Preface to Gathering Over Jerusalem
Are we living in the “end times?”
Christians of many denominations are shouting an emphatic
“Yes!” Even non-Christians
sense that something in the near future is going to happen. On a daily basis,
people are
inundated with news of horrific crimes, wars and the threat of wars, and
terrorist threats
and attacks. The media encourages this feeling with movies about the end times:
Large
rocks striking the earth, volcanoes erupting in unlikely places, and diverse
spiritual forces
at work. Scientific and technological discoveries are growing at a rampant
rate, often with
little thought or discussion of the consequences. Scientists agree that an
asteroid or other
large object is likely to impact the earth in the near future - there have been
recent “near misses.”
On June 14, 2002 a football-field-size asteroid passed the earth and was not
seen until
June 17th - three days later. (Popular Science, Chicken Little or Planetary
Savior?
Oct 2002, p 112). There is a distinct possibility that Asteroid 2002 NT7 might
hit the
earth February 1, 2019 (ibid). All kinds of new cults and philosophies are
being created,
each proposing their own answers to the future and raising new questions.
With renewed interest in prophetic scriptures, Christians are studying
the Bible to find
answers to their questions and fears. Non-believers hear Christians talking
about the end
times approaching, and they wonder if there is any truth in it. Christians and
non-Christians
alike see the excesses and self-destruction of this present age and agree that
something has
to happen to correct the situation, as history is replete with examples of
nations rising and
then falling in moral destitution.
September 11, 2001 shook many people out of their complacency. People
who had not
thought about the future, their relationships with others, their place of
worship, the Bible, or
their walk with God, suddenly felt an almost compelling need to “get things
right.” For a few
months churches were packed and people started reading their bibles again. Some
people
were searching for answers, while others were attending Church for the first
time in many years.
Some talk show hosts featured people who had their lives affected or
changed by the events
of 9-11. People felt a distinct need to see healing in their lives and
relationships. In some cases
they went to extreme lengths to mend the broken fences with friends and
relatives. All of this was
done because they either sensed the fragility of life or felt a sense of urgency
– like time was
precious and running out. This was not something they could necessarily put
their finger on, just
a feeling like they didn’t have all the time in the world to act.
As signs of the end times appear, Christians who voice concerns are put
down as alarmists.
This becomes more exasperating when other Christians join in with the skeptics
to denounce
people who raise questions about moral and ethical misbehavior, or the end time
implications
of certain acts and decisions. When Christians disagree on these issues, it
sheds doubt among
believers and creates strife and confusion.
In the aftermath of September 11th, as wars break out in many
places, Christians wonder if
the return of Jesus Christ is near. Some preach that the Great Tribulation is
coming soon and the
rapture of the Church is at hand. Debate on whether the rapture will happen
before, during or
after the Tribulation continues, while some ministers preach that Jesus could
come back this very night.
Are we actually living in the biblical end times? If “yes,” then you
want to know why it is “yes.”
If “yes,” why is there confusion over the Bible’s meaning in this area? And if
the Bible does have
something to say, what difference could that mean to you?
The scope of this book is not to do a verse-by-verse analysis of
Revelation or the prophesies
of Daniel. The focus is narrowed to emphasize certain topics and ensure that
the main issues are
not clouded. Hopefully, by a close and thoughtful examination of the
scriptures, we will be able to
clear up some of the confusion.
Copyright © 2003 Joel C. Graves, Gathering Over Jerusalem the book and the website ~ All rights reserved.
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