For what are we to be watchful: end-time obsession and Christian alertness

I recently had lunch with a dearly loved saint who reminded me that we should be watchful in these perilous times. This is certainly true, but I did caution that the Bible's prophetic message is to be viewed carefully in respect to interpreting the signs of our day. This post is meant to clarify what I meant (and I offer this clarification with humility, deep respect, and love). My greater goal is to help believers think through end-times alertness more carefully and with biblical scrutiny. I am calling for Christians to develop some critical thinking and to wrestle with their presuppositions by developing their Bible study skills, and engage Scripture thoughtfully and with humility.

It seems that Christians often obsess about the daily, dismal news we hear. Some see the stream of bad news as proof of Christ's imminent return. I suggest that we need to be mindful of history and our unique (dare I say limited?) American point of view. Consider that this month (September, 2014) Europe is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Hitler's brutal blitzkrieg beginning in Poland in 1939. The Nazi regime ushered in unthinkable suffering. Yet one could go further back into the annals of history and find atrocities that would give us nightmares. If I were alive then, I might suspect der Führer could have been the Anti-Christ. His disturbing goal of annihilating the Jews arguably aligned with the goals of the beast.

Are things really worse today? Who ultimately decides that contemporary events are degenerating further than what occurred in previous generations? Who settles the question that modern-day despots are the final candidates for Satan's Anti-Christ agents? Honestly, we are not really objective about this at all, nor are we particularly well-educated about all the events that preceded our post-modern malaise. Christians need to take a step back and read the Bible carefully on this topic and be careful about pronouncements about the end of the age based on the nightly news (or Internet sources as the case may be).

In offering my opinion about this contentious topic, I realize I'm swimming against popular evangelical currents and even counter to some respected Bible scholars such as Dr. Walvoord of DTS. His prescription is to be keenly aware of current events and correlate to end-times prophecy. I am linking to his website here to offer you a scholarly alternative to my views (and you are free to disagree with me without offending me). I am neither qualified nor inclined to provide a comprehensive systematic theology vis-à-vis eschatology. Moreover, Dr. Walvoord may well be right in what he presents. I grant the major events he identifies can arguably fit a history-ending narrative. I simply contend we must be careful what we label as "major" and what fits the biblical narrative.

If you get nothing else from this post, I invite you to reflect on my overall thesis statement:

THESIS STATEMENT: Modern-day Christians need to apply great caution when consuming news reports from the myriad of sources available today vis-à-vis expectations of specific fulfillments of biblical prophecies. In other words, don't read too much into specific events you hear about and carelessly connect to something predicted in the Bible (e.g. sub-dermal chips are the mark of the beast, Obama is the Anti-Christ, etc.). Instead, be faithful (sleeper awake) and be alert for deception from convincing claims of a divine, messianic figure (false Christ) who successfully sways the masses.

To be clear, I believe the New Testament indeed affirms the imminent return of the Lord. As I said, I am not prepared to write on the broad topic of eschatology and somehow provide an exhaustive presentation. Instead, I want to focus our consideration of just how we should be watchful, and in particular what the Bible prescribes for the faithful. Suffice it to say that I differ from the amillennialist's position that holds certain prophecies are still required to be fulfilled until Christ comes. James 5:7-8 supports what I see is the New Testament view that "the coming of the Lord is near." Even though two millennia have passed, it is still true that Christ's return is soon (in God's sovereign timing).

Turning to the believer's readiness, just what is Bible's language on being watchful and alert in conjunction with the second coming of Christ? The Synoptic Gospels all provide Christ's own eschatological teaching. In each account, there are repeated exhortations to be alert or be watchful. The question I pose here: does the New Testament specify about precisely what we should be vigilant? Are we to monitor events around us for the purpose of sensing when the end-time escalates and when Christ's return (including rapture, Tribulation, and judgment of the world) is seemingly about to unfold? To attempt to answer these questions, let us examine Scripture in the context in which the eschatological passages are found.

