1 John 2:18-29
July 7, 2008
there sure is a lot dialogue in christian circles about end times, prophecy, and the second coming. i don’t know if there is more now than when i was younger, but it sure seems like it. i don’t know of a more hotly debated and potentially divisive subject in the church. there are brothers who simply break off fellowship with other brothers because one side cannot agree with the other side.
i have to admit that after years and years of listening, reading, studying, and reflecting, i can honestly tell you that i am not positive about what i believe the end of the world is going to look like. i think that opposing interpretations make logical and persuasive arguments. the fact that there are not just two sides (there are at least nine or ten distinct, identifiable interpretations of end-time prophecy in the bible) makes the confusion even more jumbled.
there are good-hearted, wise, and deeply committed disciples of jesus who stand confidently and intelligently on each of those interpretive positions…calling one of them their own and unashamedly rejecting all the others. pretty heady stuff. i’m grateful for the debate, but often very frustrated over the superior and judgmental attitudes that seem to accompany some of the particular positions…and deeply frustrated when those attitudes result in loss of friendship and fellowship. enough of that.
from my study this past week, though, i am convinced that all this stuff about the “antichrist” runs the risk of being blown out of proportion. the only place that the word “antichrist” appears in scripture is in this letter written by john…and only four different references are made. (there is a reference to the man of lawlessness by the apostle paul in second thessalonians 2:3-12…and a similar reference in the gospels…some conclude that these must be the “antichrist”). the cool thing about john’s letter is that he doesn’t just refer to the “antichrist”, but he defines who it is and where he will come from. there is no confusion. there is no speculation.
we know that the “antichrist” will be one of many throughout history. they will always start out as one of us. they will then become overly consumed with themselves…believing that they have an anointing that is more special than the one that all the rest of us received…and then they will start to give out new and better insights and healings and interpretations and leadership…seeking to draw a following.
john’s message? beware of anyone who claims to have a special anointing and remain close to the true anointed one…jesus.
great passage.
This is a site to talk about the sermon from this past week...a place to ask questions, to give opinions, to disagree, to encourage, to dig deeper, to seek truth, to offer criticism, to affirm trust, and to build commitment.
I'm up for it. Are you?
July 8, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I have no clue what the end of today is going to look like better yet the end of the world. I do know there is only one God who sent His Son for my sins. Thats all I need.
July 9, 2008 at 7:20 pm
That’s exactly how I feel. Besides, wasn’t that John’s point? That THIS is the last hour. We better be concentrating on the moment and staying faithful to Jesus because we really don’t know what the heck the end of the world is going to look like.
July 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm
The end of the world used to scare me because I wanted answers and didn’t have them. I still don’t have the answers I just know that I want to be ready when it happens. Sometimes I feel intimidated by people who seem well educated and who really care about end times and can talk about it with such authority. But then I realize…they really don’t know either. In I Thessalonians we’re told…we won’t know…just be ready.
July 9, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I think the downfall to this faith sideline of end times prophecy is that when we get caught up in the “end times” and “last days” we do lose track of an active and involved faith – we become people who want to focus on tomorrow when we should be focusing on today and the needs of those around us.
I collectively have seen many of the end-times group become islands unto themselves; not realizing that until Jesus does returned we are called to serve, seek and search for those who need him – not just be glad we are one of the elect who aren’t going to “miss the boat”.
The best way to be ready is to be busy doing what God called us to do and what we’ve been studying at NP – living lives dedicated to loving God and loving others.
Debate (aka – theological discusion) and talk are not nearly as important as service and action.
July 9, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I’m glad to read the responses everyone has posted here, and I agree with all of them. It’s important not to get caught up in taking sides in order to point fingers, and it’s especially important, like Wendy said, to live for right now, because no one is guaranteed to see their own life through, much less the events of the end of the world.
However, the great prophetic and apocalyptic books in our Bible that God gave us aren’t simply to be ignored either. Most of the books in the Bible are prophetic in some way. Those items are God-breathed words that are just as relevant to our faith as any other book in the Bible. End-times events and prophecies are currently being fulfilled whether we know/believe it or not, and to me it is fascinating to read and learn and watch God prove his words are true through events that are going on right now in our world. I believe that these types of things can be used as a witnessing tool, and should be studied and revered by every person claiming to be Jesus’ disciple.
July 10, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Just curious, did anyone see the Todd Bentley interview on ABC late night TV last night? It was interesting to watch and reflect on Mike’s words from Sunday.