Date Posted:12:01:19 07/05/02 Fri Author: Adilbrand Subject: Re: Armageddon In reply to:
mvd
's message, "Armageddon" on 11:11:18 07/05/02 Fri
Yeah, I have seen that recently in a lot of my students. I think a lot of it is brought on by the recent "Left Behind" series of books (ten books so far) that is extremely popular right now (A series, according to The Lutheran Witness, actually has the event backwards on who is left behind and who is taken, and many other Christians argue that the popular series has other events incorrect, in so far as Biblical interpretation goes).
I am not sure why it exists, but it seems to have always existed. Even the Aztecs had "end of the world" prophecies, and so has most other cultures. Perhaps the feeling is that since we are mortal, so must the world be mortal, and doomed to die.
Even science agrees that the world is doomed. Eventually our sun will die. Possibly it will grow into a Red Giant, and engulf the world in flame, or it will explode, and annhilate the planet, or .... well, you get the idea.
As for it happening soon? Could be. A meteorite could strike us at any time and destroy us. But if we wait for the final annhilation, I think we have billions of years left until the Sun dies. Maybe by then we will have made our way to a new planet.
Throughout history, as you well know, people have cried out that the world was coming to an end. Phooey on that. Even Christ couldn't predict the end of the world very well. In Matthew 24, Christ's disciples ask about the end of the world, and Christ goes on to tell what all the signs are (vague, of course), and then says, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and Earth shall pass away..." (Matthew 24:34-35)
Obviously, we've had several generations come and go since Christ's time.
Anyway, I think people are afraid of the unknown. And what is the great unknown? The future. Even the brave, like Capt. Kirk, fear the future. And what is the most terrible event the future could possibly hold? Annhilation. I think this fear exists in most (if not all) cultures in some form or another.
Also, fear of Armageddon is a great way for people to control others... make people afraid of the future, and then tell them that you or your religion can protect them, then you add value to your leadership or to your religion. Without Armageddon, I don't think Christianity would survive, nor a good many other religions.
