from xkcd.com
Seeing this comic from xkcd.com reminded me of one of my old pet-peeves. For years I have listened to people (some of whom were actually quite intelligent) who have become utterly convinced that the end of the world is nigh. Their justification typically lies within the idea of society being in continual moral decline.
To be honest, I don’t buy it. The more I look at history the more it seems that very little has changed within the nature of human beings within the last several thousand years. The same major atrocities and minor moral infractions have been happening over and over again since the beginning of recorded history. If it seems that humans are more cruel these days look no further than that shameful black spot on Christian history known as the Crusades and the Inquisition (did no one really expect it?). If today’s society seems more sexually perverse then look no further than the Medieval literary classic, Canterbury Tales. You will find it filled with raunchy bathroom humor worthy of the latest Harold and Kumar film.
The real difference these days is that with modern media and information access all those things that people have been doing for generations is out there for everyone to see. It gives the impression that the world is going to hell but I wonder if the world has just always been there and we are just now noticing.
Nobody is going to know when the world is going to end until it is actually happening–Scripture is pretty clear about that–it could be tomorrow or it could be a thousand years from now. By all means, be ready for it but don’t worry so much about it. Instead, maybe we should just worry about making this world a little bit better for however long it lasts.
If I’m wrong, forgive me. It’s just my own thoughts.
June 30, 2009 at 7:16 am
You are a good writer…props for that.
I have to be honest though, and I apologize for being blunt…but you need to study prophecy a great deal more before you post a blog like this. Scripture does not say that we will not know when the end will come. It says we will not know when Jesus will return. Though Jesus will return during or around the time of the end, those are two different things. Over 70% of Scripture is prophecy, so I would love to hear someone justify not knowing the times we are in before God, who so graciously provided so much evidence for us to watch for.
If you aren’t seeing it, then you aren’t watching for it.
June 30, 2009 at 3:09 pm
It’s fine to be blunt and thanks for the compliment. I guess whenever I have it explained to me how prophecy matches up with modern events it always seems like people are grasping at straws to make the connections (and it seems they’ve been doing it for thousands of years). I suppose my wary attitude is a precaution against being deceived but I can see how it could back-fire and blind me to when something actually does happen. It’s a fine line to tread.
Really, I think I’ve just heard so many whacked-out theories about the end times (I would not include you in that statement) that I just quite being concerned about when it’s going to happen. My soul is prepared for death, rapture, or whatever might come but it’s really pointless to worry about it beyond that. I would want to reach out to others with the message of Christ whether He’s coming back today or next millennium.
July 1, 2009 at 11:05 am
I don’t think you’re wrong. For years I was so sure that the end was basically here. I’d heard a million different theories and “fulfilled prophecies” as to why this was so and believed them. I remember when I was twelve thinking there was no possible way the world would make it long enough for me to get married or have children. I’ve even heard set dates and years that are supposedly the final year of existence, which we’ve long passed. So do I think we should be watchful? Indeed. But do I think is definitely at the brink of extinction as we know it? No. In fact, the Lord could still tarry hundreds of years for all we know, or it could be in three years. I’d rather live and enjoy life than worry about what MIGHT be coming in the possible near future.
August 20, 2009 at 4:17 pm
People want to know what is happening, so it makes sense that they claim that they know when the end is nigh. But i agree that so much stuff has happened, so many evil world leaders, so many natural disasters, that it is nearly impossible to say when the end of the world is coming. Also, I’m too optimistic.