What do the Scriptures Say?

from the Church of Christ in Richmond Indiana

to the Youth of America
May 4, 2008
December 21, 2012
According to the Mayan prophecy, on December 21, 2012, the universe will come
to an end and start over (according to certain sources). If you “Google” the date,
December 21, 2012, you will find it leads to 238,000 different websites.

I have also watched some of the television documentaries on the subject. One
such documentary said about the date, “If ignored it could lead to a really great
disaster…” I am not sure how one will ignore the end of the universe. I also do
not know where one could go to be saved from the day if it delivers what the
experts say it promises.

What is this to us?

So what is this to us? Actually nothing. One thing age does give is experience. I
have experienced many people declaring when the world end many times in my
past 54 years. One vivid event was a girl in an elementary grade school where I
attended. She was nearly in tears one day because her parents made her go to
school although they knew Jesus was returning and time would end. She wanted
to be with her family when the end came. Obviously, it did not come. Living
through the 1999 to 2000 year century change also gave me experience. For
quite some time, a minister of a church here in Richmond, had predicted the time
Jesus would return and stirred up some people over the event. Jesus did not
return at the change of the century and the preacher has moved on. Many people
have tried to predict the second coming of Jesus and failed. Those of the
Jehovah’s Witness faith had constantly set dates on Jesus’ return and finally
claimed he returned invisibly to them only in the year 1914. (A contridiction of
the scriptures.)

One can also consider the “end of the world predictions” with the First and
Second World Wars. Consider, soon after the turn of the 20th century the whole
world was engaged in war. Certainly Jesus would come then. He did not. Later,
some took the number 666, the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation and
made it equal the word, “Hitler.” Consider; if A=100, B=101, C=102… when
you add up H + I + T + L + E + R it equals “666.” As mentioned, there are many
other men who have been identified through combinations of numbers. It is also
believed this number some how represents Nero. All this number represents is
the beast that is the arch enemy of the church. It may be as simple as having to
belong to a trade guild to conduct business and daily purchases.

Let us consider the end of the world…

Let us consider the return of Christ and the end of the world according to the
Bible. In Matthew, chapter twenty-four, Jesus deals with two events: the
destruction of Jerusalem and his return. Jesus made a comment about the
destruction of Jerusalem and his disciples questioned him: “And as he sat upon
the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when
shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of
the world?” Matthew 24:3 (KJV)
It can be a little difficult to understand because of dealing with both matters so
closely together. However, we can put the two events into two obvious
categories: one can escape from one event and cannot escape the other. Note
this passage: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken
of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him
understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him
which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto
them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye
that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be
great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,
no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”
Matthew 24:15-22 (KJV)

This must not speak of the destruction of the earth because a person can run to
avoid the time of tribulation. Also note this would happen in the first century:
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Matthew 24:34-35 (KJV)

Of his return, Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day
that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them
all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:36-39 (KJV)

Jesus knew there would be false teachers claiming that Jesus returned. He said:
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs
and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is
in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there
will the eagles be gathered together.” Matt. 24:23-28 (KJV)

In short, when Jesus returns everyone will be aware of it. This agrees with the
men dressed in white when Jesus ascended to heaven: “And when he had spoken
these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of
their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up,
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)

Peter wrote of the day Jesus returns: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:10-13 (KJV)

Are the Mayans right in their date? I only know what the inspired word of God
says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only.” Until Jesus comes men will constantly have theories and
educated guesses (their gods if you please) with their various “facts.” I will listen
to Joshua: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day
whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but
as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (KJV) - - Doug
Clark
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This bulletin is constructed for teens and young adults. If there is any subject you would like to discuss,
simply contact me: Doug Clark
The Church of Christ
1835 Gaar Road
Richmond, IN 47374
phone 765-935-2911
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Last Week:
1) Who is the father of all lies? The Devil (John 8:44)
2) Who told the first lie? OOPS! Should be Genesis 3:4!
Answer the Devil: (Genesis 3:4)
3) Did he make it sound like the lie was actually a good thing? Yes (Genesis 4:4)
4) Who lied to God thinking they were lying to men? Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-4)
5) Those who believe not the truth have pleasure in what? Unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:12)
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This week:
1) What is the difference between the Bible and other books? (2 Timothy 3:16)
2) What type of teachers did Peter warn us about? (1 Peter 2:1)
3) To our knowledge, was Noah told exactly when it would begin raining? (Genesis 6:13-22)
4) How did Peter say the day of the Lord would come? (2 Peter 3:10)
5) What does that mean? (2 Peter 3:10)
Answers in next bulletin
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