End Times Prophecies…

 

End Times Prophecies…

I was involved in a discussion at work the other day which was largely about the Iran - Israel Conflict and in which a colleague noted that I believed in a certain bible prophecy relating to the current events which include Trump's America. I wasn't really prepared to get into that discussion at the time but it has caused me to reflect on my perspective of bible prophecy in general.

 

Many years ago as a young person my family were very interested in bible prophecy and to an extent we still keep a watching brief on world current events through that lens. I learned back then that it is not healthy to get too engaged in micro analysis of the detail of bible prophecy because it becomes much like shadow boxing and can consume your world view. Much better to just maintain a relaxed watching brief and get on with the important things in life like friends and family and serving God in more productive ways.

 

Of course things have changed somewhat and we live in a most interesting times when compared to prophecy. With regard to the Ezekiel prophecy about a huge invading army attacking Israel in the End Times, we have Israel doing her best to enrage the entire Muslim world by conducting genocide in Gaza. Hence the fulfillment of that prophecy is looking quite possible in our time.

 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that the beginning of the End Times there will be famines and earthquakes in various places and goes on to describe the events that occur in the tribulation time. He comments that was that time not cut short no flesh would survive. Bible prophecy describes the time in some detail in the books of Daniel and Revelation and there are many other details in the books of the minor prophets, and Isaiah and Ezekiel.

 

However, today we have arrived at a time when we don't need bible prophecy to inform us that the manure is about to hit the ventilator. It is fair to say that many Christians don't believe in climate change or that the planet is in real trouble because of the activities of mankind. I also realize that conspiracy theorists are seeing government meddling everywhere. According to them, airplane contrails, laser tornadoes and the seeding of hurricanes are at the center of all man driven climate change.

 

To use a common metaphor, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck. It's a duck! Applying this to climate change, we are cutting down the Amazon Rain-forest, the oceans are full of our plastic, the fishing fleets are dragging nets across the ocean floor and turning it into a desert. We are seeing atmospheric rivers causing record weather events across the globe and firestorms are becoming a regular feature of summer in California. Man-made climate change, could be?

 

My point, the population of mankind stands at eight billion souls and the unmitigated ruination of the Earth is in full swing. Mankind is consuming resources and those resources are either under or are a part of the infrastructure that sustains the biosphere. This also happens to be where we all live. Many species are under habitat pressure and facing extinction and only species that can live with man can survive him. In the end the planet may be so damaged that even man can't survive. Bear in mind what Jesus said "If those days were not shortened, no flesh would survive. It is not prophecy, it is reality! We've done this to ourselves and God is allowing the custodians of creation to reap the consequences of their own wicked short shortsightedness.

 

So, my question is if we exclude bible prophecy from the picture and just look at the likelihood of an extinction level event in the current era. Then what is the probability of mankind surviving the next century? What I mean by this is that if the population continues to rise and the forests disappear, the atmosphere becomes ever warmer and more polluted. The oceans get even more degraded and polluted and oxygen producers decline and planetary resources begin to run out. Things will begin to fall apart.

 

Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The battle for survival will be on and probably only the super powers could win such battle although if nuclear war comes into the scenario then winning could be a moot point. The Earth will then be a quiet area for the next few thousand years.

 

Actually, I think I prefer the biblical perspective because Jesus said "And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." So, with God there is hope for the future and those who believe on Jesus Christ shall not perish but will inherit eternal life (John 3:16).

 

Keep in mind that the bible has passages and even entire books that describe the events of history ahead of time and this period of the Tribulation and the coming Kingdom of God happening at the end of the Church Age. It describes a time of great upheaval but points to a time of great hope for all who trust Jesus Christ the Nazarene. There will be a cataclysmic time of judgement for the sins of mankind but once that is over the Kingdom of God will be established and will last forever.

 

The world is in trouble friends and it is not only the bible that says so. You only have to look at the facts and really open your eyes to see what is going on around you. Whether it is described as the End Times in bible prophecy or you are reading about it in the daily news. The End Times are near and the future is looking doubtful. As I mentioned before I personally believe that God is in control and that if you will  believe on His Son, Jesus Christ, then there is reason for hope. You may pass away in this life but Yahweh will resurrect you to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.