THE GREATEST EVENT ON EARTH IS NOT FIFA WORLD CUP

Many call the FIFA World Cup the greatest event on earth. For the 2026 edition, FIFA is committing a record $871 million to financial distributions and prize money for the 48 qualified teams. While FIFA covers tournament operations and team-related costs, the host governments — Canada, Mexico, and the United States — will spend an estimated $3 billion or more on stadium upgrades, security, transportation, and infrastructure. Yes, huge revenue will be generated.

Yet despite all this spending, not everyone is interested in football. I’ve had people ask me which countries are hosting, and here in Africa I’ve noticed many women show little interest in the game.

But there is one event coming that every person on earth will take part in — living and dead. That event is the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Scripture says: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” Revelation 1:7.

Revelation 6:14-17 also describes it:

“The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone — the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person — all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?’”

The Apostle Paul adds in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”

The Signs of His Coming

Jesus Himself gave us signs in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21

1.  False Christs and deception

   “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4–5

2.  Wars and rumors of wars

   “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matthew 24:6–7

3.  Natural disasters, famines, and pestilences

   “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11

4.  Persecution of believers

   “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.” Matthew 24:9

5.  Lawlessness and love growing cold

   “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12

6.  The Gospel preached to all nations

   “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

Looking at these signs, many have already unfolded. That means Christ can return at any moment. Yet no one knows the day or hour — “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36

The Final Judgment

“And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books… And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

So I ask you: Will your name be found in the Book of Life?

If you haven’t yet given your life to Christ, it’s not too late. He came to reconcile us to the Father. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

And if you think you are standing firm, check yourself and take heed, “lest you fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12.