I was noting to someone – probably Arthur, right after the Christchurch earthquake in February, that I’m not much of a believer in the apocalypse, as portrayed in some religious literature. Then the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan helped generate this Newsweek cover. Still don’t believe it, though if the world destroys itself, it’d more likely be at our own hand.
Then I came across this article about how Matthew 24:6-7, “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars…” has been misinterpreted, which I found oddly comforting.
Do you believe either in Biblical end times or the possibility that we, through being a poor tenant of this earth, are bringing to pass our own destruction? Ah, a good Lenten question.
And do uncertain times make the notion of superheroes more attractive?
Stuff happens in the physical universe on greater and lesser scales because of physical laws. That’s it, as far as I can tell. None of it is personal, or to “teach a lesson.” The results BECOME personal, and we may DRAW CONCLUSIONS from the events (if we’re smart), but the notion that we’re so special that planetary events are geared toward us strikes me as… superstitious.
People have been proclaiming the end of days forever,( Remember Y2K?), I think it is wrong for us to say we know our ends, no one has been right yet!
I wonder if the *frequency* of catastrophic news is the result of the many advances in communication we have nowadays. We have instantaneous breaking news about every earthquake, tsunami, war, uprising and other world event. No wonder we think these events are increasing. We may just be increasingly aware of them. Do I believe in a biblical end time. Yes. Do I have any idea when? No. Since God put into place the laws of the universe, it’s not out of my realm of probability that He will use natural events to bring about the end of the world as we know it. But, since He is outside of these laws and events, the next step after that would be His to create.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Hitler was the Anti-Christ. Then it was Reagan (Ronald = 6 letters, Wilson = 6, and Reagan = 6, thereby making him 666)… although I don’t think Reagan had the smarts to be the Anti-Christ anyway!
I’m a sincere follower of Jesus and believe there are many paths. All this Apocalyptic nonsense is just a way to sell magazines. Frankly, I live as though it’s coming today… never coming… or more importantly – as though it’s not coming for another thousand years. If we thought a little more about the seventh generation, we’d take more care. If we stopped creating little earthquakes by hydrofracturing to get natural gas, maybe the earth’s crust would be a little more stable…
GREAT question. Hope Sarah Palin weighs in; I could use a laugh!
Amy Barlow Liberatore
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/labyrinth-day-16/
In the bible it says that nobody knows when the end of the world is near. But I agree wit you that we are the destroyers of the world, I am sorry to say so.