How does the last book in the Bible end, the Revelation of John? What is the reader’s response? It ends with straightforward warnings about good and evil. It promises Christ’s victory over all that relates to creation. Remarkably, it appears to address somewhat casually what should be the general attitude of readers after receiving this extensive report of dramatic and combined horrific as well as peaceful events – described in the chapters that precede the conclusion and benediction. In sum, the Apostle tells his readers simply to keep on doing what they are doing in the earthly context. It is a way of saying that the events will occur at some future date, and it is worth the reader’s time to be informed, but that life should go on with the sense of faith, or no faith, as readers may choose. In simplicity the writer is saying, carry on with your life as you prefer, as though all this description was not revealed. It might cause some persons to change their minds about life issues, but that if they believed the story taxed their credulity too greatly, they should just keep on with what they are doing – good or bad. Further, there is nothing that anyone can do to change the course of the events described. John makes room for both the believer and the unbeliever to get on in life with minimal stress. Here is a matter of faith, not troubling current issues that might lead to extreme behaviors. He is saying, be sensible to your current mortal day.
There is much said about Armageddon by secular sources. At this writing the Stock Market has declined, rivaled only by the 1929 Great Depression. Economic Armageddon is feared. The government is asked for hundreds of billions of dollars to offset a financial meltdown that may impoverish the nation and world for years. Further, I have just read the newsletter from the University of Washington’s Philosophy Department. The cover photo shows the explosions of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. Ten million tons of sulfur expelled into the air lowering world temperature by one degree. The article dealt with the call of a Nobel Prize winner to introduce a full Geo-engineering program as a lesser evil than present approaches to climate change. The author noted that the ethical issues have not been worked out so we should not rush into the proposal. There is the prediction that by mid-21st century we may be at a point of runaway climate change. This means we might not be able to reverse end events. The end of man may be in sight. In the meantime, we continue living. It reads like holocaust – until Revelation 22:11.
Both Scripture and science hold out the threat that there will be a cataclysmic collapse of the present natural system. Scripture promises a renewed situation for those who trust in God. The academicians reading the information of nature presume that, without prevention, there is no recovery meaningful to the tribe of man or organic life as we know it. There is a sense in which corporate decision, both from mankind and God, can guide human conduct in caring for the planet as God defined duty to Adam – dress the garden and know it. The Apostle John’s story is that those in Christ have promise for positive meaning, found in the one who formed the creation. He follows righteousness (rightness) in all matters. There is a normality of liberty supported by God, for all society. The prophets of God, long ago, said there would be tragedy, but that there was the care of God available in the holocaust. Today, the predictions of knowledgeable humanists make the tragedy serious, perhaps without recourse, and Scripture is treated like the conjuring of ancients. I am comforted with Scripture. God permits us to carry on with decent alternatives incorporated for good. When they run out, prodigal societies will be forced to conclusions. Scripture holds that while we live, let us live without fear. God is managing. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020