End Times, Natural Disasters

Last week, when we looked at pandemics, it was an interesting chance to reflect on the fears regarding the role humanity will play in its own destruction. After all, when you consider most of the stories about these viruses that wipe out most of the population, they begin as innocent lab experiments, or supposed medical breakthroughs.

But what about those events that we can't control. It's hard not to look at the path of destruction wrought by a tornado and not wonder why some are spared and some are not. In fact, that's the central question driving the main character, played by Helen Hunt, in the film "Twister." The same could be said of earthquakes, floods, tsunami's, and hurricanes. So called "Acts of God," or natural disasters that bring death, destruction, and sorrow.

The book of Revelation doesn't shy away from descriptions of the kind of natural disasters that will potentially destroy the Earth and ruin its population. Consider Revelation 6:12-17, which says, "I watched as He opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'"

A cheery image, to be sure, but something that is foretold in the Bible. Of course, the Bible isn't the only place that talks about the destruction of the world. In our culture right now there is a lot of intrigue and foreboding as we approach the year 2012 thanks to the Mayans.

An ancient civilization noted for its advanced scientific and mathematical acumen, the Mayans predicted the world would end on December 21, 2012. Of course, Hollywood took that theory and ran with it in a feature film from disaster maven Roland Emmerich.

The kind of films that predict the disaster that will engulf the world aren't new, but they reflect, I think, some apprehension we have about our world, our place in the world, and our lack of control. And that's probably a good thing.

Though the book of Revelation is most frequently noted as offering insight into the end of the world, Jesus also talked about the end of the world. In the book of Matthew he said, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

The end is coming. We can't stop it. We can't save ourselves, but we know the One who can. It is up to us to share that good news with the rest of the world.