Will it be by fire? Asteroid impact? Nuclear holocaust? Global warming? Alien invasion? Giant hogweed attack (listen to Genesis Return of the Giant Hogweed)? Will it be in December of 2012 according to the Mayan calendar? Or will it be In the Year 2525?
Early in the 20th century it was common for many physicists to believe the universe would go on steady-as-she-goes forever. But after the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation, most had to admit to the Big Bang Theory, that the universe had a beginning. The question then became when and how will it end?
In the latter half of the 20th century there was a debate over whether the cosmos would expand eternally into a big chill, or collapse again into another big bang. That was until the Hubble telescope. Hubble discovered that the universe wasn’t just expanding, but that the rate of expansion was accelerating. The culprit was termed dark energy, although cosmologists aren’t sure if it’s really energy or something completely different.
Now a new theory claims the universe may eventually end by tearing itself apart. The Big Rip Theory postulates dark energy may completely destroy the structure of space. It would be just like in that Mick Jagger song, Don’t Tear me Up. Unfortunately nobody can predict what could happen to the earth after such a big rip. But it may be so far in the future that it doesn’t matter anyway.
How do you think the world will end? Do you believe the book of Revelation is a literal prophesy of the end times? Or do you look to other spiritual guidance for the future of humanity?
St. Pete 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 in it will be laid bare.” 2Peter 3:10
Thanks Eric- That’s pretty cool (or hot!) That would make a great sci-fi movie.
Bruce, I guess a wild and cataclysmic end with lightning and thunder. A tortured end on a teetering planet sounds boring.
I agree. The more wild and cataclysmic the better, as long as I’m not there.
This site is like a corn maze! Don’t know how I missed this one. One’s sense of urgency regarding the end times is equal to how literally your hermaneutic takes the writings of scripture. I would call mine tight, meaning that I allow the Scriptures to mean what they say and take them literally unless the text is obviously figurative. Mainline denominations have unfortunately suffered from leftovers of allegorical interpretations that have long since proved inadequate. The longer we have lived on this earth, the more obvious has become the precise nature of Scripture to predict and fulfill all of its prophecies literally. The re-birth of the nation of Israel is like a huge flashing billboard where Jesus is saying “I’m coming back soon!!!”. It amazes me that huge portions of “christianity” still ignore the clear teaching of Romans 9-11 among countless other passages that declare that God will again deal with His chosen nation Israel. How can you think that if God broke His unconditional covenant with Israel, He would be any more faithful to save us? No way! God will keep saved every one of His true children and He will fulfill His promises to Israel. Since that is true, then our end times become much clearer. The rapture of the church is a clear and absolute fact of Scripture. Then there will come a man on the world scene that will deceive the entire un-saved world into worshiping him. For a seven year period he will be in control, getting progressively more openly evil, executing all who will not receive his mark in their hand or forehead. He will gather the world’s armies to fight against Jesus Christ Himself when He returns to claim Kingship of the earth at last. The question to you is where do you stand in all of this? Either with Christ, having repented and trusting in Him alone for your eternal salvation or against Him, an eternally lost and terrible existance in hell. Don’t believe me, be like the Bereans and check the scriptures for yourself.
Thanks for your comments Dennis. I’m wondering if you know that the interpretation you expounded above was first put forward by Darby in the 19th century? No one before that time interpreted the Bible in that manner. The noble Bereans you reference would have never interpreted the verses from Paul as a rapture or the anti-Christ. But it does make for some great sci-fi!