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The End Of The World
Is the World about to End? What Should I Do Now?
Dr. Roger Barrier
Dear Roger,
It
seems like the world is falling apart. I’m scared. My friends and I talk about
what is happening to the global economy and I just get more scared. My house is
worth less now than when I bought it. I feel stuck. I couldn’t sell it now even
if I wanted to. The fallout in Japan, the upheaval of governments in the Middle
East, No-Fly zones in Libya... What do you think is going to happen? Is this
the end? Is the Book of Revelation being fulfilled now? Will things ever return
to normal? Will the earthquakes, revolutions and genocide increase?
I
know I am asking a lot of questions and you don’t have to answer them all but I
would appreciate it if you’d share some thoughts on the current crises.
Thank
you,
A concerned Christian
A concerned Christian
Dear
Concerned Christian,
Before
I give you my thoughts, I am going to post a short few paragraphs from Paul Benware,
from his book, Understanding End Times
Prophecy:
Matthew
24:5-8 gives
us some important clues so we can discern the approach of the end times, “For
many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and
earthquakes in various places.”
An increase in false messiahs, an
increase in warfare, and increases in famines, plagues, and natural disasters —
these are signs of the end times.
In this passage, though, we are
given a warning: we are not to be deceived, because these events are only the
beginning of birth pains; the end is still to come.
Some interpreters point to every
earthquake, every political upheaval, and every attack on Israel as a sure sign
that the end times are rapidly approaching.
While the events may signal the
approach of the last days, they are not necessarily indicators that the end
times have arrived.
The apostle Paul warned that the
last days would bring a marked increase in false teaching.
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will
abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
The last days
are described as “perilous times” because of
the increasingly evil character of man and people who actively “resist the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-9; see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Other possible signs would
include a rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, increased hostility
towards Israel, and advances toward a one-world government.
The most prominent sign of the
end times, however, is the nation of Israel. In 1948, Israel was recognized as
a sovereign state, essentially for the first time since A.D. 70.
God promised Abraham that his
posterity would have Canaan as
“an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8), and Ezekiel
prophesied a physical and spiritual resuscitation of Israel (Ezekiel
chapter 37).
Having Israel as a nation in its
own land is important in light of end times prophecy because of Israel’s
prominence in eschatology (Daniel 10:14; 11:41; Revelation 11:8).
With these signs in mind, we can
be wise and discerning in regard to the expectation of the end times.
We should not, however, interpret
any of these singular events as a clear indication of the soon arrival of the
end times.
God has given us enough
information that we can be prepared, and that is what we are called to be.
Now for my own thoughts as well:
As I sit in my office typing this
answer I am not feeling hopeful that things will ever return to
"normal."
Of
course, I tend to be more of a pessimist than an optimist so take my thoughts
with a grain of salt. I am praying that they will; but, the world economic
crisis has been mounting for a long time and there may not be enough that
anyone can do to stop it this time.
I
hesitate to begin guessing what the outcome of all this might be. I am no
expert — there are thousands of economists, politicians, presidents, world
leaders, and media pundits who can answer your questions better than I — maybe.
Frankly,
all of them have such different ideas that I don’t trust any of them. We will
just have to wait and see.
No society or culture lasts forever.
All eventually collapse — the United States will not be the exception.
Collapse by Jared Diamond (Penguin Books; New York, New York;
2006) details five factors which lead to the collapse of societies.
Only
one factor is needed to destroy any particular society. Our United States — and
many other nations — are currently experiencing all five.
Let
me share his five factors to give us a little perspective on the current
crises. Diamond’s studies of collapsed cultures include: Easter and Henderson
Islands; the Anasazis of Arizona; the Mayans of Central America, the Vikings of
Iceland; and the Norse of Greenland.
Modern-day
collapses include: Montana; Rwanda; Dominican Republic; Haiti; and Australia.
The first collapse factor is
environmental damage. These are damages that people inadvertently inflict on
their environment.
The
people of Easter Island eventually cut down all of the trees on the island.
When the trees were gone the people were gone — most died of exposure and
hunger.
The
lack of trees meant rampant erosion which carried away all the topsoil and
agriculture was dramatically diminished.
In
our world today, insecticides, manufacturing waste products, overfishing,
deforesting, the reduction in wet lands — just to mention a few — are beginning
to have catastrophic results ranging from food crises in some areas to an
increasing number of birth defects in others.
The
second collapse factor is climate change. The earth’s climate is not static.
Present-day Iran and Iraq once flowed with milk and honey. Crops, gardens and
game proliferated in the days when that climate received much more rainfall
than it does today.
After
all, that area was once called the “Fertile Crescent”. But, the climate changed
and those areas are now bare deserts.
Today,
refrigerator fluorocarbons and fossil fuels are bringing with them colossal
environmental damage. For example, the resulting global greenhouse is
increasing temperatures which cannot be reversed.
The
third collapse factor is hostile neighbors. Many societies can hold off the
enemy for only so long. As collapse factors come into play a society is often
weakened to the point that they fall to the enemy.
The
Roman Empire lasted for centuries; eventually it succumbed to continued attacks
by the barbarian hordes.
Today,
many hostile enemies of the USA are in the Middle East. Dictators, crazed
terrorists and Islamic extremists are dedicated to our destruction. At times
they hold us hostage with their oil. They determine our Middle Eastern
policies.
We
feel it is our responsibility to being peace and democracy to the region so we
spend billions of dollars on our military to fight and police in the Middle
East.
Military
expenditures are sucking our economy dry. By the way, the approaching anarchy
in Mexico may soon resort in what may be a hostile neighbor on our southern
border.
