Thought for the Month - October 2008

End of the World? - By Pastor Ian Wilson

I was startled to read on the BBC web site recently an article about the end of the world.

The following is a direct quote: “A huge particle accelerator experiment is about to start and a tiny group of people believe it could spell the end of the world.” Don’t panic, if you are reading this article it hasn’t happened, the event referred to was taking place on Wednesday, September 10.

The article referred to the Large Hadron Collider on the Swiss/French border. It is due to have what scientists call its first full beam. The collider is a giant particle accelerator which, by smashing one particle into another, scientists hope will tell us amazing things about the birth of the universe. Some fear this could bring about the end of the world! If the scientists would take time to read Genesis chapters one and two it would save them a lot of bother.

Exodus 20:11 “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Christians have for many years warned that the world as we know it will one day end. No one knows when this will exactly happen. No one can be sure when Christ will return.

Mark 13:32 “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

This hasn’t stopped some people predicting dates for this future event. The 19th Century Millerite sect, led by William Miller, predicted the very day October 22, 1844. As the day neared the sect’s popularity snowballed, with thousands of newspapers sold. Only one thing was able to derail the movement’s popularity - the safe and unexpected arrival of October 23, 1844.

Carlos Roa thought he knew the hour. The Argentinean goalkeeper, best known for his penalty heroics against England in the 1998 World Cup, refused to countenance a new contract at Real Mallorca as the year 2000 approached, because he believed the world was going to end and he needed to prepare. When it didn’t he was soon donning the gloves back in Mallorca.

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ will return.

Jesus said in John 14: “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Date setters have brought this truth into discredit, however it doesn’t change the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back again. Are you ready to meet him?

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!