There are two errors one can make, theologically with the end times teaching. One is to ignore it. This is incorrect, because part of the end times teaching is that there will be a judgment and there will be justice. We should all fear true justice, because we will ourselves be found guilty by the very measure we use to discern what is good, what is true and what is our duty.
The second error is to see the end times teaching, or collapse, as something good. It will be an end, and the end will come because the suffering of the peoples of this earth and the natural world cries out so loudly to heaven that divine intervention is necessary.
But we should learn from history. Times of collapse are not good, by any measure. The suffering of most is great. We should pray that our society is preserved, and if our society is under judgment, that it is reformed.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, cat the very gates. 34 dTruly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 eHeaven and earth will pass away, but fmy words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day and Hour
36 “But concerning that day and hour gno one knows, not even the angels of heaven, hnor the Son,1 ibut the Father only. 37 jFor as were the days of Noah, kso will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 jFor as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, lmarrying and giving in marriage, until mthe day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, kso will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 nTwo women will be grinding oat the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, pstay awake, for you do not know on what day qyour Lord is coming. 43 rBut know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night sthe thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44 Therefore you also must be tready, for uthe Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is vthe faithful and wwise servant,2 whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 xBlessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you,yhe will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master zis delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants3 and eats and drinks with adrunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come bon a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51
le=”font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;”>and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place cthere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There is an error that we can also make, both in the secular or political world and within the church. We can concentrate too much on the signs that we are under judgment, and assume that the end is near. We can stop doing good, because it matters not. The better preachers of revelation talk about our duty to bear witness to the world by doing good, while we can, and when we can, as long as we can.
We are responsible for our actions, and the thoughts we plant may, God willing, lead to a society or individuals changing radically and seeking righteousness. Including ourselves, including within the church.
But the end will come suddenly. The time is near, but not known. Slipping from this point of error can lead to you being at best a very cruddy witness to the faith, and at worst letting your anger take you away from the gospel. For salvation lies in Christ, not in our constitutions or human rights.
