What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!
Mark 13:37

There are few areas of Bible study that draw as much intrigue and attention as the study of the end times. For those who care, this branch of study is known, officially, as eschatology, and it's ability to capture the imagination and interest of it's students is matched only by it's potential for misinterpretation and generating fanaticism.

I am not entirely sure why, but we just love to talk about the end of the world. Not only that, but we love to speculate, intensely, about the details of the end, including nailing down the year it will take place. Come on, we all know at least one guy who lives and breathes the end-times. Oh sure, he is great for when you have a eschatological question about something. He can talk for hours. But, when you want to switch gears to, let's say, grace or salvation, well...he's still stuck in the book of Revalations, trying to fit what you just said into the end-times theory that he is currently considering.

In my own experience, I've known several extremely brilliant and dedicated believers who had very different end-times views. As I sit here, I suddenly wish I could put them all in a room and see what happens. No really, it would be cool...sort of like celebrity death match, only with hyper-intelligent, well read Bible experts, who don't know the meaning of the word 'concession'. Fun.

So, when is it going to end? That's simple...when God is good and ready to make it end. In fact, Jesus told us that no one knows the day or hour it will happen; not even the angels; in fact, not even Jesus. Jesus stated that only God will know when. That's it...God. No one else. Why? Maybe it is as simple as a matter of God wanting us to pursue faith. I don't know.

I understand, completely, the desire to learn and to discover. It is who we are and it really is a good thing. However, I advise not to become to over involved in trying to glean the details of the end. After all, you live in the here and now; wading in constant opportunities in every direction to grow the Kingdom. You can effect those around you, today. Your time is God's time.

Jesus says to watch; that is enough, isn't it? He doesn't say to obsess over predictions or to ignore the joy of living in the moment with the freedom he brings to us all in favor of a future that we already know ends with purpose and authority.

The study of end times is interesting, true enough. But, be careful not to become shrill and hyper-focused to the point of neglecting, or even ignoring the other areas of his word.

-T. Michael Cart