“2012- The End of the World?”
January 8, 2012
1 Thessalonians 1:1-11
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
The countdown is on! 352 Days, 2 hours, 45 minutes, 55 seconds until the world ends – or so said one website I looked at this week. It said,
2012 WARNING!
THE BLESSED MOTHER WARNS US OF EARTH CHANGES WHEN TWO SUNS CAN BE SEEN IN THE SKY
Mayan Calendar Ends, Planet X Returns, the Milky Way Aligns with the Earth & Sun all on December 21, 2012
SOLAR FLARES, MEGA EARTHQUAKES, GALACTIC ALIGNMENT, HONEYBEES DISAPPEARING, INCREASED NATURAL DISASTERS, THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN!
Pretty scary stuff! But wait! There’s more. One site claimed in the next few years we will see Earth changes that will be devastating to all living creatures on the planet. There will be compound crisis' happening at the same time in our cosmos. Planet X (Nibiru) will be returning from its 3600 year orbit around our solar system. Which will bring with it six orbiting satellites. This return of Planet X will disrupt our solar system, and especially the Earth. Planet X will enter our solar system at the edge and cross orbits with Jupiter. Jupiter could ignite at this time and become a baby sun. The 11 1/2 year solar flare cycle will peak on 2012 causing solar flares that could knock out power grids around the world. If this really does happen, these solar flares in conjunction with the return of Planet X, will cause devastation on the earth.
The sun, earth, and Milky Way will align at the galactic equator, on December 21, 2012, which is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year- and the end of the Mayan long count calendar. This only happens every 25,800 years! For the first time in recorded history, our entire solar system will move BELOW the Milky Way galaxy. If these combined cosmic events really do affect our planet, it could be the end of the world as we know it. About 6 billion people of the world could perish in just a few short years if this cosmic catastrophe occurs.
As I did my research for this message I came across some interesting prediction as to the possible causes of the end of the world in 2012. Here are just a few possibilities. 1. Aliens from outer space invade the earth and destroy us. 2. Scientific experiments along the line of splitting the atom go awry and cause a chain reaction that blows us all up. 3. The Mayan Calendar says so. 4. Nostradamus says so. 5. Disease in the form of a pandemic kills everyone. 6. Biological warfare gets out of control. 7. A giant meteor or asteroid hits the earth.
WOW! That’s some pretty scary stuff! The makes a lot of people lay awake at time in a cold sweat. No wonder the Bible says,
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…” Luke 21:25-26
“Peoples hearts FAILING them for fear. People are scared to death – literally! Are YOU scared yet? Well, I’m not. Let me share with you WHY all these predictions don’t frighten me – and ought not to frighten you either.
1. First of all. We are eternal creatures. We are eternal beings – if we have made Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives. Listen to the promises.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-16
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ” Romans 2:7-8
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Those are just a few promises of eternal life for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ. And we believe that the world WILL be destroyed one day. We believe it will be consumed in a fervent fire. The Bible says,
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10
The end of the world is not the issue – for us. For unbelievers it is. For Atheists it is. For Evolutionists it is. Because when the world goes – they go. When life ends- they end. But not so for us. We are eternal creatures with an eternal destiny. So what if the world ends in 2012 –we won’t.
Now, let me clearly say – I don’t believe any of the doomsayers. I think we may be close to the end – We may be in the ‘season’ of the end -but we don’t know the day or hour. We know for sure it is NOT going to be December 21, 2012. It may be earlier. It may be later. We don’t know. Jesus made it very clear that we need to be ready. And I think the Bible teaches that there is going to be seven years of tribulation before the second coming of the Lord – so I am pretty confident that the end is not this year. But I could be wrong. So be ready. The way to be ready, first of all, is to have eternal life.
Here’s another reason I am not afraid of Doomsday. 2. Jesus will be with me. There is nothing that I will face alone. Jesus promises to be with me.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Here we have our marching orders, to make disciples; we have our instructions what to do when we make a disciple – baptize them and teach them obedience – and we have our promise of never being alone. Jesus said, “I will be with you ALWAYS!” How long? ALWAYS! To the very end of the age. David asks
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12
If that is true – what have we to fear? Paul said,
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
When I was a little kid I was afraid of the dark. I could imagine all kinds of horrible things lying in wait for me out there in the darkness. But if my Dad was near – I was never afraid. I knew that we would never face anything that he couldn’t handle. I feel the same with Jesus. He is gonna be with me – He is gonna be with you ALWAYS. So what have we to fear. Jesus is the Creator. More than that – He is the ‘sustainer’ of the universe. The bible says,
“in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:2-3
He keeps us going. The world will continue to keep going until HE decides it is the end.
Here’s one more reason I don’t fear the end of the world. 3. The end of the world is our beginning. Remember the Scripture we read in Luke? Listen.
“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. People 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.”
Luke 21:25-28
Jesus said “when these things begin to take place – get excited! Get encouraged! “Stand up and lift up your heads!” Why? “Because your redemption is drawing near!” The party is about to begin! What we were created for is finally going to happen. The end of the world is the beginning of Glory for us. Doomsday to the world is the birthing of a new era for us.
So how are we to react to all these things? We need to react in two ways – personally and socially. Personally – we need to be ready. Jesus said,
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36
Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” 2 Peter 3:10-11
Jude said, “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
Jude 20-21
The Day of the Lord will come – if not this year – eventually. Since you know this – what kind of a person ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. You ought to be a person who is watching and praying. That’s the kind of people we need to be in light of all these frightening predictions. We don’t need to be afraid – on the contrary – we need to be excited and expectant as we wait for these things to unfold. We need to keep our hands firmly in the grasp of Jesus’ mighty hand.
Secondly, socially we need to be concerned. The Bible says,
“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Jude 22-23
We need to show mercy to those who doubt. Don’t argue with them. Don’t condemn them. Don’t call them names. Pity them. Or like Mr. T used to say, “Pity the fools!” Seriously, have compassion and mercy on them. Do your best to save others. If you are successful it is like snatching someone from the fire. Paul says,
“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.” 2 Corinthians 5:11
“For Christ’s love compels us,” 2Corinthians 5:14
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
You have been given the ministry of reconciliation. You are Christ’s ambassador. What a wonderful opportunity for us to appeal to people! So many are full of fear. We have faith. So many have so many questions. We have the answers. So many feel like this is the end. We can tell them it’s only the beginning! What an exciting time to live! What a blessing that we have been chosen to live in this age. We CAN make a difference. YOU can make a difference – if you are prepared.
Are you prepared? Is your heart right with God? Now is a good time to get right. It is so easy. You simply pray a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for your love for me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for eternal life. Thank you for the plans you have for me for all eternity.
Jesus, I confess I haven’t been living as I know you want me to life. Please forgive me. Cleanse my heart. Purify my mind. Help me to focus on you and doing your will. I want to be Your ambassador. Save someone through me.
