2012: The End of the World?
I grew up in the height of the Charismatic Movement where the "End Times" were always "at hand". I can remember hearing dozens of scenarios for how Jesus was coming back any day. And there were also dozens of songs pining away about how "I wish we'd all been ready." And who can forget the action-packed epic movies like "A Thief in the Night" and "A Distant Thunder".
That was nearly 40 years ago, and while the Christians who produced these movies and books were no doubt sincere, they were all wrong -- Jesus did not come back in the 1970s. And all the 88 reasons why Jesus was supposed to come back in 1988 turned out to be false as well.
Now we are hearing a growing chorus of voices -- including the upcoming Hollywood movie, also called 2012 -- saying that the world is going to end in 2012. We'll see.
Fuel has been added to the fire recently with the release of scientific reports that there is an expectation of major solar storms in 2012.
I find great comfort and wisdom in the words of Jesus that, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36, NIV). So I don't allow myself to get caught up in "rapture fever". I find it to be mostly a waste of time and energy that could be better spent helping hurting people and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But just to stay in balance, the Lord instructed that disciples were to be aware of the "signs of the times" and when these things begin appearing to "...stand and look up, for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28b, NLT) So we are to study the signs of the times, but not to be so caught up in "end-times theology" that we are distracted from the important work of the Great Commission.
In light of this, I believe this prophetic exhortation by R. Loren Sandford, pastor of New Song Fellowship in Denver, Colorado, is timely. This prophetic word was published in Charisma Magazine's online Prophetic Insights section.
In recent weeks I've found I can no longer turn to the History Channel (my favorite) without being confronted with the Nostradamus Effect, the Mayan calendar, the Chinese I'ching or the Christian prophet, Malachy, from the 12th century, each of which has been said to have declared the end of the world in this time period. Even people who don't read their Bibles seem to be focused on the last days.
Will the world end in 2012? I don't believe so. But in that time period and leading up to it we will see an acceleration of instability and uncertainty in the world. This will not be a collapse, but rather an intensification of fear as the whirlwind of change across the globe gathers speed.
It will appear that major nations once at war with one another are making peace. In terms of the possibility of major wars, therefore, there will be a diminished sense of danger, while smaller conflicts in more localities will likely escalate, in both number and intensity. It will be a time of "wars and rumors of wars" (Matt. 24:6, NASB), but not on a world scale.
We will also see an increase in natural disasters in various places—earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes. Earth can no longer bear up under the weight of the sin of mankind (see Matt. 24).
The coming turmoil will be felt primarily in global power shifts in both comparative military might and economic influence. These shifts are already taking place. America will remain a big fish in the world's pond, but it will no longer be the only big fish in the world's pond and will therefore feel itself diminished in terms of significance on the world stage.
These changes, among other influences, will lead to increased political turmoil and greater ideological polarization in America. We will be an increasingly divided nation with an escalating risk of erupting violence as frustration grows; ethnic and cultural groups see themselves disempowered; and people seek outlets for the fear and anger they feel due to not being heard by their government and/or other ethnic and cultural groups.
In days to come believers must not feed these divisions or participate in them at any level or in any way. We have been called as reconcilers who have been given a ministry of reconciliation, not division (see 2 Cor. 5:18).
That being said, no matter what we do, we will be increasingly marginalized culturally as a result of societal disfavor in days to come, but we must take care that our own attitudes and behavior in response to such disfavor do not draw unnecessary levels of opposition upon us.
In the years to come it will become more and more necessary that we live as the first and second century Christians did under the Roman Empire. They didn't equate their Christian faith with a political movement or party as so many of us do today—"My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus told his disciples (John 18:36)—but rather became known for their love when everyone else's love grew cold. They openly modeled a moral and glorious lifestyle without issuing scathing condemnations of Roman immorality.
"See how the Christians love," became the testimony of those who observed their character and their conduct toward one another as well as toward outsiders. It wasn't that they didn't address sin. They did, in fact, call for repentance, but left judgment, vengeance and condemnation up to God. This made them wonderfully attractive to growing numbers of Romans who were hungering for an alternative to the destruction brought on by the sin that infected the core of Roman society.
Historically, societal decay has always set the stage for revival because sin brings death—and death makes people hungry for healing. If we will set a course to be Christlike in days to come, we can turn the tide of disfavor and win multitudes to Jesus.
The years to come may therefore be tumultuous and fearful ones for the world, but if we will take our rightful places as ministers of the kingdom of God—a kingdom of love, service, and signs and wonders—the coming years will be the most glorious the church has ever known. Romans 8:19: "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God." This is our hour! Matthew 24:14: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."
See Fox News Report: Nasa Warns Of Super Solar Storm in 2012
About the author: R. Loren Sandford is the founder and senior pastor of New Song Fellowship in Denver, Colorado. He is also the author of several books, including Understanding Prophetic People and The Prophetic Church (both published by Chosen). Audio and video recordings of Sandford's messages may be purchased on his church's Web site, newsongfellowship.org.
Prophetic Insight is a weekly bulletin offering timely and relevant messages for the body of Christ from recognized prophetic voices. It is prepared by Maureen Eha, features editor for Charisma magazine. Used with permission.
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