Earthquakes, asteroids hitting the earth, Los Angeles falling into the ocean – what is happening? Those are just a small snippet of 2012, a film based on theories of the Mayan calendar said to predict the world’s end on December 21, 2012. Since around 2006, theories and speculations have been thrown in and out, from a geomagnetic reversal, solar flares, and even the New Age idea of a spiritual transformation. Will the world begin its death the moment the clock ticks over from 11:59 pm to 12:00 am on 12/21/12? I can imagine many people watching the clocks or watching the news at that moment for that moment of truth. However, rather than wait for that moment – let’s see what the Bible says about the end of the world.
In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples ask when will the end of the world come? Throughout the chapter, Jesus never mentions a date, a month, a year, or even a season. What He does say is, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” What does that tell us? No, the world is most likely not going to end in 2012.
In spite of such an anticlimactic answer, there is something to be learned. What is the fascination about the end of the world? It’s because everyone can see that this world is falling apart, and we’re all just waiting to see when it will hit its breaking point. We may be coming out of the recession – but our national debt hasn’t changed, it has skyrocketed. The international population is skyrocketing, while 3,000 people die a day from starvation. Oil reserves are dwindling. A nuclear war seems to be on the brink across the world. Like a cup that is filled to brim, everyone is watching to see when the next drop into the cup will cause it to overflow.
Did God see this coming? Yes, 2000 years ago Jesus warned of these very things.
Matt 24:4-8, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of [birth pains].”
What is interesting is, in spite of the deluge of calamities that are hitting our world without those speculated by 2012, Jesus never mentions that is what brings the end of the world. All wars, all the running out of resources are not what bring the end of the world. It’s not an asteroid, it’s not solar flares. Instead, He says in verse 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
God is not waiting on catastrophes, or the third world war to happen before He comes. It is His message of Christ who died on the cross to save mankind from their sins that reaches every person. God can’t stand watching our world fall apart, but He is waiting for every heart that wants to follow Him and choose His side.
Yes, this world is going to end. This world of pain, suffering, fear, hurt is ending, because God is making a new world, where none of the pains of this world exist. There is only one condition, to accept Jesus Christ, and God is waiting for every person’s final decision. The question is not about, when is the world going to end – but are you ready for it? It may not be on Dec 21, 2012, but Jesus is coming.
Jessica Trinh
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