In a deeply moving vision, Rabbi Kirt Schneider recounts being among 200 worshippers, all eyes fixed on Messiah and passionately calling for His return. Amid the anointed worship, the Spirit allowed him to see beyond the sanctuary into the streets—a world weighed down by fear, responsibility and spiritual oppression. In that moment, the Lord spoke: “What you have that those outside need is hope.”
As we draw closer to the return of Christ, what we need most is the hope found in Jesus that we can cling to as the world continues to get shakier during this time. Jesus Himself warned that before His return the world would resemble the days of Noah and Lot: people living as though nothing would change, while immorality and violence pervaded society.
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Schneider explains that at Jesus’ first coming and as the gospel spread, demonic influence over cultures was restrained. But as society increasingly rejects biblical values and enters a post-Christian era, those same forces of darkness have returned with greater intensity.
Referencing Matthew 12:43–45, Schneider illustrates this principle:
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest but finds none… Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”
He clarifies that Jesus wasn’t speaking only about individuals, but about entire cultures: the demons that were expelled at Christ’s first coming will return to humanity, even fiercer than before. The moral and spiritual gains made when the gospel first spread are being undone, and now the darkness is reasserting itself. This intensifying spiritual oppression is evident in modern culture, from moral decay to public displays mocking biblical faith, showing just how far humanity has drifted.
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Schneider stresses that there’s no political or social solution that can reverse the tide; our only hope is the return of Christ. Jesus’ final words in Revelation weren’t given just for theological debate but to prepare believers to endure until His coming. The world’s current turbulence is only the “birth pangs” of what’s ahead. Schneider recalls another vision where, after a grueling military assignment at sea, an officer warned him: “If you think the last assignment was hard, the next one will be even harder.” Likewise, life on earth will become increasingly difficult, making it vital for believers to be spiritually anchored.
The call to action is urgent: Are we ordering our steps after the Lord daily? Are we rooted in prayer and worship morning and night? Only a life tethered to Jesus will stand firm as the end times intensify.
Schneider closes with a promise and hope: Jesus is coming soon. The “blessed hope” is not just doctrine; it is the ultimate fulfillment of every soul’s deepest hunger. Believers are urged to join the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
