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Scriptures that talk about...
The Apocalypse. Armageddon. The End of the World.
That final battle of good versus evil. That great and horrendous battle which peoples from ancient time until today both long for and fear. It fascinates us even as it haunts our consciousness. These words grab our attention and fill our minds with pictures of tremendous upheaval and destruction.
What is it?
Is it only a blip in time, of some great political and cultural change, as some say? Will the earth, itself, heave and self-destruct, as some say? Will it be a time of total extinction of the human race? Will anyone survive? CAN anyone survive?
When is it going to happen?
Are the ancient prophecies of the Mayan civilization right when they pinpoint a date in late 2012? Many made such claims as the new millennium of 2000 approached, but nothing happened. To be fair, there were those who fled to the mountains and stocked caves with food and water as they waited for the year 1900, and we are still waiting. Jesus told the Apostle John the end was near two thousand years ago, and it hasn't happened, yet.
How can we know?
Are all the disastrous things happening in the world today a prelude of greater disasters to come? Is this just some ancient myth that's fun to scare ourselves with, or to make movies about? Will these events really happen? Is there a way to know, with certainty?
How can we prepare?
Is it possible to survive the coming series of cataclysmic events? How does one get ready for something like this? Is there some place to go or something we can do the mitigate our suffering? What about our families and loved ones? Can we help them?
When we think about Armageddon, we are filled with apprehension and fear, even as it fascinates us. Yet, for all the attention it receives, we know almost nothing about this coming event. It begs the question, why do we believe it will happen? We will be spending the next few weeks looking at this subject from the biblical point of view and answering the above questions. Follow with me by reading the book of Revelation and asking God to speak to you about it. Post a comment to let us all know what you hear from him.
Luke 21:28 ( NIV ) When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Until next time, Blessings
Kay
Armageddon and the End of the World
by
Kay Montgomery
How to keep your balance in a troubled world
I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep. My mind started replaying the video of all that black, sticky oil on my beautiful, white beach. This is something I try hard NOT to think about because I know it would get me down. I know people are working hard to fix the problem, but there doesn't seem to be much progress being made.
The world is full of bad news-earthquakes, volcanos, tornadoes, terroist attacks, massive environmental disasters, and financial ruin across the globe.
And this is only in the last six months!
It is enough to keep you awake at night or even worse, become like the gentleman from Orange Beach, Alabama, who was so discouraged after the oil spill ruined his charter fishing business, he went into the wheelroom of his boat and blew out his brains.
How can we keep our balance in the middle of all this?
After a couple of hours of tossing, turning, and staring at the ceiling, a light bulbwent off in my brain.
The many disasters going on in the world will only get worse and more numerous. We should neither be surprised nor give in to fear.
Luke 21:25-28 ( NIV ) There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Jesus tells us in this passage to look up, or become expectant of our redemption-which is His return. We are waiting for the day he comes for us, these things going on around us are signs that day in nearer.
Refocus We cannot allow our minds to run wild with all the day's images and problems. I began talking to myself by repeating scriptures I use for this purpose.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
Focus on God's care and provision for our lives. Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages to refocus my thinking away from the activity of the world and back to God's care and provision. This chapter goes on to say
Psalms 27:5-6 ( NIV ) For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Until next time;
Blessings, Kay
