The End

"the Son of Man will come in the clouds

 with great power and glory"

Mark 13:26

The world didn't end.  Did you notice?  Some people thought it was going to this weekend.  Maybe you saw it on the news.   Some pastor or preacher or something said he had mathematically calculated that May 21, 2011, being 7,000 years after the flood, or something, was the day when the world was going to end.  Or the end of the world was going to begin.  Or something.

Didn't happen.

There are a whole lot of reasons to have believed it wasn't going to.  Revelation speaks of events that have to happen beforehand, and there are some that have not happened.  Also, Matthew 24:36 says "of that day and hour, no one knows" so I'm not sure why this pastor or preacher or something would think he's the exception.   The Bible says that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.   So having all the news outlets warn us the day before doesn't seem to fit that expectation.

On the other hand, I think it was a good thing that people were talking about it.   If you've never read Revelation, then there are events that are going to come as a shock to you.   People need to be reminded ~ or informed ~ that this world will end.  2 Peter 3:10 says the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.   Now that's global warming!

But if you did hear the news stories, how did you feel?  This weekend, when the hour had passed, did you feel relief or disappointment?   If you felt disappointment, then you're probably at a good place with God.  I know people who fervently echo John's words at the end of Revelation, "Come, Lord Jesus!'

But if the idea of the world ending has you worried or scared, you need to find out why.  There are going to be frightening events taking place, but those for whom Jesus is Lord, have nothing to fear.   1 Thessalonians says "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord."  That's a beautiful promise; nothing there to be afraid of!  

Living in this day and age keeps our minds pretty occupied.  It takes all we have to manage our schedule for today or this week.  Most of us don't go far without our calendar or day-planner.  But as we look ahead, we have to look ahead to a day that is coming, though we don't know when.  Read Revelation.  Study it.  And then watch and pray.

~ "When the Son of Man comes in the clouds 

with great power and glory, 

He will send His angels 

and gather together His elect... 

Take heed, watch and pray; 

for you do not know when the time is." ~

Mark 13