March 21, 2000
Someone tipped the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms about terrorists making bombs. Whoever made the call was suspicious of an assortment of boxes and cartons being moved into the house next door, even sneaked in during the night. So the government raided this Washington, D.C. home, only to find an innocent family stockpiling supplies in fear of the millennium bug!
Fear causes strange reactions. Fear of computer glitches and the end of the world led many to overspending their budgets. Fear of unusual activities resulted in one neighbor calling the authorities. Fear of bombs and terrorists brought a reaction from a government agency who neglected to do their homework.
For now, fear of Y2K and worldwide catastrophes seems passe. We have been there and done that— but fear about the end of the world is another matter. Some people wonder if they will live out their lives before it happens or fear the worst for their children and grandchildren.
Dire predictions, fueled by crystal balls, doomsayers, Nostrademas and the Jeannie Dixon crowd, adorn the tabloids. For some, this puts this event into the realm of rumor and foolishness. If these questionable sources think the end is a real threat, it is easy to assume it is not.
Oddly, the Bible (hardly a tabloid) agrees that the world will end. Unlike those magazines though, it offers no spectacular date-setting, only a few clues about what to expect. For instance, it will come without warning like a thief and will be totally devastating: “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
Rather than give dates, Scripture urges us to believe the end will definitely come. It challenges us not to be afraid, but rather to do something in preparation. If the end amounted to only a few power outages and supply shortages, a generator and extra food might be a good idea, but when everything is destroyed, what good is food or electricity? A full pantry and bomb shelter will not help us when this last event happens.
Neither will laughing it off. The Bible says some will do that as they mock end-time prophecies. Instead, we need to remember that God “is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The only way to prepare for the end of the world is by turning to God, away from our own ideas and schemes. God offers to rescue us through faith, not food or hiding. He says, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God. . . .”
People of faith live the way God wants them to live because they know that the end of this world is really not the end. All creation can be laid bare yet they know God will preserve them for eternity. They are trusting all His promises, including John 3:16.
People of faith and righteousness also know that God will create “a new heaven and a new earth” which He describes as “the home of righteousness.” They also know that without righteousness, it is impossible to please Him or enter His home.
Whatever other preparations a person might make for a calamity as great as the end of the world, the only ones that carry God’s guarantee of survival are repentance, faith, and righteousness.
Showing posts with label end of the world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label end of the world. Show all posts
Monday, October 30, 2017
Friday, May 15, 2015
Will the world end? .............. Parables 274
July 3, 1991
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
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