(June 18, 2010) The subtitle of my blog is What in the world is going on? Looking at news events occurring around the world I think an even more appropriate question is, Is it all falling apart? In my lifetime (52 years) I have seen dramatic changes in socioeconomic, cultural, and technological spheres of human existence. Although the modern era may have begun during the European Renaissance, culturally in the areas of intellectual and artistic pursuits and politically through revolutions, I believe current modernity grew out of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century. Prior to that time human life moved at a much slower pace. Travel was powered by horse or sailing ship. Although the printing press had been around since the 15th Century communication still traveled only as fast as the horse or ship could carry it. With the advent of the 20th Century human innovation had made great strides in improving the human condition. The breadth of human existence had been dramatically changed in the areas of medicine and health, working and manufacturing, travel, education, and communication. Of course technological advancement also led to greater destruction in warfare. In the Nuclear Age humanity is capable of destroying the earth for the first time in human history. The prophet Daniel may have spoken of this development, “1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:1-4) It is possible that verse four of this passage could refer to human’s increased abilities to travel (“to and fro”) around the world (both physically and communicatively) and that knowledge would increase to a point where technology would be man’s final attempt to replace the God of the universe with the god of human intellect.
I came across two news items that have related themes concerning mankind’s future. The first item concerned an Australian scientist who declared that humanity will be extinct in one hundred years because of global warming (Our own extinction is forecast, but he’s going by dead reckoning). The second article dealt with the possibility of a cosmic apocalyptic event destroying the world (The end of the world as we know it). Although both articles approach their subjects in a somewhat lighthearted fashion, they do raise the more serious point of how long can the human race continue to exist in a seemingly and rapidly deteriorating sequence of events.
Many economies of the world are either struggling (Europe, America) or may be adversely affected because of the economic globalization that has taken place in the last few decades. Rogue states such as North Korea and Iran threaten the stability of the world with nuclear ambitions or realities. Likewise, Islamic terrorism will continue to plague the world. The Internet has made information and communication, both good and evil, easily accessible to a majority of the earth’s inhabitants. Dehumanization of the weakest among us exists in the abortion movement, human trafficking, and religious oppression of women and children.
From an Americentric point of view, the “United” States of America is more divided than at any time since the Civil War. I believe the polarization that exists in America today is actually worse than the divisions that existed during the War between the States. Those divisions were based on an immoral economic system that used the enslavement of black Americans as its foundation. Current divisions are based on religious, political, and social ideologies. Wars may be fought over any one of these reasons but religious ideology is usually not changed by outside influences. Thus, polarization based on religious belief will remain because such belief comes from the core of a human being.
Globally, economic hardship is turning some country’s citizens against their own governments. Many countries are becoming divided over immigration and Islamic influence within their borders. Christianity’s influence has diminished greatly in many parts of the world where it once flourished. Political correctness trumps the idea of right and wrong as decreed by God. The world is united in one area. It is becoming increasingly unified in its opposition to Israel.
On a more local level, I heard a sheriff from a southern Ohio county whose budget is being reduced express the dilemma that many law enforcement agencies in America and around the world are facing as the economies of the world continue in a downward spiral. He said he was going to have to release prisoners, reduce law enforcement staffing, and that district attorneys are going to have to choose which cases to prosecute in light of manpower shortages. It is worth noting that one of the signs Jesus declared would occur during the End-Times was, “12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12) If the economy doesn’t recover sufficiently, these types of problems are going to keep surfacing. People have lost their jobs and homes. Our current government wants the people to look to it to solve their problems. However, a government’s resources is based on the amount of taxes it collects from its citizens. Once that source has dried up the people will have no earthly place to turn to for help. During the last national economic crisis President Franklin Roosevelt told the American people that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself. Fear is a powerful motivator. Ironically, it took a World War to alleviate the fear of America. Conversely, it was the same type of fear that led Germans to hail Adolph Hitler as their savior. In the future I believe that the world’s fear will lead it to hail another man as their messiah. This man will be worse than all the other dictators who came before him.
The Bible makes it clear that things will only get worse for the world before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (II Timothy 3:1-5) Jesus Himself stated there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, false religious leaders. Paul wrote, “2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (I Thessalonians 5:2-3) They will experience this false peace and safety only after they have given into their fears and looked to the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ to save them.
In any event, technology and globalization appears to be leading humanity back to its primal goal of replacing worship of God with worship of humanity which occurred at the beginning of history at the Tower of Babel:
“1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)
Humans wanted to make a name for themselves and reject the name of God. God intervened with His judgment and scattered humanity across the earth. Likewise, during the End-Times God will intervene one final time when He judges the earth for unifying around the Antichrist and his mentor the Devil.
The Good News for those whose hope is in Jesus Christ is that no matter what happens now or in the future, the world is not falling apart:
“15 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
Jesus Christ is holding the entire universe together. Christians have nothing to fear but unbelief itself.
Related posts:
- Mayan prophecy is not Biblical prophecy (nor is Nostradamus etc.) (June 13, 2010) My last post dealt with increased solar activity and attempts by some to link it to Mayan Prophecy. There seems to be a diverse opinion on the meaning and nature of the Mayan Prophecy. The Mayans observed several calendrical cycles for their various social, agricultural, commercial and...
- Whale off Israel’s coast, Jonah and End-Times animal behavior (May 13, 2010) A grey whale was spotted off the coast of Israel. (Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel ) According to this article, "The whale, which was first sighted off Herzliya in central Israel on Saturday, is believed to have travelled thousands of miles from the north...
- ABC News: Apocalypse Now: Floods, Tornadoes, Locusts (June 12, 2008) ABC is promoting a September television special in which experts will discuss the survival of humanity. (Apocalypse Now: Floods, Tornadoes, Locusts) In times of severe trouble most people look to God for the answers to what they are experiencing. Is what the world going through currently of...
- “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke” (April 24, 2010) Today is the twentieth anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope launch. In commemoration of that event NASA released this photo. This extraordinary display of God's creation brings to mind a prophecy from the Book of Joel: "1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm...
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Tags: America, Antichrist, Apocalypse, Jesus Christ, Matthew 24, Tribulation Period