It’s one thing to criticize those who justify a war by using hazy apocalyptic thinking. It’s another thing to act as though the Book of Revelation is not part of the Bible. We have yet to talk about another type of destruction, natural disaster. I can’t say for sure that Revelation is a prediction of natural disaster, but I can’t say it isn’t either. Today there are several known threats capable of causing destruction on an apocalyptic scale. These include two active calderas in the western United States: the Caldera in Yellowstone Park, and the Long Valley Caldera in California; and Planet X, a large planet discovered mathematically after observing its effect on the solar system. If one or both of the Calderas erupts it will cause unheard-of destruction in North America and climate disruption globally. Planet X may bring destruction by way of another phenomenon, a rapid pole-shift in the earth. If you think you can discount the religious aspects of these fears by dismissing the Christian religion forget about it–similar predictions have made by Native Americans.
But regardless of whether you associate these threats with the Book of Revelation, they are real. So who knows–while we’re busy with our partisan squabbles Planet X might just come along end our illustrious careers. If that thought doesn’t make us humble I don’t know what will.
So what is to be done? Buy survival gear? Dig bomb shelters? Maybe. But the New Testament has a different take on it.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness…(2Peter 3:11)
Or:
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? (Luke 12:20)