It seems to me that every few years there is a renewed focus on end times stuff and with it all manner of weird theories and speculations. Often this cycle recurs when there is some global upheaval or geo-political shifts that bring a degree of uncertainty, or feelings of national or personal insecurity. I grew up in the 1960’s where the threat of nuclear war was very real – a palpable thing. Of late, this renewed end-times fascination has been triggered by a combination of things: the COVID-19 pandemic, the change of government in the United States, the aggressive expansionist agenda of China and the passing of legislation by our state legislatures (Victoria and South Australia) that can only be viewed (in my opinion) as demonically inspired. (How else can late term abortion, or the banning of requested prayer ministry be viewed?)
When things like these appear to converge, often Christians long for Jesus to return and fix everything. I get that. I do. I often find myself wanting the same.
But in the midst of these end-times focus cycles all manner of new end time theories emerge and are promoted. It’s almost an industry at the moment - and close to hysteria in some places. Churches have even renamed themselves as “end times” churches. One current argument gaining momentum is that the church will be raptured before the world gets too much worse. Jesus is going to come and get us out of this rotten place. The church is going to be removed before the great tribulation starts. There are even churches arguing with each other over when the rapture will be. Really? I kid you not.
The issue is this: no one knows!
I can take the New Testament and make a solid case for a pre-tribulation rapture. I can make a solid argument for a mid-tribulation rapture, too – I really can. I can take those same scriptures and make a solid theology for a post-tribulation rapture, too. It isn’t that difficult.
Whilst interesting in some ways, the whole exercise is a bit pointless really because no one knows! The only thing that is important, I think, is the fact that Jesus is coming again for His church. It doesn’t really matter when. He IS coming. In the meantime, we have work to do!
I am not on the “times and dates” committee. I’m on the “preparations” committee. I’m not to be overly fascinated and absorbed in end times speculations. I am to be completely absorbed and involved and passionate about the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
That’s my priority - yours, too!
Whenever it is that Jesus is returning (and my hunch, my sense, is that it could be soon - but I just DON’T know) we are called to be ready and to be focused on readiness behaviours, whilst keeping a careful eye on the signs of the times (which should actually increase our mission urgency!) without getting into silly speculations and debates that waste so much time. The signs of the times Jesus spoke about are to give us mission perspective to be prepared. The church is deployed here for a reason - as ambassadors of Christ, a royal priesthood, as an agency of the kingdom and so on. It should not greatly concern us when our deployment will end. End it will... and the end should be experienced by all of God’s people as magnificent surprise of overwhelming joy and sheer delight. Our readiness will be measured by two things: our increasing passion for Jesus, and our joyful and wholehearted commitment to His kingdom work. That’s where the joy is, regardless of how dark our world becomes...
For some who cannot be ready, or who get sidetracked into irrelevancies and resource-consuming lesser priorities than these, the return of Jesus will cause fear and regret. It will be too late then...
[Jesus] “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” - Luke 18:8.
Selah!
You are incredibly loved!
Ps Milton