Given the current chaos and confusion in the world today, it is hard to avoid the thought that the end times are upon us. You’ve probably heard predictions of when the world will end, or perhaps you don’t even want to think about it. The truth is the world is straying from God and scripture points to several warnings we can see all around us. There are things Christians should be doing to get ready for these cataclysmic events, but there are also things that we should not do. Here are five end time errors Christians need to avoid.

Trying to calculate the date.

One common end time error Christians make is believing they will be able to predict the calculate the date, but we can’t. We should avoid determining a date and time for the end times. Despite many attempts throughout the years to calculate when it will take place, the truth is we cannot calculate the day Christ will return because God specifically chose not to reveal this to us. When Jesus was asked about the apocalyptic time by the apostles, He replied. “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:7-8). Only God knows the date, the time and the hour, and only God knows when the time will run out.

Looking for secret codes in scripture.

While many people will try to find ways to “decode” scripture and claim there are hidden codes in the Bible about the end times, the idea of hidden codes contradicts the Bible’s real message. The Bible frequently speaks about its clarity. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 19:7 teaches, “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Anyone who claims that they can decipher the cryptic messages God “hid” in scriptures is lying. Such “experts” are not needed because the Bible contains no hidden codes. There are concepts in the Bible that are hard to understand, even the apostle Peter admitted that (2 Peter 3:15). The way to discover the meaning of these hard passages is not by finding hidden messages, but by engaging different study that accurately handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Not keeping Christ-focused.

As previously mentioned, we can’t calculate the date or the time of the end times, but we can be intentional about the time given to us. We should live our lives so that when Christ arrives, we can say our time has been well-spent.

A Christ-focused life is one that centers on a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. At the heart of every human decision is motivation. Some people are motivated by the quest for pleasure or money. Some center their entire lives on a goal, a job, or even their families. We should be sure that what we are motivated by doesn’t become our god. When we center our hearts on Jesus, our lives quickly follow.

Not testifying to the truth about God.

One common end time error Christians make is not testifying to the truth about God. Revelation 12:1 points out how to prepare for the end times and the tools we should utilize: “And they [believers on earth] overcome him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” This is the same Lamb pointed out in John 1:29, who takes away the sin of the world. Testifying is the personal action that makes this truth real. If we do not testify, nothing happens. Our testimony is the action that triggers the whole process and brings satan’s defeat. When we begin to testify God’s Word, we experience a special kind of opposition and begin to do the devil harm. The devil is fine with us believing whatever we like to believe until we begin to share our testimony. That’s when he gets rattled. When you do this, the enemy will do everything he can to frighten and discourage you because He wants to keep you from declaring the Word of God. Our testimony has great power.

Thinking hell doesn’t exist.

Nobody wants to talk or even think about hell, for the sake of themselves or the sake of others. Yet, it’s a major subject, in the New Testament, and when it comes to the end times. You may be surprised how many believers don’t believe or accept that hell exists. For those who doubt it, God has given us substantial evidence that hell does exist in His infallible message to us. If you don’t believe hell exists, consider these words from Jesus: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5). If you don’t believe hell exists, you don’t trust God’s Word or truth.

By understanding what God says about the end times, there can be peace in our hearts and an increased understanding of what is to come. As the world gets darker around us, and we face greater spiritual battles than ever before, we have hope through Jesus Christ.