So many preachers are writing and
preaching about the end of the world as we know it lately! Most of them
are doing this because of what the media calls Y2K, or the arrival of the year
A.D. 2,000. Often we see and hear them lay out a long list of prophecies
which, according to them, "clearly indicate" the imminent end of the world.
Many like to start in Daniel and work their way through to Revelation, taking
many side cuts along the way; while others like to start with Revelation and
work backwards to Daniel. This is no new thing, though, as men have been
so predicting for thousands of years. For example, William Miller
predicted that the world would end in 1843, and when it didn't he changed his
date to 1844. He missed it both times. Charles Taze Russell
predicted that the millennium would begin in 1872, but it didn't. He claimed that
Jesus would return to earth in 1874, and when He didn't, he claimed that He really did but
that He was invisible and no one could see Him. This man, and/or the cultic religion
founded by him, predicted the end of the world in 1914, but missed it again. The
church founded by Mr. Russell warned of the end in 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, 1984, and
1994. They missed it every time, and yet people still listen to their message!
Benny Hinn said that the Rapture would come in 1993, but it didn't (unless Mr. Hinn missed
it!). Hal Lindsey predicted the Rapture in 1988, but missed it. Jerry Falwell
recently said that the "Antichrist" is already alive somewhere in the world,
that he is Jewish, and that he will appear in the next 10 years and try to pass himself
off as Christ.
These are but samplings of the
voluminous works dedicated to predicting the end of the world. We could easily go on
and on and on...... But what purpose would that serve? The issue is
this: Does the Bible give us any "signs" for which to look in advance of
the end of the world? We know that there have been signs given God's people in past
ages, but what about now? In response to a question concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem and the end of the world and beneficial indicators concerning each we see Jesus
giving the warning signs concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 24, but when
it came to the "signs" of the end of the world, hear what He said: BUT OF THAT
DAY AND HOUR KNOWETH NO MAN, NO, NOT THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN, BUT MY FATHER ONLY (Matthew
24:36). The would-be "end time" prophets claim to have what Jesus said no
man has: advance knowledge of the end of the world. If they are right, many of
you will never see these words. If they are wrong (and they most certainly are
wrong, all wrong), maybe this time people will quit listening to them and get back to the
real duty of man, which is not to predict the end of the world, but rather to FEAR GOD AND
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS (Ecclesiastes 12:13).