ARE YOU STILL HERE???
Will/did the
world end on September 23, 2017? That’s the question many are or were asking in
recent weeks. Since the full Solar
Eclipse came across the United States on August 21st there has been a sudden
surge of online videos and commentaries saying that September 23rd
was the day. Perhaps you have read some.
In a
nutshell, there are those that claim there were will be a sign in the heavens,
an alignment of the stars and planets supposedly seen only once in 7000 years,
that will occur on that date. A little
research proves that claim is not true at all, and this supposed “Revelation 23
Sign” has happened many times before. This
sounds more like Astrology than discerning God’s Word. Astrology is defined as
the study of the heavens (sun, moon, planets, etc.) and their motions under the
assumption that they influence events and human activities on earth. Unlike
astronomy, which is the scientific study of the universe, astrology is based on
a person's
interpretation and the meaning they read into what they observe.
The idea that
heavenly bodies control our destiny, rather than the Creator of all things, is
an ancient delusion.
I have seen
many of these online videos from these “prophetic preachers” in recent weeks, and
their far fetch claims. First, let me be
clear, Jesus is coming again, on that there is NO doubt. But will he come when
some preacher/teacher predicts? Most likely not.
In my years
of life, I have seen many end times predictions come and go. What is sad is
that many that make these missed predictions keep coming back and making more,
or making excuses, and people believe them.
I can think
of one “End Time Commentator” that claims to hear from the Holy Spirit all the
time. In the short time I knew him the Holy Spirit he heard kept changing his
mind on a very frequent basis. Many projects his “ministry” started were never
finished, poorly planned and in many cases abandoned or forgotten. The predictions that would happen in 2015
never came to pass, as many other before that time.
Jesus tells
His disciples what people should know about His second coming in Matthew 24,
beginning at the 22nd verse: 22“Unless those days
had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the
elect those days will be cut short. 23“Then if anyone
says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24“For false Christs
and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25“Behold, I have
told you in advance. 26“So if they say to
you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27“For just as the
lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming
of the Son of Man be. 28“Wherever the
corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
While we should learn about the importance of
the End Times, we should not be obsessed.
When we are worrying about things we can’t control we cease doing the
things God has called us to do.
