Going back a couple of weeks we saw the appointment of the European Union’s first official President - and, to some, it is as if the man came on the scene with “666” stamped on his forehead.
While some of us who study prophecy believe the E.U. will be the political platform for the soon appearing “Beast” of Revelation 13, its interesting to watch “wild-eyed” supposition abound.
One such posted e-mail gives us an example:
“As you are more than likely aware, the Antichrist has risen from a little-known position of Belgium P.M. (and from a position of almost total obscurity) to be appointed as the new president of the E.U. Herman Van Rompuy is the newly appointed E.U. President and will assume that role as from December 1, 2009.
“Van Rompuy is a Bilderberger and attended one of their meetings before his appointment, where he met and was instructed by Henry Kissinger. - Don’t be fooled by his quirky looks, as it seems to have been Satan’s deliberate intention for his
son/representative here on the earth to have the appearance of a harmless old man. But we all know what he is, and what he is going to be capable of. When he finally steps forth and receives his crown, he will start World War III by attacking the U.S.
“The U.S. and her citizens should really begin to prepare now for a time not too far away when the missiles of the Antichrist begin to rain down over your cities. -- See Revelation 18 describing the destruction of the U.S.”
Once again, I will say that “wild-eyed” supposition abounds, and it would seem that these misguided interpretations feed the anxieties of some, causing unnecessary fear to come upon them.
Of course, it isn’t just the religious “nut-jobs” who are predicting dire warnings. For example, one highly respected trends forecaster says the current economic “rebound” from last winter’s Wall Street collapse of banks, insurance companies and auto manufacturers is an artificial blip created by phantom money printed out of thin air backed by nothing.
Gerald Celente of Trendresearch.com says people right now should be bracing for “The greatest recession” which will hit worldwide and will mark the “decline of Empire America”. -- He goes on to say that America will be in total chaos by 2012.
Here’s another headline along this same line of thought, -- “Thousands of Dutch Prepare for 2012 Apocalypse” - The world will end in 2012 -- or so says thousands in The Netherlands preparing for the Apocalypse in three years, the Dutch newspaper de Volksrant reported.
The paper spoke to those who believe the 2012 date signals the impending end of civilization and are stocking up on emergency supplies, equipment and life rafts in case of flooding, U.P.I. reported.
Speaking of 2012, many New Age writers and prognosticators cite Mayan and Aztec calendars that predict the end of the age on December 21, 2012.
Wait a minute!! Didn’t Jesus specifically tell us that we would NOT know the exact date? - Matthew 24:36 says,
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Since the time of Christ on Earth, there have been many predictions, both secular and religious, as to the end of the world as we know it -- and these prognostications have accelerated dramatically in just the past 60 years.
For example, it is believed that the Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the record for doomsday predictions. They are currently at nine misses.
Another is Jack Van Impe. For the past several decades he has hinted at nearly every year as being the time for the Rapture. Normally, he has only gone out one or two years from the current calendar year. However, his latest projection for the Rapture goes out several years. His new math uses 51 years as the length of a generation. If you add 51 years to 1967, the year Israel recaptured Jerusalem, you get 2018. Once you subtract the seven-year Tribulation period, you arrive at 2011.
Quoting one more scenario, this headline, posted in May of 2008, says, “Blood Moon Eclipses: 2nd Coming in 2015?” - Will Jesus Christ return to Earth in the year 2015? -- And can studying NASA’s website provide evidence for such a scenario?
A minister who promotes the Old Testament roots of Christianity suggests a rare string of lunar and solar eclipses said to fall on God’s annual Holy Days and a little over five years from now could herald what’s come to be known as the “Second Coming of Christ”.
In his research, Pastor Mark Blitz uses Old Testament holidays with coming solar events to justify his beliefs. - Some of the scriptures he alludes to is Joel 2:31, which says,
“The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD”
...and Matthew 24:29-30 which states,
"Immediately after the distress of those days
" 'the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”
There are many, many more, but the one predicted as the furthest out (that I’m aware of) is from Sir Isaac Newton. Britain’s greatest scientist spent some 50 years and wrote 4500 pages trying to predict when the end of the world was coming. The most defining date he set for the Apocalypse, which he scribbled on a scrap of paper, was 2060.
An untold number of people have, and will continue to predict the Lord’s return, or other forms of the end of the age by using elaborate timetables. But, most date setters do not realize that mankind has not kept an unwavering record of time. Anyone wanting to chart, for example, 100 BC to 2,000 AD would have to contend with the fact that 46 BC was 445 days long, there was no year 0 BC, and in 1582 we switched from Julian years (360 days) to Gregorian (365 days). Because most prognosticators are not aware of all of these errors, their math is immediately off by several years.
As previously noted, Matthew 24:36 states that we will not know the exact day of Christ’s return for His church. In fact, He warned us to watch out for those who claimed to know, because it is contrary to His teaching.
1 John 4:1 says,
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
In closing, Matthew 24:32-34 teaches us that although only the father knows the exact time, we will know the season. As we watch the Lord’s prophesies unfolding before our very eyes, we know this to be true.
It is a time of rejoicing, not of dread - a time of happiness, not of fear. - Just knowing that our Lord Jesus is coming for us soon is all we should need to sustain us in the coming difficult days.
Luke 21:28 says,
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Until next time,
Red