Oreo Cookies, Doomsday Prophecy, and the Second Coming.

Every year we hear at least one more doomsday prophecy.  From Hal Lindsay to Y2K to Harold Camping, someone somewhere always seems to be predicting the end of the world or at least of modern civilization.  By the way, did you hear? The world is going to end tomorrow, according to the Mayans that is.  According to their calendar (that looks strikingly like a large, golden Oreo cookie) the world will end on December 21^st, 2012. Do you not find it slightly amusing that the Mayan’s could predict the end of the world while completely dropping the ball on their own demise about 500 years prior at the hands of the Spanish and small pox?  So if you are giving everything away to prepare for the end… I could really use a set of all season’s for my Honda Civic…just saying.

Paul told us the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  Jesus even tells us no one will know the day or the time!  Jesus is going to return to earth. And I pray very soon. Tomorrow would be very coincidental but I would take it. Jesus told us that before he comes, some people would think he has already come, or even make false predictions about his coming and the end of the world…

“If someone says to you, “Look, he is in the wilderness,” do not go out. If they say, “Look, he is in the inner rooms,” do not believe it.” Matthew 24:26

Jesus goes on to tell us not to believe any of these rumors.  When he speaks we would do well to listen.

The first reason he gives us is that his coming will be as obvious as lightning shining across the sky:

“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. “ Matthew 24:27

Another  reason for not believing these rumors is found in the next verse, Matthew 24:28:

“Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

What an odd thing to say.  Odd, but telling. When the world is as ready for judgment as carrion is ready for the vultures, our Lord will come in wrath to judge the living and the dead.  When the number of the elect is complete, when there is only spiritual death left, then Jesus’ judgement will come upon the world like vultures upon roadkill.

This will not be secret, or pleasant for unbelievers. You will not miss it and you cannot know when it will happen. No one can predict when it will happen…But he will come “on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” Matthew 24:30

The world may well end tomorrow.  But with the coming of Christ, he is not coming to only destroy, but rebuild and restore. So it really won’t be the end of the world, but rather a new beginning.

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

I could really go for an Oreo cookie…