Last Wednesday, I was driving Vanessa and Luke, CJ and Aimee Davis and I home from RDU. We saw a man with a sandwich board proclaiming the end of the world on May 21st. I grieve for those who have cashed in their life savings to fund this event. This story is really hitting the news websites now, so let me shed some light here.
Our immediate thought about this has to be what the Bible says about the subject, Amen? In Mark 13:4, Jesus’ disciples ask, “Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign that these things are about to be accomplished?” After telling them to guard themselves against false teachers, fortify their resolve for Him, accept no one else’s claim as Messiah, Jesus says in verse 32, “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
A mathematical interpretation of calendar numbers in the Bible adding-up to May 21st 2011 is NOT more authoritative that what Jesus says. Jesus is the one who will rescue true Christians from God’s looming, currently patient, wrath (verse 26-27) and if Jesus doesn’t know the day or the hour, how can anyone?
This is a great opportunity for us to heed Jesus’ words in Mark 13 commanding us to open our mouths to proclaim the gospel to all nations (Mark 13:10). How?
Direct people to what GOD says about you and Him:
God is holy so He has to be just and punish your sin (Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 3:23).
He did – He inflicted your penalty on His sinless Son (Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 3:18).
Receive this forgiveness by faith (Romans 6:23, 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-10).
Walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4, Titus 2:11-14, 1 Peter 2:2-5).
Direct others to what GOD says about the end times:
The going is going to get tough – get strong in your faith now (Mark 13).
Expect earthquake and war frequency to increase (Mark 13:8).
Let these things shake loose your confidence in anything/anyone but God.
Jesus will come in the clouds and rescue who He knows are His own (Mark 13:26-7).
Jesus wins (Revelation).
Let’s be at work for the Lord Jesus.
*The parallel passages for Mark 13 are Matthew 24 and Luke 21. Each has the same theme: Be on guard/watchful/alert.