The World is (Not) Ending Today!

Did you know that the world was going to end today? David Meade, a self-proclaimed prophet, had forecast that today, Saturday, September 23, 2017,  a planet called “Nibiru”, or “Planet X”, would crash into the earth, thus bringing our ride to an end.

I really don’t want to spend a lot of your time (or mine) whining about this foolishness, but I don’t want to just let it go either.  You see, this is a perfect opening to talk about the danger of basing an understanding about life on a segment of the Bible which is taken out of context.  To be fair to Mr. Meade, he follows in a long line of others who have made similarly false claims.  I suppose that his motives could have been pure, and that he genuinely wanted to warn us about “the end.” And to explain further, Mr. Meade has now explained that, upon further reflection, the world is not ending today, but starting in October things are going to be a lot different in the world. Really? Consider: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

But, back to my point about understanding the Bible when it comes to prophecy (and anything else, for that matter). Read it for yourself.  Understand the audience the writer is addressing, the circumstances, the timeframe. Yes, the Bible is timeless in its truth, but it was written by humans (inspired by God) to a people at a time in a place for a purpose.  Context matters, Mr. Meade.

So, when we read about the so-called “end of the world” in Matthew 24, we cannot stop half-way. We need to read on to verse 36, in which Jesus is quoted as saying, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  So, Mr. Meade, how did you think you got so smart?

The point Jesus was, and is trying to make is “keep watch” (v. 42) and “be ready” (v. 44).  In other words, live your life today as if Jesus is coming to transform the heavens and the earth tomorrow. Jesus’ point is simple:  if you live your life in a way that is pleasing to God it won’t matter when “the end” happens.

And anyway, the “end” is not a bad night, it is a glorious morning just on the horizon!

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:15)