"It's the End of the World As We Know It...

...and I feel fine." - Michael Stipe, REM

While I'm sure that Mr. Stipe did not pen those words with his eternal future secure, they ring somewhat true to me because mine is.

With each earthquake that I hear about this year (3 significant ones in 3 months -- Haiti, Chile & Turkey, as well as one off of the coast of Hawaii). And we're only in the beginning of March! And, if you think back even over the last 15 years, there have been tsunamis, hurricanes and a multitude of other natural disasters. I can't say for certain that there have been MORE natural disasters in the last 15 years than in the previous ones, but there have been quite a few.

Here's what the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 21) has to say about the end of the world (emphasis mine):

⁸He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. ⁹When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

¹⁰Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

¹²"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³This will result in your being witnesses to them. ¹⁴But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷All men will hate you because of me. ¹⁸But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹By standing firm you will gain life.

²⁰"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²²For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

There's a lot of scholarship surrounding this and I won't pretend that I've read it all or understand this at all. I think there is compelling evidence that some of these events have happened already, such as the sack of Jerusalem in AD 70 that destroyed the temple (v.20-24). Verses 12-19 seem to point to the martyrdom of the disciples to whom Jesus is speaking, but I certainly would not rule out that he's talking to Christians and the persecution we will endure.

While I firmly believe that this is what's going to happen and am trying to watch for it, I can't help but be a little fearful, though Jesus does exhort us to not be afraid in v.9 (and then in v. 20 acknowledges that we will be terrified). I confess that I am a little scared of all of this. I fear for my children -- what is to become of them? I believe that I will be raptured, or "caught up in the air" as a believer in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17. Whether that happens before or after the tribulation, I am unsure (please God, let it be before!). But, if it happens before, what happens to my children? They know about Jesus, but they are too young to understand what it means to really put their faith in Him. Will they be left here?

My children have lately been listening to Steve Green whom I very much recommend if you're interested in helping your kids memorize bible verses. At the tender age of 2, Caroline is already reciting several bible verses just from listening to this CD! Anyhow, one of the verses is Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid I will trust in you." As in all things, I have to trust that God is good, gracious, merciful & kind and that He has it all worked out in advance.