The Countdown

By Sharon Byrd

20, 19, it’s kind of frightening
To think of that final tock.
18, 17, 16, 15,
When will the countdown stop?

End times and end of days
Are things we don’t think a lot of.
Jesus said He’s coming back!
And these are things we should talk of.

How do we discern the times
When everything around us is rotten?
When morals and scruples are left behind
And all that is good is forgotten?

The disciples walked with Jesus,
And they wished to discern the times,
And Jesus answered carefully,
To keep some things in mind.

He said many will come in My Name,
Saying ‘I am the Christ,’
They will challenge and deceive many;
But you – you must be wise.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars
And many things will terrify you,
But still the end has not yet come,
And I will still be by you.

Nation will rise against nation,
Great signs and famines in this.
Jesus spoke of fearful sights,
Of earthquakes and pestilences.

But all these things must come to pass,
And they are only the beginning,
Of sorrows in various places,
But be sure, this world is ending.

They will deliver you up and kill you, He said,
And you will be hated by nations for My Name.
Many will be offended…
But I am coming, just the same.

They will betray each other
And hate one another,
Sister against sister
And brother against brother.

Love will grow cold and lawlessness abound,
But He who endures to the end
Will be found.

And this Gospel, this Great Gospel
Will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations,
And then the end will come.

Notice He doesn’t say maybe,
Or someday, or somehow, or it might –
The countdown has already begun,
And it could end tonight.

The Bible says no man
Knows the hour nor the day –
Neither us on earth, nor the angels –
So be careful what you say.

Nation has risen against nation,
Earthquakes and famines abound,
Therefore you also be ready,
For the Son of Man is coming down.

As the lightning comes from the east,
And flashes to the west,
So also will the coming of the Son of Man be,
He is going to pick up His elect.

That means you and that means me… or, does it?
11, 10, 9, 8…
Is it right on time or a little late?

You can look outside your window;
See how the mighty have fallen,
But can you not discern the times,
Or determine Heaven’s calling?

Children are growing up faster,
We’ve got drugs; we’ve got alcohol and sex;
People are turning to physical pleasure
And who knows what else next?

We’ve got weapons of mass destruction,
Natural disasters, raging nations;
Homosexuality, abuse, a denial of truth.
These are some terrible situations.

And this Gospel, this Great Gospel
Will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations,
And then the end will come.

Jesus did it all for us:
Salvation is yours for the asking.
Discern the times, and number your days,
The earth as we know it is passing.

For as in the days before the Flood,
They were eating and drinking and marrying.
In the Wild, Wild West of Noah,
How many people was God’s ark carrying?

When you see clouds coming from the West you say,
‘Storm’s coming’- and you’re right.
And when the wind comes out of the South you say,
‘It’s probably gonna be hot tonight.’

You know how to tell a
Change in the weather,
So don’t tell me you can’t tell
When change is not better.

The countdown clock
Is ticking for you, Man.
Put away the sin that hinders,
Find relationship again.

For the Son of Man is coming
At “an hour you do not expect.”
5, 4, 3, 2, 1….