Reflecting On Y2K
Well, I am here just a few hours away from the end of the dreaded Y2K. There were so many wild predictions from the secular world as well as from many "preachers" that it seemed impossible that we would have made it this far. Unless Christ returns and the world falls apart in the next few hours it is obvious that all "prophets" were wrong and proved that they were false prophets. My guess is that many of them have just regrouped and changed the dates or made a "spiritual" interpretation of their prophecies. They still have a following of foolish people and most likely will until they die.
I am not obsessed by the future. I am more concerned with the nasty now and now than the sweet by and by. I know that Heaven will be there when we get there and I know Christ will return on time. I am more concerned about the span of time that we have left in this world. What will make us holier and bolder is more important than knowing the size of the Anti-Christ’s sneakers or what language the False Prophet will speak. All that is trivial.
I am a Pre-Trib Rapturist, but in a way, I hope He comes the second year of the Tribulation. With all the fuss that has been made about the Rapture and its timing, that would make us all wrong and show what a waste of time the whole thing has been. If studying eschatology and Revelation in particular does not result in greater holiness and zeal for the Lord’s work then it is a sin to waste the time doing so. (I John 3:1-3) Before the next rash of predictions start, I would like to show you a few reasons why you should not even care or listen to any of it. First, Jesus has already said that no man knows the day or the hour.
Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (KJV) (Mark 13:32)
That should be the end of the story. However, some folks think they have a special in with God that even Jesus does not have which means God will tell them. That is highly ludicrous and probably blasphemy. The disciples asked Jesus again about when he would set up the Kingdom right before He ascended. His response?
Acts 1:6-9
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (KJV)
He tells them that it is none of their business. Their job was to get filled and get going. If that was good enough for the soon to be Apostles that would turn their world upside down, it should be more than sufficient for us. Maybe that is why we do not turn our world upside down. We worry too much about the next one or His return instead of doing business until He comes. (Luke 19:13) If we will do this then we will know the things that He freely gives to us. These are the things that we are supposed to know and nothing more.
1 Cor 2:9-13
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (KJV)
We are told many things about the future and Heaven. We are not told everything because we are not supposed to know everything. We are told deep spiritual truths about God and man, but we do not know everything that God knows about Himself or man. We look through a glass darkly. (1 Cor 13:12) When we understand that we can trust Him with the secret things that belong to Him.
Deut 29:29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (KJV)
There are things that He is going to keep secret. What He chooses to reveal to us, He will. I would not look forward to seeing many more things revealed until we start conforming to what He has revealed. Most Christians would have dramatic life changes if they just obeyed what they already know and never read a new thing in the Word again. We do not need to know new things we just need to be energized in what is already known. (John 3:12)
In this New Year, look not for signs, wonders, and "prophecies." Look to be filled with the Holy Spirit and submit in obedience to Jesus and it will not matter when He comes. You will be ready and probably working in His fields rather than in some room being awed by a false prophet who knows that AntiChrist will drive a black Jaguar down Wall Street on June 1st, 2001 at 11:38AM. Keep looking up!
Mark 13:33-37
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (KJV)
