In the Guardian newspaper on 4th September 2022 an article was titled, “The super-rich ‘preppers’ planning to save themselves from the apocalypse.” It was a depressing read as Tech-billionaires spent their wealth on luxurious bunkers and top of the range military security so that they can survive the end of the world.
A simple glance online and you realise that the world is indeed crazy. The CEO of Reddit has had laser eye surgery in 2015 because of his concern of the availability of glasses and contacts when the world ends. A former Facebook product manager in 2016 bought an island and filled it with generators, solar panels and thousands of ammunition so he can survive. Really?!! Yes it is true, they are prepared!
Well we may not have their billions but what can we do whilst we wait for the end of the world? Let’s first read some verses:
“And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” 8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10 v 4-11)
So ….
- We do not enter into speculation of things we are not certain about, v4. No one knows what the seven thunders have said and John hasn’t written it down. God has made sure that there are things we still do not know. There will come a day when everything is known but for now we don’t. So why akin to many cults has the Church throughout the generation’s written books and timelines and produced films and presentations suggesting we know more than we do? If we are staying true to the Bible then we should have questions without answers. Why did that happen? The answer is: “I don’t know but I leave that in the hands of God for the day when everything is revealed and I do know.” It calls for trust in Him.
- We live our lives as though there is not much time left, v6. The seventh trumpet will soon sound! (The book isn’t a timeline where every chapter moves us nearer to the end. If that was so when the sounding of the 7th trumpet happens in chapter 11 the book would close but obviously we are only half-way there. The second half of Revelation comes at the same story but from a different position. We have to keep reminding ourselves of this.) However there will be a day soon when all will be revealed and for now we wait. It is not a waiting at a bus stop. But it is a waiting in the place of living our lives to the full. I sadly buried a church member who for the last 10 years of their life was just waiting for God to show them what to do! He should have got on with it! He waited and in his waiting he procrastinated and then when I buried him I realised he had died a long time ago. If not careful the Church can be like an old film where the backdrop is moving but the car and the passengers may look like they are advancing but they are in fact going nowhere. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. For tomorrow may never come.
- We go to the many with the message from heaven, v11. This is the wonderful opportune time for people to know Jesus. Yesterday I sat listening to story after story from Church Pastors telling what the Church was doing in reaching their many. Often we beat ourselves up because of the Christian statistics in our nation but we can be encouraged that effort is being given to the presenting the gospel message to different peoples, tribes and tongue here and overseas.
Missions Paul 