“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”” (Revelation 11:15, ESV)
Revelation 11:15 is one of my favorite verses in all of the Bible. I quote it often when I preach because it has a great message of hope and comfort. Please let me explain why. Just last week, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel made this statement: “The world is exploding all over.” He said so in reference to the horrendous violence, bloodshed, and problems facing our world today. The savagery of ISIS in Iraq has shocked many in recent days. The terrible violence in the Gaza Strip has also been front page news, as well as the Ebola outreak, and, closer to home for Americans, the events that have taken place in Ferguson, Missouri. It’s easy to see why few if any would disagree with Chuck Hagel’s assessment.
For those who take a secular worldview and believe in the ability of mankind to solve its problems, these are certainly frightening, discouraging days. I can remember the 1990’s when there was even discussion of a new world age of peace and prosperity after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The events of the last decade have put to rest those predictions! The headlines show a world spinning out of control with the situation growing worse rather than better.
However, there is an alternative: the Christian worldview. The Bible clearly teaches that the world is headed to an inevitable, planned, and choreographed conclusion – the culmination of all things in Christ for all eternity. Bible believing Christians do have some different views of the particulars. For instance, some believe the Bible teaches a literal millenial (1000 year) reign on the earth after Christ returns, while others believe that the millenium is symbolic for a period of time. Some believe the church will be taken out of the world (the rapture) before seven years of tribulation, while others believe the church will go through the tribulation. However, there are some “big picture” truths about the end times that all Bible believing Christians agree on: the literal second coming of Christ, the resurrection, the final judgement, eternal heaven for the saved and eternal hell for the lost, etc. Nothing can stop or alter these events for they are ordained by the sovereign God of the universe. Let me repeat…
The Bible clearly teaches that the world is headed to an inevitable, planned, and choreographed conclusion – the culmination of all things in Christ for all eternity.
When looking at the headlines of our world today, there are only two options for interpreting them: either the world is spinning out of control or it is headed for a conclusion. I am staunchly in the second camp because I have read the Bible and I see how it ends. Our world is headed for the culmination of all things in Christ for all eternity, therefore I have hope and I share the hope of Christ with people each week. Our world is headed for the culmination of all things in Christ for all eternity, therefore I can go to bed and go to sleep even though the headlines look bleak. Think about it.
gregcorbin.com 