Bob McCarty Writes

Set for release this fall, “2012″ stands to become yet another in a long line of forgettable, CGI-intensive doomsday movies that might be worth renting at the video store in a couple of months, but is hardly worth the $50 price tag of a popcorn-and-drinks-included family outing at the local cinema.  For purposes of this blog, however, it serves a useful purpose in that the trailer for the movie asks the question, “How would the governments of our planet prepare six billion people for the end of the world?”

A few days ago, I asked one-time Baptist pastor and former employer of mine, Ron English, to share his thoughts about that question for this Sunday after-church post. He shared the following:

This movie poses an interesting and serious question.

First, this world system we enjoy (or tolerate) does not collectively believe in an end to the world as we know it. Second, Christians have a different slant.  Since I am in that camp, I can speak to it.

Christians, who have some grasp of the Scriptures, believe that Jesus Christ will return for them.  This is often called by a term not found in the Bible, the Rapture.  The term simply means a snatching away or catching up of all believers — those alive at the time and those Christians who died in the faith over the long years.

Many believe this will signal the beginning of seven years of tribulation primarily for Israel, but other nations will, no doubt, join her.  The first half of this period will be somewhat peaceful with some disruptions. Tensions will be mounting and fears will be realized in all of Israel.  Remember, Israel is a tiny piece of real estate.  The last half will be awful — perhaps the worst destruction of human life ever to hit the world.  I am sure there will be some living then that might agree with the concept of “the end of the world.”  I would think many in Israel will pray for just that.

The Scriptures teach that if God didn’t actually shorten the tribulation that no flesh would be spared.  Certainly no Jews. Having read the last Book and the last chapters, we understand that God works things out. Israel is preserved as a nation and God establishes an earthly kingdom with Israel being the capitol and Jesus, the Christ, will be the King of all kings and He shall rule the entire world system from His earthly throne.  He will rule with righteousness and power.  This rule will, according to Scripture, be some 1000 thousand years in time.  The world will enjoy peace and prosperity as it never has. At the end of the tribulation, Satan will be arrested by Jesus and cast into a dark dungeon where he will be held captive and have no influence in the world system being ruled by Christ.

So even the movies with their wild plots and graphic details have their root in truth, but rarely tell the whole story.  Men and women are for the most part — I mean the great majority — are blinded to the truths as revealed clearly in Scripture.  They are blinded by unbelief.

Ron, you hit the nail on the head!

To learn more about the future according to God’s Word, I encourage you to visit Ron’s web site, Salvation Links.

If your church needs help in delivering timeless truths to a high-tech generation, visit the web site of Fowler, Inc., the Norman, Okla.-based company multimedia solutions company Ron co-founded 17 years ago.  [BMW trivia: I worked at Fowler for four years prior to moving to St. Louis.]