By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Apolcalypse
Larry Steffee 2

On January 29, 1594, mathematician, physicist, and astronomer John Napier predicted the end of the world in 1688 or 1700.  He identified events from the Book of Revelation in chronological order which he believed were parallel to events in the world of his day.  He dated the seventh trumpet in Revelation to 1541 to make his prediction, but did not believe that people could know the actual date of the Apocalypse.  He claimed that since the Bible contained so many clues about the end, God wanted the Church to know when the end was coming.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible make it very clear through Jesus in Acts 1:7 that it was not for people to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power.  In Matthew 24 Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, with not one stone being left on top of another.  He then went to the Mount of Olives, where His disciples asked Him when this would happen and what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the world.

        Jesus warned them about people coming in His name, claiming to be the Messiah, and succeeding in deceiving many people.  He said that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars, but not to be troubled because the end would not yet occur.  He said that nations would rise against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, that there would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places to mark the beginning of sorrows.  He also said that believers would be afflicted and killed and be hated by all nations for the sake of Jesus.  He said that many would be offended, people would betray one another, and hate one another.  He said many false prophets would arise and deceive many people, and that iniquity would abound and cause love for others to grow cold. 

Jesus concluded by saying that those who endured to the end would be saved, stressing the importance of faithfulness.  He also pointed out that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations before the end occurs.  He stressed that His coming would be sudden, like a flash of lightning.  He said when He appears, all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see Him coming in the clouds with power and great glory.  He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.  The most important thing He said was BE READY.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.