Ok, so I'm aware that plenty of people who clicked on this link did so prepared to be very upset with me. I know this because I have had friends literally harass me on social media to the point that I had to block them because they constantly wanted to discuss this phenomena and I just didn't have the time. They got upset because they felt I didn't take it seriously.
For those who don't know, there has been a recent interest in astronomy stirred up among end-times watchers. Basically, there will be four specific eclipses beginning this week and ending next September. More specifically, they will occur during significant religious days, such as passover. Some ministers look at this and point back to Acts 2:19-20 “And I will show wonders in Heaven above and signs in the Earth beneath, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” The ultimate conclusion being that these blood moons could signify the return of the Lord.
Now, I understand why my friends are excited about this. As the world gets darker and more twisted, I find myself crying out "come quickly, Lord Jesus" an awful lot. But I haven't gotten stirred up about it because I have bigger concerns.
A few years ago I was traveling to our church's international meeting which was held in North Carolina. Of course, I was seated next to that woman. You know who I'm talking about. She was nervous and needed to talk non-stop to calm down. She asked where I was going and when I told her, she wanted to know all about our church's beliefs. I told her everything I thought was important, our views on salvation, holiness, and the Holy Spirit, but she had one question: do you think the world is going to end in 2012? I told her that we believe Jesus will return in what is called "the rapture" but that no one knows when that will happen. She kept pushing "but what about 2012?" I don't know if it was the Holy Spirit, my confusion on how to answer, or my tiredness, but my response was this, "I'm less concerned about what happens in 2 years than I am with the fact that I could die tomorrow and I have to know that my soul is ready."
And THAT is why I don't get caught up in these occasions that are labeled as signs of His return. Of course I believe in His return. Of course the inevitability of it should give us an urgency, but sometimes I wonder if we are so caught up in these theories that we forget we aren't guaranteed to make it to next September. Last year within less than a month's span I knew of at least 5 people I had some connection to under the age of 25 who died. That gives me a sense of urgency. I read of various nations that have their weapons pointed at countries in which the Gospel cannot be shared. That gives me a sense of urgency. I read of young women being sold as sex slaves. That gives me a sense of urgency. I read about the number of children being murdered via abortion. That gives me a sense of urgency. I can't help but feel this is the very reason no one can know the time or the hour: because it would kill our drive to reach the lost now.
Please know that I'm not bashing ministers who teach on these signs or Christians who share this information. It should be discussed, but here's the sad truth: a lot of preachers have laid out theories over the years that ended up being wrong, and now we have to deal with the fall out. Every time someone proclaims a date or a decade and they are wrong, they are handing ammunition to those who want to kill the church. That's why claims like this should not be handled lightly. Ideas like this shouldn't be used to peddle books or sermon series. They shouldn't be used to make the speaker famous or to get rich of his congregants who sell everything because they will have no use their possessions. If you are a prophet, speak it, but you best be sure you are reading the signs with a pure heart, because if not, the church will suffer.
So, again, please know this is not pointed at any specific person. I am simply sharing my feelings on this matter. If you want to keep preaching it or sharing it or discussing it, be my guest. I think no less of you for it, but be sure that in all the watching the sky, we don't forget to look around to those we are losing every day.
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