The fourth collapse factor is
decreased support by friendly neighbors. Every society has friends with whom
they trade for the products they need.
In
return, they trade their own surpluses to furnish the products that their
friend nations need. Sometimes enemies are friends — like the oil we trade for
with our cash to the oil-rich Middle East.
By
the way, Middle Eastern oil reserves are projected to last only until 2020 at
which point the Middle Eastern nations may well become irrelevant on the world
political scene.
Of
course, their oil demise will have adverse affects for us.
Another
example of decreased support is our “friend” China who is sucking us dry
economically. Our trade deficit with them is enormous. We buy lots of their
stuff; they buy very little of ours.
The fifth collapse factor is how a society responds to the other
four factors. Most societies respond poorly leading to the dreaded collapse.
However, some, like the Icelanders who denuded their forests,
eroded away their farmlands and overgrazed their animals have turned their
impending collapse around.
By mutual planning and cooperation they are recovering their
lost natural resources.
As I listen to our leaders trying to find solutions to our
present crisis, when I hear our last president giving away governmental gifts
of $1,000 and then begging people to spend it (instead of saving), I am left
feeling that no one knows what to do, much less how to fix it.
For example, in one area, we are now in a vicious circle that to
fix our economy we need people to spend lavishly when they are trying to hoard
every cent — thus leading us further down the road to collapse.
What does this mean for America? I don’t know. Of course, no one
knows, except our Creator.
I am sure He is grieving for His world today just as He grieved
in Genesis six over the sinfulness of mankind then. I can think of many
possible scenarios. Let me mention just a few.
First, deep economic misery will be our future until the country
slowly returns to normalcy. This will probably take 10 to 15 years.
Second, runaway inflation may well make our money increasingly
worthless. We have several tools to help control inflation.
Third, on the other hand, runaway deflation might occur
resulting in our assets become increasingly worthless. Deflation will have
unbelievable negative consequences. We have no tools to control deflation.
Watch which nations handle the various collapse factors well
over the next several years. China is becoming the world power most predicted —
but too much purchasing of our debt and too many political problems are
stymieing a unified response to their problems (although in its favor, China
has made South America its own for the taking with its multiple trade
agreements there).
India has surprised us all. From my perspective they may well be
preparing best for the future world. They are responding to the current
leveling of all nations as second- and third-world nations move up the scale and
first-world nations move down the scale of influence and stability.
India, for example, has a goal of educating all of its people
while the US is becoming less and less literate every day. This places them in
an enviable position for the future.
My favorite scenario is for the Second Coming of Christ. I am
ready for the Rapture!
What are some of the spiritual
implications for today? I can think of several.
First
of all, practice good Biblical economics. God has not left us in the dark about the Biblical principles
that He recommends.
First,
we give our tithes and offerings of 10%+ to the Kingdom (usually through our
local church).
Second,
we pay taxes to the government.
Third,
we make more money than we spend.
Fourth,
we stay out of debt for depreciating items.
Finally,
we lay aside about 10% to 20% of our income for future needs (like for a
refrigerator or car or college for the children or retirement).
Second,
pray for mercy for our nation and world. In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 God revealed that He is
behind the disasters overcoming the nation of Israel.
He also revealed His plan for overcoming the disasters: "When I shut up the heavens so that
there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among
my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Third,
watch the signs unveiled in the Book of Revelation and pray for the return of
Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth. These signs include — among many others — an increasing global
temperature; the destruction of seafood in the oceans; an attempt at a world-wide
government to deal with the crises of the end times; a double invasion of “Rosh
from the North” (Russia?) and a horde of “200 million red army soldiers” from
the East into the Middle East, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon; and finally, a
nuclear holocaust in Israel.
By the way, God has promised a crown for all of us who “love and look forward to the second coming
of Christ.”
Finally,
make a difference in the world.
People are more ready to look to Christ and the gospel than ever. The internet
has covered the world so that all can hear the Gospel.
Even
in the most primitive areas, we are seeing miracles and revival.
During
a conference in the Middle East recently, a Campus Crusade national director in
one African nation told us how Christian women are trained to carry projectors,
generators, fuel and the “Jesus Films” as they walk all over their country in
order to evangelize.
Last
year Campus Crusade recorded over 3 million decisions to follow Christ in that
"collapsed" country as a result of their work.
Times
of crises like the Japanese tsunami and nuclear fallout mean times of
opportunity to advance the Kingdom.
Well,
Concerned Christian, I didn’t intend to go into so much detail. Nevertheless,
everyone is wondering about this subject so I am glad you asked it. Ask me
another sometime.
Love,
Roger
Roger
Dr. Roger Barrier currently serves as senior teaching pastor at Casas
Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after
conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors,
missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide. Casas Church, where Roger
has served throughout his thirty-five-year career, is a megachurch known for a
well-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value of including new
generations is deeply ingrained throughout Casas to help the church move
strongly right through the twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier
holds degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral
care. His popular book, Listening
to the Voice of God, published by Bethany
House, is in its second printing and is available in Thai and Portuguese. His
current book, The Prayer God Always Answers, is currently being translated into Russian. Dr.
Barrier is currently completing a spiritual growth book that is intended to
help Christians move into greater spiritual intimacy with God the Father.
This article originally appeared at Preach It, Teach It, a site for pastors, teachers, and Bible students. Used with permission.
Editor's Note:
Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger"
column regularly appears at Preach It, Teach
It. Every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts nearly 40 years of
experience in the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or practice
for laypeople, or giving advice on church leadership issues. Email him your
questions at .roger@preachitteachit.org.
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