The Christian and End Time prophecies

Rev. Fr. Gabriel Umoh

In every generation, there has always been anxiety over when the world will come to an end. That seems natural to the human nature since as finite beings, we are always afraid of the unknown. Different groups and individuals have therefore been preoccupied with this venture which at times led to various forms of error like date fixing, rapture and Millenarianism. The latest in the series of date fixing is that by Harold Camping, president and presenter of Family Radio Christian Network, who speculated that there will be rapture by May 21, 2011, followed by the end of the world by October 21, 2011.

It is imperative to note that Christianity believes in and teaches the return of Jesus for judgment at the end of the world - the Parousia. There is no doubt that the Sacred Scriptures and the Church are two important sources to look up to on this matter. While the Church does not stop anyone from study of end time or private revelations in general, she however admonishes the faithful to be weary of the source and be very critical of what they accept. It is no news that so many have come up in the past making so many claims which turn out to be false and misleading.

A core element of the Nicene Creed reads thus: “I believe…he (Jesus) will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead….We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”. This is based on Matthew 24:29-31 where Jesus says that he will return for judgment. “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matt. 24:31).

Much as Jesus spoke of his coming back, he nonetheless also warned that the time will not be known to anyone because it will come by surprise; the son of man will come like a thief in the night. He will come at an hour you do not expect. (cf. Matt. 24:36 & 37). He used the parable of the ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom to illustrate the suddenness of his coming. Jesus also warned his followers to beware of false prophets who will come pretending that they are the Christ. 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it”; and those who “will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible.” (cf. Matthew 24:23-25)

Inspite of these warning, many people are still preoccupied with and misled by end time date fixing and speculations. This concern was even prevalent in the early Church because, understandably, the people presumed that Jesus will come back so soon, like forty or fifty years after the ascension of Jesus. Thus the apostles had a great task calming and admonishing the faithful not to put their minds on when the end will come, but that they should rather seek to live righteous lives so that whenever the Lord comes, he will meet them ready. Peter had this problem of anxiety to grapple with when he encouraged Christians that the Lord is not slow to fulfill his words because for God a thousand years is like one day. He says: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) This apostle also alludes to Paul writing on the same topic as he wrote: “Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contains some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:15 & 16). Peter re-echoes the words of Jesus that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief." (2Peter3:10).

Even at this, many at different times have misled a multitude by falsely insisting that they knew the timing of Jesus' return. Some classic examples include false prophets like Kochba who caused great pains and havoc to the Jews in the second century. This man claimed that he was the Messiah and led the people into a senseless revolt against the Romans who in turn massively crushed them, destroying whole villages and towns and forced the people into exile. The Jews can never forget this part of their history. Then was William Miller who claimed that Jesus would return "sometime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844." Others include Nelson H. Barbour, Charles Taze Russell, Herbert W. Armstrong and Joseph Smith, the founder of a religion called Mormonism, claimed that Jesus would return by 1891. We cannot ignore the case of Jim Jones of Jonestown, a minister of the Disciples of Christ, with his crazy ideology and shades of theology. He eventually led to the mass suicide of over 900 members of his congregation. Vernon Howell, popularly known as David Koresh, who unlike Jones who claimed to be God, claimed to be a reincarnation of Jesus in sinful form, was well versed in quoting the bible which he used to mesmerize his congregation.

The truth is that talks and worries about the end of time is a fruitless venture unless it edifies the soul. This means that the study should draw people closer to God rather than repel them from him. It must not lead to self-righteousness where some people wish that others perish or are damned. Furthermore, it must not lead to error of faith. Therefore it requires that the private revelation must be submitted to the scrutiny and authority of the Church official if it is to be accepted for official belief. The point here is that while it is important to keep in mind the shortness of time as mortal beings on a pilgrimage of life, concentrating on the thoughts of the end is futile.

The right attitude of Christians in this matter is thus clearly stated by Jesus who says do not worry about the hour or time the son of man will come, as that is left to the Father alone to know; not even the angels. Following in the same vein, Peter urges Christians to live righteously (2 Peter 3:11) while awaiting the end times with joy not fear. (2 Peter 3:12-13) He says “dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:14) He goes on to warn that “since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

Definitely, going by the signs revealed in the scriptures, we are in perilous times. There are wars everywhere, immorality at a high scale even in the sacred places, earthquakes, terrorism, false prophets on the rise, In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul says, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" There is apostasy at a high level where more church leaders leave orthodoxy, mainline denominations leaving the historic Christian faith. We see Christians questioning the deity of Christ, questioning the meaning of the crucifixion. We see Christians questioning the reality of hell and the eternal judgment. We see Christian worship substituted for spiritual jamboree and Christian homily substituted for motivational speech. We see Churches speaking of prosperity rather than preaching repentance and salvation that follows from there. We see Christians who love the victory of Easter resurrection but abhor the Good Friday suffering and pain. Indeed, we are in perilous times.

In all of these, our concern is simple. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus is our saviour, the Way that leads to the truth which gives eternal life. We overcome the fear of the unknown by finding the peace which he alone can give; it is the peace of salvation. We are called to be faithfully at work rather than sit down counting the time. Those whom the master meets at their work, those who are busy at good works will live and reign with Christ forever,. Evil people will be damned forever with reprieve.