We tend not to not put the 1 Corinthians 13 “love chapter” in the same part of our brains as the Revelation 19 “second coming of Christ” chapter, but that is what we are going to do. We typically find beautiful quotes from Paul’s love passage on our mom’s refrigerators or Grandma’s living room. But love is the very reason God created heaven and earth and it’s the very reason He intends to restore it. It doesn’t get anymore apocalyptic than the love of God poured out in Christ Jesus. 

Paul explains that we can speak in angelic tongues, prophesy with all prophetic powers, understand all mysteries, have faith to move mountains, but if we don’t have love, we have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). He then goes on to famously describe love. It’s patient, kind, doesn’t envy or boast; not arrogant or rude. It doesn’t insist in its own way; not irritable or resentful; doesn’t rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). 

Does that not sound like the way God is treating the earth? Are the Father, Son, and Spirit not bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things? Bearing with all the sin in the world, believing for the new world to come forth in Christ, hoping for every last person to repent and turn to Him, and enduring with all human suffering until the end when “all things” are truly made new (Revelation 21:5)? 

We need to have the same love for all people our Father has. This is the love that will heal the world. This is the love that will endure through any great tribulation to come. People are often waiting for the “great tribulation” to pop on the scene, but there have been many great tribulations throughout history. The Black Death, the Great Depression, World War II, just to name a few. During these tribulations there were undoubtedly people who believed the world was coming to an end. But there were also believers who rose up in these times with the love of God and shined bright. It’s like Mr. Rogers quote, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” 

The advice of Mr. Rogers’ mom is similar to the words of the prophet Daniel. Daniel saw a “time of trouble, such as never has been” but in that context he saw, “those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). It’s in dark times that the light shines the brightest. Likewise, the love of 1 Corinthians 13 will be needed more than ever through any great tribulations that come. 

Paul added three words that cut like a sword to anyone with ears to hear: “Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8). If you want to be an apocalyptic end-time warrior, love will be the only thing that makes it through the end and keeps on going forever. The entire new heaven and new earth are clearly based on the love of God and the love that His children have and share. A great way to help shape this new world is to love and care for “orphans and widows” with the love of God the Father (James 1:27). To focus on the love of God might sound overly simplistic or idealistic but we’re dealing with the God who sent His Son to die on the cross for all of humanity. He’s shown us His heart. It’s His love that started the church, His love that reformed society, and His love that will ultimately heal the world.