You Versus the World: Standing Alone in the Last Days

In the annals of sports history, few incidents reveal human nature as starkly as what happened on October 14th, 2003, at Wrigley Field. During the National League Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs were five outs away from breaking a 58-year curse and advancing to the World Series. They led 3-0 in the eighth inning against the Florida Marlins. Then everything changed.

A foul ball headed toward the stands. Left fielder Moises Alou reached to catch it, but several fans—including Steve Bartman—reached for it too. The ball ricocheted away. What followed wasn’t just a baseball collapse as the Marlins scored eight runs that inning. What followed was a terrifying display of mob mentality.

As the big screen replayed the incident over and over, 41,000 fans identified their scapegoat. Boos turned to insults. Insults became threats. By the time security escorted Bartman from the stadium, fans were hurling food, beer, and objects at him. His personal information was posted online. Death threats flooded in. His life was forever changed—not because he was guilty of anything criminal, but because an emotionally charged mob needed someone to blame.

This incident serves as a chilling preview of what awaits God’s people in the final days of earth’s history.

The Beginning of Sorrows

Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:6-8: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Notice that Christ specifically warns His followers not to be troubled. Why would He need to issue this warning unless the circumstances would be so dire that even believers would be tempted toward fear? If Christians need this admonition, imagine the state of the world at large. Logic and reason will evaporate in the face of overwhelming fear and uncertainty.

The word “sorrows” here is the same term used for labor pains—contractions that start gradually but increase in intensity and frequency until birth. We may be experiencing these early contractions now. Each crisis may subside temporarily, only to return with greater force until the final climax of human history.

But here’s the crucial connection: In Matthew 24:9, immediately after describing these calamities, Jesus says, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

The word “then” is significant. It indicates sequence—after the natural disasters come persecution. God’s people will become the scapegoat for the world’s troubles, just as Steve Bartman became the scapegoat for a baseball game’s outcome.

The Power of the Mob

Psychological experiments have demonstrated the overwhelming power of group influence. In one famous study, researchers showed participants a simple line and asked them to match it with one of several other lines. When actors in the group deliberately chose wrong answers, test subjects—despite knowing the correct answer—went along with the group’s obviously incorrect choice again and again.

This reveals an uncomfortable truth about human nature: We are wired to belong, to conform, to follow the crowd. When emotions run high and circumstances become dire, even intelligent, rational people abandon reason and join the mob.

History confirms this pattern. During the 1940s in Germany, millions stood by as their Jewish neighbors were shipped to concentration camps. How could so many do nothing? Because swimming against the current of collective action requires extraordinary courage. Human nature gravitates toward going along to get along.

We like to think we’ve evolved beyond such barbarism, but human nature hasn’t changed. What happened before will happen again.

The Whole World Will Marvel

Revelation 13:3 declares: “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”

The entire world will wonder—meaning to admire or marvel—after the beast. It’s striking that the most successful entertainment franchise in history is called “Marvel,” with nearly $23 billion in worldwide revenue. Could it be that society is being groomed to marvel at the wrong thing?

Revelation 13:7-8 continues: “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Those who refuse to worship the beast or receive his mark will face economic sanctions and death threats. They will not be able to buy or sell. They will stand alone against the entire world system.

Every instinct of human nature will scream at God’s people to conform, to go along, to save themselves. The pressure will be unlike anything experienced in human history.

Christ Stood Alone First

But there is hope, because we serve a Savior who has already walked this path. In Luke 23:20-23, we read of Pilate’s attempt to release Jesus: “Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him… And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified.”

Even Pilate, a pagan Roman governor, recognized Jesus’ innocence. Yet the mob didn’t care about justice or truth. They were caught up in irrational hatred, pressing their demands with increasing volume and violence.

Christ understands what it means to stand alone against an angry world. He faced the fury of the mob so that we wouldn’t have to face it without Him. When we stand alone for truth in the last days, we won’t truly be alone—because Jesus promises, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Preparing to Stand

The time to prepare for standing alone is now. But before we can stand alone, we must learn to stand together. It’s tragic that God’s people, on the brink of facing the greatest crisis in human history, often cannot even stand united today.

Now is the time to encourage one another, to strengthen each other for what lies ahead. We need community. We need fellowship. We need to build bonds of faith that will sustain us when the storm breaks.

First Thessalonians 5:1-6 reminds us that while the day of the Lord will come as a thief to those in darkness, believers are “children of light.” We are not in darkness that this day should overtake us as a thief. We can see the signs. We can prepare.

The preparation isn’t primarily physical, though wisdom in practical matters has its place. The preparation is spiritual—developing such a close relationship with Christ that when every earthly support is stripped away, when every friend has fled, when the whole world turns against us, we will still have the one relationship that matters.

The Best Is Yet to Come

Yes, persecution is coming. Yes, God’s people will face unprecedented pressure. Yes, many will have to stand alone.

But here’s the glorious truth that should fill us with anticipation rather than dread: The best is yet to come. What God will do for His people in the last days will exceed anything recorded in Scripture. The experiences of the early church in the book of Acts will pale in comparison to what God has planned for His final generation.

The question posed in Revelation 6:17 remains: “Who shall be able to stand?” In our own strength, none of us can. But in Christ’s strength, filled with His Spirit, empowered by His grace, we can stand firm.

The world may rage. The mob may threaten. Every human instinct may urge conformity. But when we have Jesus, we are never truly alone. And that makes all the difference between capitulation and victory.

The time to choose is now. Will we stand with Christ, even if it means standing against the world?