The End is Nigh?

For some 2000 years Cristians have been making clear that Jesus will return one day. Every change in the weather, every major war or astronomical event, every upset to the long established routine brings out the cry, ‘The End is Nigh.’ 

So far it appears this has not happened, just as well as many of us would not be saved. God is good in giving us time to come to him through his Son Jesus the Messiah.  Every so often we hear people telling us the world will end soon, and one day they will be right. Today is another time when such claims are being made, and not just by excitable US websites either. Let us consider some things.

For one, climate change, which is real enough no matter how many oil and energy giants lie to us about this, is already causing much damage to the world. Melting ice is flooding many areas, changing jet streams lead to weather distortions, even Scotland is getting warmer! The weather has of course always changed, ice ages come and go, floods, earthquakes and such like will always occur, the bible is full of them, but is it worse now, or is that just our perceived opinion?

Another sign to the end is the return of the Hebrews to the land God gave them several thousand years ago. This has been an ongoing conflict since the Great War but has recently reached an intensity beyond anything seen so far. The Hamas attack, the Prime Ministers response, and the thousands of deaths have not brought peace to the area, nor have they established Mr Netenyau as the hero he wished to be seen as. 

The potential in the middle east is always for trouble. Now Yemen Houti’s opening fire on passing ships in the Red Sea has caused an increase, which can only intensify here. It takes little to begin a war, especially when some wish to see one. 

One situation worldwide is the end of the concensus reached after 1945 where the west sought peace, sometimes at a cost. Today the ‘liberal west’ sees the democracies open to abuse by a far-right movement which cares nothing for law or democracy and is intent on ruling the west. Donald Trump, an egomaniac has much support among many who have rejected Jesus while holding bibles, and refuse to see any wrong in the indulgent, spoiled child who wishes to be king. There was a time he would have been thrown out immediately, not however, in today’s USA.

With the democratc west facing uncertainty, the liberal view questioning why deaths of Arabs in Gaza are tolerated, while those in the UKraine are not, and a growing right-wing threat to stability, can this precede an end to the world? 

One biblical view, and there are two or three to consider, indicates that Israel will be surrounded by the world, all the nations will attack Israel. This is because all have rejected the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, and Gods plan for their salvation. They reject God and follow a lie. Some would indicate that this could be the world situation today. Christian influence is weakening, that is, if it was genuine Christian influence in the first place of course, and the world is taking shape for the end attack on Israel.

The end times may indeed have come, though of course this may take another hundred, or a thousand years. Only God the Father, who is in complete control of this confused world, knows that date. Not even Jesus the Son knows this.

Christians require to rededicate themselves to their Lord and Master. To return to his word, seek to understand it, and follow him in their everyday lives. The Lord himself will work things out as they go about their business. He knows their needs, he knows their suffering, he knows their pain, he knows his plan. 

Until that day, as John Wesley put it, ‘Expect Jesus back at 9 am tomorrow morning, but plan for 100 years.’