The End Is Nigh!!

Strangely simple question: Must a Christian be apocalyptic? Can a Christian be prophetic without being apocalyptic? By apocalyptic, I am not referring to a belief in the cosmic battle of good and evil, but the overarching fatalistic belief that this world must very soon be engulfed in a great catastrophic conclusion for mankind. Can a Christian remain prophetic, speaking and acting as Jesus, without the presently accepted doomsday metanarritive? Is there the possibility of Earth’s continuation? I’m not implying any man-wrought Kingdom of Heaven on earth theology by any means. I’m simply asking, what if the Earth has another 100 years…or 500 years? What if mankind’s troubled history continues longer then our wildest expectations?The question isn’t merely academic. From my Christian childhood, I grew up assuming the end is near. (I never thought I would see 40!) Even though I affirmed sola scriptura, I effortlessly projected contemporary geo-political and technological scenarios onto the pages of Revelation and Daniel. I was agog with Gog and Magog!Although these various imaginary plots quickly become obsolete and disproved, newer ones were written and sold as bible lore. Today, in spite of countless missed predictions; the practice of mixing news paper and scripture as a credible area of serious bible study is only growing. End times fans are as mysteriously and stubbornly loyal as baseball fans!! Now, as a parent of children myself, I feel responsible to at least question this widespread extra-biblical practice. What if fear and hopelessness is withering the church in an hour that calls for courage and hope? I sometimes wonder if Winston Churchill had shared our apocalyptic convictions, would England have survived? Can a Christian be counted on in the next Cuban missile crisis? Or will he faint under his fatalism?Now we know that there is an end to this age with a promise of another to come...but what if there is no end in our lifetime? What if World War 3 does indeed come, but it’s not over Israel? What if the church doesn’t apostate, but arises in the southern hemisphere thriving for many centuries? What if America isn’t militarily destroyed but grows even stronger in the next 50 years? What if China becomes the world's largest consumer market by the end of this century? What if there is an energy revolution that moves the developed nations beyond fossil fuels? What if history, though difficult and painful, doesn’t unfold according to our popular script? Can we handle it? Is our only vision for this generation a 3-act play of global despotism, societal collapse, and ultimate nuclear holocaust? In case the future is anti-climatic can we adjust, or will we keep pushing back the Armageddon timetable, retooling our fatalism to fit developments in the world? I ask these questions as transparently as I can. I’m not angling or waiting to spring some theological mousetrap …just asking the question. Can a Christian be prophetic without being apocalyptic? MC

To answer your question I would think "NO". The reason I say this is because of Revelation. An idealist thinks he can have utopia here on this planet, but Revelation clearly teaches us otherwise as does history. The fact the church still survives is a wonderful testimony to the faithfullness of the the LORD and that it is the real thing. Jesus also promises there will be persecution. Nope, life will be hard because the enemy is lose and will work hard to destroy us all and will not let up until he is cast into the fire and locked up for all eternity. So therefore the message will be apocalyptic in my opinion.ginnyrose

Bubbaguy,With all due respect, your post is completely foolish and ignorant. You said, "I pay no attention to the book of Revelation whatsoever...what a waste of time". This is absolutely perposterous!A person does not simply throw aside one book of the Bible for whatever reason... Man shall not live by bread alone but on EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God."The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." - Revelation 1:1-3Can you honestly read that and then post something as incredulous as you did?Dear friend, be mindful of your words and actions.

Brother Compton,The tone of the New Testament seems to show a people who expected Jesus to come back in their lifetime. It seems to me, we are to be expecting his return in our own lifetime too. This really isn't fatalistic when you consider that we will be with Jesus at that time. Even though what you said is very true about the Church age going past our lifetimes, we still need to live our lives as though he were coming today and at the same time prepare our lives as though he wasn't.Personally, I think that if it is at all possible, your children should be led to prepare for the future by getting an education. If they are married, they should try to make security for their family by purchasing a home if the Lord opens up that door. In either case, yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come; this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.In Christ,GaryE

Great post, GaryE. Amen.

Dear Bubbaguy,It seems to me that there is no way you can take the position that the things of Revelation have already happened. Secular history does not record the things that are to take place in Revelation to have taken place. There is plenty of secular history that has survived and it doesn't match with the events in the book of Revelation.In either case, if we live for the Lord this day and do live to see tomorrow, no matter what is taking place, everything will be ok as long as we are walking with the Lord. In this day we should rejoice in the Lord while preparing to do a work tomorrow for the Lord, we will still be in the position to do the work that God has for us do tomorrow.2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.In verse 8 it says one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. My understanding has always been that this is to be kept in mind when we look at the words [come quickly]. In Christ,GaryE