With war in the Middle East, numerous earthquakes, and thousands suffering around the world some think the end of the world is near.
By DeNae Thomas
Assistant Lifestyles Editor
Since the beginning of Christianity people have been expecting the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it. The Y2K computer scare and Sept. 11 2001 heightened this fear, as many people thought they represented Doomsday.
Today, with suffering and war going on all over the world, some people claim biblical prophecies are being fulfilled and the end of the world is imminent.
Others argue there has been affliction and battle for two millennia and no one but God can predict the date or time of Judgment Day.
At Pepperdine, where all students are required to take a minimum of three classes on religion, students are generally well educated about what the Bible has to say about the final days.
However, most students are not fearful of the end coming any time soon.
“For centuries people have said that the end of the world is here,” religion major Mark Barneche said. “During World War II everyone thought Hitler was the antichrist and it would be the war to end all wars.”
Several students agree that the war and current conditions of the world are no different from tragedies in the past, therefore no one can predict the final hour.
“I think it is good to be aware of what is going on in the world, but not obsessed with it,” junior Jonathan Bakewicz said. “It is important to be astute about how current affairs relate to biblical prophecy but it is unhealthy to be consumed with it.”
Other students agree and say that the Bible even tells Christians not to worry about when the end will occur.
“Apostle Paul even warns against trying to predict an exact date because ‘the Lord will come like a thief in the night’ and the day will not be determined by anyone but God,” Barneche said. “All men and women need to be prepared all the time, not just be concerned about an exact date.”
In Mark 13:32 the Bible states, “No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the father.”
People who take this verse literally argue that God does not intend for humanity to be consumed with predicting when the end will come. They say people should live righteously, tell unbelievers about Christ and not worry about when Judgment Day will come.
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Tribulation Timeline 1. Persecution of Christians |
On his Web site, Christian Evangelist Billy Graham says “Nothing could be more certain in the Bible than Jesus’ promise to return some day to rule in justice and peace.”
However, Graham tells readers, if they know Jesus they have nothing to fear and should not worry about the future or predicting an exact date, but focus instead on spreading the gospel to as many non-Christians as possible before that day comes.
While some translate Mark 13:32 to mean it is erroneous to predict when Jesus will return, others refer to different verses in the Bible and argue that there are several specific determinant events.
Several organizations have developed with the sole purpose of educating people about the apocalypse and Armageddon. They emphasize the importance of being ready because they think Jesus’ return is imminent and that signs given in the Bible are apparent in today’s world.
The mission of the evangelical organization “Rapture Christ” is to alert people that there is little time to prepare before the rapture occurs and God takes all devout believers away from their everyday lives straight up to heaven.
Verses like those found in Matthew 24 give a more straightforward definition of what to expect, and “Rapture Christ” claims these prophesies are being fulfilled currently.
Matthew 24:7 says, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
The organization claims earthquakes have increased immensely in the last 30 years and current international affairs show that nations are fighting against nations more than ever.
Many people use descriptions from Revelations in the Bible to validate their claim that the end is near.
Revelations, written by the Christian apostle John, provides a detailed prophetic message about the end times. “Rapture Christ” outlines this detailed timeline of the seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls and the millennium to justify its claim that the end of the world is close.
“Apocalypse Soon” is another organization that believes we are in the end times. The organization has Web sites with information about fulfilled prophecy and evangelical messages translated into all major world languages.
“According to the Bible we are living in the last moments of God’s patience and grace,” the English site says. “Prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes. We are witnessing a world gone mad and growing worse with each passing day.”
Recent films and books also predict what this finale will look like.
Many people are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 11th book in the “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, which is due to be released Tuesday.
The book, “Armageddon,” is set in the seventh and last year of the Great Tribulation and depicts the “war to end all wars” which will ultimately lead to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Jenkins and LaHaye have also co-authored the book, “Are We Living in the End Times?” which presents 20 reasons why they believe this generation could see the rapture.
Even some Christian musicians are spreading the belief that we are near the end times. On the note in the cover of his album “Mission 3:16,” popular singer Carman writes, “I sense the Holy Spirit is saying to me that the time of the end is coming much sooner than we think and to focus on winning souls more than ever before.”
However, the opinion remains that no one can say when the end will come, therefore no on should misuse valuable time on Earth speculating.
“From a biblical perspective no one knows when the end will come, so no one should prophesy,” Barneche said. “It will be like 1 Thessalonians says; ‘a thief in the night’ or ‘suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman.’ ”
Most students agree that no one should sit and watch life pass them by because they are worried about the end for the world.
“No man knows the day or hour so why sit and wait around,” Bakewicz said.
The book of Matthew, chapter 24, the book of Luke, chapter 21 and the book of Revelation, chapter 6 and 7, all relate the same sequence of events for the time of tribulation between persecution of Christians and Christ’s return.
April 03, 2003
