The End Is Near?

It never ceases to amaze me the ways in which the Bible continues to be able to speak to contemporary issues that church is still dealing with. The question mark in my title is not a type, but serves to help illustrate my point. It also serves to speak to our continued search for the return of Jesus and the end of the world as we know it. The passing of December 21st left, at least, the western world disappointed in our inability to calculate when the world will end. For more than millennia humans have been watching the skies, their calendars, and the news for indications of the fulfillment of apocalyptic and eschatological hopes. And why shouldn’t we? The Bible does, after all, tell us to be prepared. So with that admonition, we seem to be doing the right thing. This is also like the case for the church at Thessalonica when Paul writes to them. They are looking and enthusiastically waiting for the Parousia. Now, Parousia is a Greek word that means “coming”. You thought I was going to say “Rapture” right? Well, that’s a word that never actually appears in the Bible. This term does though. More about that later though. Meanwhile, back at the ranch folks are dying. Can you imagine being promised the triumphant return of Jesus, where it is assumed that you will not die? Rather, you are to be caught up to meet Jesus and continue living but this event has yet to actually occur. While you’re waiting family members and members of your faith community are passing away. This is scary. This is not supposed to happen. Even now, when death is as pervasive as it is for the postmodern person, it takes us by surprise. We are never really prepared to lose loved ones or members of our faith communities. There is a persistant hope for healing and/or intervention whether it be divine or medicinal. See? Not very different from the Thessalonians in the first century. So what do we do? Jesus has not come back and folks are still dying. I am so glad that you asked! Paul tells the people in the church at Thessolonica in a couple of things regarding this very issue. One: These people are not really dead but, rather, they are asleep. This euphemism for death goes with his explanation of the delayed Parousia. Part of the issue that these believers are having is that they are afraid that by dying, their dearly departed have totally missed the boat and will be denied access to heaven. Now, that would totally suck. Miss out on heaven because you died before Jesus came back? That would indeed be a cold game. Luckily Paul gives a little bit of an explanation. So what does all of this mean for us today? Should we still be worried about our loved ones that leave us before the great and triumphant return that we all are still hoping and watching for? Of course not. We can rest in knowing that the transition of believers to death is as temporary and our own stint on this side of eternity. They will get to the gates just like we will. In fact, by Paul’s estimation, they will get there before we do! So never fear! Granny and ‘nem will see Jesus and you will most definitely see them. It is once again important for me to stress to you that what we experience today is not new. We will continue to be in expectation of the coming of Christ. Is a problematic that he hasn’t come yet? Maybe in the sense that it gets discouraging that every prediction that comes up is wrong. This is not a surprise though because no man knows the day or hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36). That is one of the things that is beyond our control. Much like death, what we are charged to do is to be encouraged that there is a day coming when we will meet Christ in the air. We are also supposed to encourage one another, according to Paul. There are a lot of things that are unknown. So we must be ever prepared. How do you prepare for people dying though? You do so by giving them their flowers while they are living. This is an old adage from my grandmother, which just means enjoy people while they are here. Say what you have to say, be nice, live well. Also know that they are not dead, merely transitioned until we all are called up. Stay watchful, be mindful and be encouraged. Peace!