I’LL PROBABLY NEVER GET ASKED AGAIN

Really, I’m honored; it’s always elating when folks inquire after one’s opinion whatever the subject. Recently, different ones have forwarded to me links of another gone-viral video message from a political prognosticator or some prescient prophet. The link’s attached to the question, “What do you think of this?” Some of the most recent feature a monologist citing an imminent takeover of the United States. His message, urging the stockpiling of supplies of food and ammo, intimates that the incoming administration will extend an invitation to foreign communist forces to assist its crackdown on conservative dissidents. Any flattery I might feel at being asked about my opinion is quickly displaced by the awareness of the alarm people are experiencing over these “prophecies” and by my desire, not just to get my opinion correct, but to do so in a manner that does not dash people’s faith in the very real and certain prophecies of an apocalyptic end revealed in God’s Word. Before sharing any observations intended to mitigated folks’ fueled apprehension and misplaced passion for such sound-the-alarm messages, I want to affirm that I believe Jesus will come again, there will arise an Antichrist-led world government, and, proceeding both, anti-Christian sentiment and attacks will increase. I also, personally, believe we are likely to continue to see the decline and transmogrification of America. I do think that every family must often presagingly respond to real and pressing approaching calamitous threats (for an unrelated example, an approaching blizzard) by taking the necessary precautionary measures that may include stockpiling survival supplies. However, I think we must remember something about these monodramas which layout a conspiracy-based, apocalyptic scenario of imminent doom and then urge stockpiling, etc. It is this: How many times through the years have we heard things like this? I became aware of such prophetic predictions in the later 1970s. In more recent history, the doomsday-induced anxiety raised over Y2K serves as a prime example. Folks are quick to forget. When another of these heralders rises, we forget that the last one’s warning, dream, or vision, of the imminent end never happened. This cycle has transpired again and again. Alarm. Nothing. Alarm. Nothing. Alarm. Nothing. Despite all the “facts” the “prophet” laid out based on all the information secret to others but privy to him. I do not doubt the sincerity; at least not of all of them. I do not doubt all the supporting information; some of it’s accurate. I do not doubt adversarial forces are at work against the U.S. and against Christians; there are--both from outside and inside our country. My concern arises from the result of these apocalyptic-trumpet calls. After the scenario doesn’t materialize the aftereffect is often one of two: First, some are kept in a bipolar state of yo-yoing of emotions; their emotions become hyper-inflamed, followed by a huge let-down when the events don’t happen. Again. And again. Second, some quit listening to and believing that there will be an apocalypse in the world’s, the U.S.’s, their future. “Wolf” is cried over and over, until, when someone declares, “Jesus is coming!”, these “Wolf”-weary folks quickly dismiss that Biblical prophecy with, “We’ve heard all that before.” Of course, these apocalyptic occurrences will one day come upon the world. The Antichrist will arise. Hard times and persecution will come to believers. All these could be just around the corner. Yet, Scripture never urged believers to prepare for the Antichrist’s coming but for Christ’s coming. We have been urged to “occupy” until Christ comes with our eyes, not on secretive, conspiratorial political machinations expecting doom, but on the sky, expecting redemption. We have been urged, not to have our hearts enflamed with alarm, but to “let not your hearts be troubled.” Folks need to be adjured to get their hearts right with God over and above to get prepared for a communist takeover. And if our hearts are right, we need not fear. Yes, the alarm should be raised. However, I think that these Paul Reveres should be galloping across the social media with, “Jesus is coming, Jesus coming, Jesus is coming,” rather than with “The Antichrist is coming, The Antichrist is coming, The Antichrist is coming.” Of course, the Antichrist’s coming is a part of the end-time message and should be taught and preached. My point is What predominates? It is the Gospel, the good news, that should predominate. Not the bad news of the machinations of evil forces. I have often noticed and been concerned by this: A preacher can declare what the Bible says about the end and the signs that Jesus gave of its coming, and folks tend to be little moved. Yet, someone can share in a post a scenario, patching together things happening in our government, in global organizations, because of billionaire shakers and movers, etc., and folks become tremendously moved. For example, the preacher can share that Jesus said that one of the indicating signs of the approaching end is that “iniquity will abound,” (Matt. 24:12) and there’s little response. Someone on social media can say, “Bill Gates is trying to insert a chip in people via a vaccine,” and Christian folks become inundated with heightened alarm that the end is coming. Perhaps, this is a bit simplistic, but to me, it seems that the Bible couldn’t move them but a social media post could. I do believe we ought to apply the Bible to the contemporary world. But, to me, it’s a matter of which direction we are looking. Are we looking from the Bible to the world or from the world to the Bible? Put another way, are we using the Bible to interpret world events or using world events to interpret the Bible? I really don’t see a Scripture that urges stockpiling as we see the end approaching; I do see one that urges our continued and increased faithful assembling together for worship, Word, and fellowship (Heb. 10:25); we should head for the Assembly and not for a cave. Perhaps, we should be storing a few more memory verses instead of a few more boxes of ammo. Now, I’ve done it. I’ll probably never be asked again.