overcome with evil, but we are to overcome evil with good (Revelation 12:21). It is not an oversimplification to say that the Christian seeks to expand the kingdom of God with the proclamation of the gospel, by founding hospitals, orphanages, and schools, and by other peaceful means. And Islam, at least part of it, seeks to expand its influence by violence. This morning we will examine the basic Christian understanding of the end times, and how these teachings impact us morally and ethically today. For Christians, war is entered into as a last resort, when peaceful means to resolve problems have failed - for liberation and freedom, not subjugation and oppression. We look forward to the future peace of God: "They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).
