Death is not worse pain than an empty life. -- Lun Tha

Sir Isaac Newton reportedly predicted the end of the world to occur in the year 2060.  The Mayans have predicted 2012 (or was it 2011 or 2013? Depends upon your reading and interpretation of their calendar.)

There have been many who have come forward, claiming divine revelation, who have said they knew when the End of the Age would, indeed, happen.  Since it hasn't happened yet, we can see that they were wrong. (The juries are still out on Newton and the Mayans.) 


People want to have a handle on this topic, they always have.  Historically, thousands have grasped at any inkling of prophecy or evidence, or latched on to the word of a charismatic teacher who has given them something they can find on a calendar that will say, "That day will be THE day."

The disillusionment is in proportion to their belief in these false prophets. Sometimes, the disillusionment has led to a dropping away of the faithful.  This, I believe, is one reason Paul is very careful to address the Thessalonians so thoroughly on this topic.

Evidently, they had been told by someone that this Day of the Lord "was now present" is how it reads in  Greek.  Someone, claiming to be Paul in a letter, told them that this was already happening.  This would give rise to many other problems, that Paul addresses, for example, in his letters to the Corinthians.  People who had heard "from Paul" that the Day of the Lord was here, so they quit their day jobs and were just sitting around, waiting for the great "catching up" concerning which Paul had taught.  Others were distraught, thinking they had missed this event, or that others would be missing it any minute now.

To reassure folks and to protect his name (which was increasingly abused as his ministry gained in scope) Paul reminds this church of the signs that will come. 


He reminds them that they know this; it isn't new information he'd been keeping from them.  They just have to remember what he personally told them and not be deceived by false teachers. 

Today, we have to remember the same things.  God has a plan. He has made it clear since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden.  Prophets have spoken of it over the centuries.  God's own son came to reconcile man with God once again.  And people have been hearing this message for almost 2000 years. 

As the end draws closer, every day a little bit closer, we have to remember not to be alarmists, but to be alert.  Not to quit on life, but to keep working, to keep seeking what is right. 

Will the Mayans have the year right? The jury may be out, but the Judge already knows the outcome.