The End of the World

We’ve all seen the recent headlines and churches who promote that they have been able to figure out the day of the Rapture. The Rapture refers to the passages in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes believers being gathered up in the air to meet Jesus Christ.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

According to Christian radio broadcaster Harold Camping, the day of Rapture is Saturday, May 21, 2011. Using his own biblically-inspired system of numerology, Camping has determined what he feels is the exact date of the Rapture. He also predicts the date of the earth’s destruction, five months later on October 21, 2011.

While these predictions can be alarming for some, they are laughable to others. However, when predictions like this arise, we do feel it necessary to go back to the core of what leads us as Christians: the Bible. While some, like Harold Camping, may say that it is the Bible, in part, that has aided in their particular prediction, we believe that there are specific verses that would cause us to stand by the belief that an “end of time” prediction is not possible for us or anyone to make.

Let’s take a look at the book of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 35 and 36.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

We believe that the interpretations of these verses are clear. No one, not the Son, angels, or even man created in God’s image will be able to know or predict the day, time, or hour of the Second Coming. However, what we do know is that we, as Christians, are expected to be prepared for Christ’s return.

Christ’s admonition continues in Matthew 24, verses 42 and 44.

42 Watch therefore: for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.

44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

How Can We Prepare?

While we cannot clearly define a set behavior one must have, we do know that in order to enter into Heaven’s gates, we must be born-again Christians, meaning that we have acknowledged Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, confessed that we are sinners , and asked Him to come into our hearts. This and this alone guarantees that we will not only enter the gates of Heaven, but that we will be prepared no matter when Christ returns.

Christ also warns us that we should avoid deceivers and false Christs. This warning can be found in Matthew 24, verses 4-5, 11, and 24.

4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.

11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

The most important verse of this chapter may well be verse 13: “But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved”

How Can We Endure to the End?

When Christ called His apostles, He said, “Come follow me.” We, as disciples of Christ, should follow His example and strive to be like Him. We can show our Christlike love and charity to those around us. We can repent. We can forgive. We can uplift. We can obey His commandments and recommit ourselves daily. We can do as Paul instructed Timotheus in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 verse 5: “But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.”

Whether the Rapture or Christ’s Second Coming occurs on May 21, 2011, or days, months, or years later, we should prepare ourselves now and endure to that eventual end, when we will see “the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). By avoiding deception, adopting Christlike attributes, and doing the work of evangelists, we can prove our commitment to Christ, and hopefully find favor in His glorious sight.