Just a few minutes ago while I was driving through Joplin, MO I was stopped by a doomsday prophet. He wasn’t the type who carries a bullhorn and shouts that I need to repent. He was rather quiet and simply handed me the pamphlet that you see in the photo.
I am a little aggravated for two reasons. The first reason is because he made me miss the light. Ugh! And the second reason is because he is making me look a little weird. From glancing at his tract I have come to the assumption that he follows Jesus and he probably has good intentions. The reason he is making me look weird is because I too consider myself a follower of Jesus and some people look at him and me and they lump us together in the same category.
I have never read in God’s word that I need to go a preach doomsday destruction. I think that occupation died out with the Old Testament prophets.
What did Jesus tell us to do? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus says that we need to make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey Him. Jesus was asked about the end of the world once and this is what He said,
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. -Matthew 24:36
I am sure my brother out on the street has good intentions but after looking at scripture his focus is in the wrong area. He would better serve me by actually serving me getting a little sweat on his brow.
Have you ever encountered a doomsday prophet? What was your reaction?
David Knapp (316)
Mike aka MonolithTMA (83)
gryphonscry (44)
bondChristian (28)
W. E. Messamore (21)
Jabe (17)
sarah (11)
morsec0de (8)
Great story, great post! Great picture, too!
I never encountered a doomsday prophet. I just heard that Jehovah’s witnesses keep coming up with dates for judgment day and when the date comes and judgment does not they simply calculate a new one. Just like Homer Simpson.
Also Randy told a story about a teacher at a College somewhere who published an essay about the date for doomsday which was due sometime in May 1984 IIRC. But the guy had made appointments in his schedule past this date. That made it so ridiculous…
I like the hype about doomsday dates. I’m looking forward to 12-21-2012. That’s when the Maya say the world ends. Because it’s the day their calendar resets. No one can really tell, though, why they nominated August 11th 3114 BC as the first day. I think it’s funny how everyone pretends to freak out. Now it would be a surprise if something really happened!
We shall see…
There was no world end destruction that happened in May of 1984. But there was a beautiful queen that was given to this world and that queen’s name is Amanda.
Thanks for visiting our site, it means more than you realize. All this hard work to get this site up and maintaining it is worth it if I can get a few people to comment.
I think you and I are the only ones who realize that 12-21-2012 is when the Maya calender resets. Saying that it is the end of the world brings in more money I suppose.
David Knapp´s last blog ..Newsletter November 2009
You are referring to a bible first published in 1973, the NIV. This book was the result of a collaborative effort between conservative churches at the time. Continuing on in Matthew 24 we may learn that god is telling us to look very carefully at the events of Noah’s day.
Care to elaborate?
For example, In Matthew 24:37-39 God explains as in the days of Noah, so will be the return of Christ. People were going along with their business “until the day that Noe entered into the ark”. In verses 42-44, were instructed to watch. Noah didn’t simply just happen to wander into the ark at the appropriate time. He was told(Gen 7:4) by God the precise time(day). Sudden destruction came upon those who scoffed. Remember, the thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy(John 10:10).
Thanks for elaborating.
Christians are not Noah. Yes, Noah knew about what day to enter the ark but Jesus isn’t saying we will know the exact time of His arrival. From this passage I see Jesus saying that life will be just like it was in Noah’s day. People will be going about their business and then Jesus will come back.
When do people go about their business? They did it Noah’s day, 1st century and even now.
We are either ready to be with God or we are not. I think the New Testament informs us how to receive our salvation.
Once we have that salvation what are we going to do?
My spiritual gift is mercy and serving. I want to look for ways to glorify God with the gifts He has given me.
My gift is not to stand on the side of the road with dooms day destruction pamphlets.
David Knapp´s last blog ..How Fast Is Mosaic Mercy
Noah and his family were the only ones saved. They were the true believers and the ark was typifying Christ(their salvation). We are instructed by God(1 Cor 2:13) to compare spiritual things with spiritual (scripture with scripture). Gods speaks to us in parables(earthly stories with a heavenly meaning)Matt 13:34, Mark 4:11. Keep in mind, this biblical hermeneutics method of interpretation was adopted by the theologian Origen in the late 2nd century and was abused. It was completely abandoned during the reformation for a literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation.
When we see the abomination of desolation(Mark 13:14) God sends us to the book of Daniel(Daniel 12:4) and instructs us to flee Judaea(the church). Judgement must begin at the house of God(1 Pet 4:17).