As the day of the lord draws nearer christians will experience more trials and tribulations. Discuss.?

Me and my christian peers had experience thought provoking and bizzare happenings in our christian walk.For instance my friend was hoping to attend this very important christian seminar that will be very beneficial for his christian life,he prayed so hard that he will be able to attend without any screw ups or accidents.But on the day itself he lost his pport and was unable to attend his concert oversea, he brought a wasted air-ticket and was terribly grief stricken,why did such misfortune happen to him on such a crucial moment. It was hours before the flight that he found out he lost the pport when he saw it just an hour ago! He asked God why did this happen to him and he thought maybe God thinks that the seminar aint best for his christian life. It puzzles me but i comforted him and encouraged him by my spirit.I thought maybe its because wants to see if he can stood the test of faith, he is a very steadfast servant of God, who can overcome many difficulties because God has been faithful to him. Because the end time is near it's stated graphically in the bible that we are living in the end times, christians can attain Godlikeness when the spirit is with him. WHich explains why only christians who truly believes in christ acknowledges his words without ambiguilty because those who has the spirit will think like the spirit and those who doesnt have it will never believe.So do you think the end times are near and that God is actually testing my friend through this misfortunate incident?