The End of the World is Coming
If you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God then this post might concern you. If you don't believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God then hopefully this might at least be something interesting to think about.
In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus' reply is known as the Olivet Prophecy and included warnings of such things as wars, persecution, false prophets, famines, pestilence and earthquakes at various places around the world. In the 2000 years since Christ walked the earth, humanity has experienced all of these things to various degrees. At a first glance, Christ's response doesn't seem to be very specific.
It wouldn't be like God to not provide a good clue as to when the end of the age would come. Is it possible for us to know a more precise time to expect the return of Christ? Amos 3:7 states "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but, he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Also read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5. These scriptures show that most of the world will be caught by surprise at the return of Christ. But they also show that the LORD's "servants" or Paul's "brethren" will not be in the dark regarding the return of Christ. So keeping that in mind, take a look again at Matthew 24.
So wars and famines and earthquakes have been occurring for thousands of years. Are there any other clues in Matthew 24 that provide a more specific time frame? What about this? Matthew 24:21-22 - "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened." Whoa...this is talking about the extinction of mankind! If the time was not cut short, all life would perish!
None of the wars or famines or earthquakes that have happened in the past were of such a magnitude that would threaten all life on earth. But in July of 1945, a new invention was tested that would change all of that. In Alamagordo, New Mexico the first nuclear device was exploded. The Cold War accelerated nuclear proliferation until there existed enough nuclear bombs to destroy the whole world hundreds of times over. At some point in between 1945 and the end of the Cold War, it became possible for Matthew 24:21-22 to be fulfilled. Now take a look at another verse in Matthew 24...one that should send chills down your spine...
Matthew 24:33-34 - "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." The generation that existed at the time when global genocide became possible will not pass before all the things Christ spoke about regarding the "end of the age" come to fruition. I don't know exactly the year when our nuclear stockpiles became significant enough to destroy all life, but suppose it was even as late as 1970 (I think that is being overly generous). Someone born in 1970 would be 37 today. The current world average life expectancy is 67 years. So we have about 30 years before the generation born in 1970 begins to "pass".
It will happen in our lifetimes, when most of us are least expecting it. But YOU don't have to be caught off guard. How can you be prepared for the return of the Son of God? Luke 21 is a parallel account of the Olivet Prophecy. In verse 36 of Luke 21, Christ ended His prophecy with this statement: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus' reply is known as the Olivet Prophecy and included warnings of such things as wars, persecution, false prophets, famines, pestilence and earthquakes at various places around the world. In the 2000 years since Christ walked the earth, humanity has experienced all of these things to various degrees. At a first glance, Christ's response doesn't seem to be very specific. It wouldn't be like God to not provide a good clue as to when the end of the age would come. Is it possible for us to know a more precise time to expect the return of Christ? Amos 3:7 states "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but, he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Also read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5. These scriptures show that most of the world will be caught by surprise at the return of Christ. But they also show that the LORD's "servants" or Paul's "brethren" will not be in the dark regarding the return of Christ. So keeping that in mind, take a look again at Matthew 24.
So wars and famines and earthquakes have been occurring for thousands of years. Are there any other clues in Matthew 24 that provide a more specific time frame? What about this? Matthew 24:21-22 - "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened." Whoa...this is talking about the extinction of mankind! If the time was not cut short, all life would perish!
None of the wars or famines or earthquakes that have happened in the past were of such a magnitude that would threaten all life on earth. But in July of 1945, a new invention was tested that would change all of that. In Alamagordo, New Mexico the first nuclear device was exploded. The Cold War accelerated nuclear proliferation until there existed enough nuclear bombs to destroy the whole world hundreds of times over. At some point in between 1945 and the end of the Cold War, it became possible for Matthew 24:21-22 to be fulfilled. Now take a look at another verse in Matthew 24...one that should send chills down your spine...
Matthew 24:33-34 - "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." The generation that existed at the time when global genocide became possible will not pass before all the things Christ spoke about regarding the "end of the age" come to fruition. I don't know exactly the year when our nuclear stockpiles became significant enough to destroy all life, but suppose it was even as late as 1970 (I think that is being overly generous). Someone born in 1970 would be 37 today. The current world average life expectancy is 67 years. So we have about 30 years before the generation born in 1970 begins to "pass".
It will happen in our lifetimes, when most of us are least expecting it. But YOU don't have to be caught off guard. How can you be prepared for the return of the Son of God? Luke 21 is a parallel account of the Olivet Prophecy. In verse 36 of Luke 21, Christ ended His prophecy with this statement: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Labels:
Christ's return,
End of Days,
Prophecy
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