I will be upfront: I do not think we can or should put current events together as a definitive predictor of the end. It should be obvious to you, the careful Bible student, that many people have (and will) come out with a specific date. It perplexes me that some feel they can navigate around the Bible's own statement which clearly says we cannot be that specific:

““But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:36–39, NASB95)

This article does not seek to engage those who argue they can know the day. I'll let Matthew 24:36 speak for itself. However, what I think needs scrutiny is how we try to unpack our unsettling events and attempt to speak of escalated and urgent evidence of Christ's impending return (with its concomitant activities of rapture, tribulation, etc.). Again, let me be very clear: we are certainly closer today than ever before.

The Last Days Began 2,000 Years Ago
First, it is essential to see that the Bible speaks of the "last days" as a special time in history. These verses below speak to them as having been inaugurated with Christ's first coming. Those "last days" are still in progress:

• Acts 2:17
• 2 Timothy 3:1
• Hebrews 1:2
• James 5:3
• 2 Peter 3:3

Indeed, we do live in the last days, but so did the Apostles. The central event in history is Christ's mission to the cross and his victory over death. With the church on mission to proclaim the good news of Christ, the church militant operates in enemy territory with much toil and tribulation. This has always marked the church age.

Last Day (singular) unique to Gospel of John

In contrast to the last days, John's Gospel looks to the heightened conclusion of history in the last, definitive day of all days in which resurrection and judgment are the main focus:

• John 6:40, 44, 54
• John 11:24
• John 12:48

St. John does not speak of watchfulness or alertness in these passages. His Gospel simply did not wrestle with this. However, Matthew's Gospel has much to say of Christ's coming in the Olivet Discourse. With respect to watchfulness,  Matthew 24:4–5 is the key:

Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many.

βλέπω (blepō) "watch out" is a significant word here and sets the tone for eschatological warnings. Note that Mark's gospel in particular makes use of that word:

Just as in Matthew, Mark records Jesus' warning about deception. He also warns that being faithful will put the true believer in danger (Mark 13:9). Mark likewise repeats the warning about not knowing the timing. Moreover, Luke carefully shows Jesus' warning that those claiming intimate knowledge of prophetic timing is dangerous and Christians are not to "go after them".

It seems clear that the Synoptic writers all recall Christ's dire warnings that deception is a key tool of the devil (as if that's a new tactic!). Why is it, then, that modern Christians get so caught up in the daily news and seek to find a prophetic roadmap and essentially try to predict the timing of Christ's return? No doubt you have heard (or argued) that Israel as a nation state in 1948 has significance. How do we know for certain this is the Lord's regathering of the Jewish people? What happens if the current state of Israel were in fact destroyed? Would your belief in biblical prophecy be undermined?

Watch out! Be alert! The real danger is losing focus: we are called to live holy lives even as the day draws near:

"And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light." Romans 13:11–12 (NET)

Conclusion
For what are we to be watchful? There is so much more I could say, but here's the gist of it:

1. Deception. Obsession for knowledge about the end-times might unwittingly lead you down a dangerous path. Learn to recognize lies by knowing biblical truth. Make use of good Bible study methods, and pray for the Lord to enable you to grasp what is most important from the Scriptural texts.
2. Disreputable sources. Be careful about using the Internet to find information about things to come. There are elaborate websites and intricate diagrams by those who have been "researching" prophecy. These can lead you down a slippery slope. Apply critical thinking and see history in a larger context. Remember, every generation thought Christ was returning in their lifetime. We should retain that expectation, but don't fall for dubious research.
3. Diversions. Today's main threat is slothfulness and sin. True, Christians may wrestle with persecution, and events may indeed be escalating. Yet what is more dangerous right now is tolerance of sin. Be watchful for your own system of beliefs, attitudes, and actions: stay true to the Word of God and pursue holiness. As people of the age to come, we are to walk as representatives of a New World Order ruled by Jesus Christ. Think of it! When Christ does finally set things to rights, his faithful followers will rule with him! Don't get caught up in trying to predict when all this will happen, but instead live with anticipation that it will happen!

May the Peace of Christ be with you.