Escatology and the Problems with Prediction

In light of all of this Harold Camping end of the world nonsense, I thought it relevant to speak my mind regarding escatology (the study of the end times) and the dangers of making predictions. First and foremost it is impossible to know the mind of God in its entirety. We understand bits and pieces through our understanding of scripture, but even then, not all of us get it right most of the time, and none of us get it completely right all the time.

So how, then, can we accurately predict exactly when, how, and what will transpire at the end of the world? The short answer: we can't. We can, however, get a rough idea based on the prophetic portions of scripture. We know that a day of judgment is on its way. Some say any day now, others say a bad guy has to rule the world for a few years first. All of that is speculative and highly subjective to the individual's interpretation of scripture. 

We also know that in some way, a better world will come from this "Day of the Lord" as it is referred to in the Bible. Some subscribe to the idea that the entire universe, all of creation, will be destroyed to make way for a new creation. Others say that the current creation will be brought back to a "like new" condition, otherwise called a "redeemed earth" escatology. Either way, we know the new digs will be way better than the old.

Now the concept of a "rapture" which is what Camping predicted for May 21 2011, (which obviously did not happen) whereby all those whom God will save are beamed up to heaven for eternity, in and of itself is controversial within the Christian faith regardless of Camping's date for it. Some say it will happen but disagree on whether a "tribulation" has to happen first, others subscribe to the idea that scripture itself does not describe a literal rapture at all, and that when the day of judgment comes, it will be held here on earth rather than on some celestial plain, or that we will all be physically dead on the day of Judgment. Once again these interpretations are highly speculative and dependant entirely upon one's interpretation of scripture.

So what can we expect, and when can we expect it? The Bible's prophetic words speak of destruction, desolation, famine, pestilence, war, natural disasters, economic turmoil, and a general popularity rating of 0 for God's people.  (Some say both Jews and Christians, others say just the Jews, still others say just the Christians.) Now, some believe that the Bible is speaking apocalyptically about things that have already come to pass, either in the 1st century Rome (believed to be the "new Babylon" spoken about in Revelation) or in more recent history. (the black death, 2 world wars, the holocaust, earthquakes and floods, volcanic activity, the great depression, the great recession, 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, etc., etc., etc.) Still others believe that the worst is yet to come. Either way, the world has seen a lot of hard times already, (see list above) and our future as a society does look grim here in the united states with an ever increasing debt and huge deficits, bankrupted entitlement programs, millions out of work and even more overworked and underpaid. But I'm getting off topic...

So why is it dangerous to make hard and fast predictions about what will come to pass? The first danger is that in making a prediction often people dismiss you, and the faith with which you associate yourself, outright as malarkey, insanity, and idiocy. And if any predictions are made for an upcoming date, as was done by the now debunked Harold Camping, their initial dismissal of you and your beliefs are proved to be correct and the mocking comes to a head as was the case with poor Mr. Camping.

Secondly, there is a distinct problem of arrogance about making predictions based on scripture. Once one claims to be "enlightened" in their exegetical formula to the point that they are seeing things in scripture, like dates and times, that no one else ever saw or even agrees with now, then we have a problem. That person basically claims they know more than all the scholars in biblical eschatological history combined. Somehow they are better than everyone else at reading and understanding the Bible. And THAT is arrogance and pride at an enormous level.

So what do I think will happen? I think it it important for us as Christians to remember 3 fundamental truths: Christ will return again, his victory will be complete, and we will spend eternity with Him. When it happens and how we get there are, at this point in history, immaterial. And as I do not presume to have all the answers, I do not espouse any one side of escatology over the other. And I think I like it that way.

So what does that mean we should do?

The bible is very clear: keep your lamps trimmed and burning. That is to say, be spiritually ready for Christ to return any moment, but live your life as though you will live on earth for a hundred years. This is sage advice, as when death takes us unexpectedly, we will be prepared to meet our Lord.

DH out.