With unprecedented access to the latest worldwide events and happenings it is now possible to join the ever growing list of eschatological experts who through powers of natural observation interpret prophetic proclamations. Thank God we have technology now where 'quick modifications' can be made to our second coming timetables without having to get a pencil out and start all over again.
Events happen so quickly that by the time you delete whatever you thought might happen that didn't happen and replace it with what did actually happen, what actually happened is now insignificant to what just now happened. Things are happening. But, the question must be asked: is this the right way to interpret the times in which we live? Could it be possible to be so busy looking at the sky that we end up missing what is standing right before us?
Many of us may remember when as children we would stand with our friends and see who could stare at the sun for the longest period of time. The effect of course is momentary blindness, with prolonged exposure even able to cause real damage. Isn't it amazing that looking into natural light for too long can cause blindness?
Blind to spiritual things
What if I told you that the church's eschatological focus on the natural lights for prolonged periods of time has blinded her spiritual eyes? Solar eclipses, new moons, blood moons, earthquakes and so on, all have happened but what do they say about the times in which we live?
"Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?" (Luke chapter 12 verse 56)
These were the words of Jesus to the multitudes in His day, and even with all our knowledge and expertise, I'm sure the very same rebuke could be true for us now. Watching the weather will not put oil in your lamps. Jesus could stand before you in the bright noontime sun and you can still be utterly unable to see who He really is. It takes a greater light to see through skin.
It takes revelation.
With all our ability to see what's happening around us, we may have lost our ability to see within. We think that there must be certain indicators come to pass before the big event we have anticipated will happen. Israel thought that way when Jesus walked amongst them, but that doesn't mean God did. Did you know 3 days had already passed before God made the sun and the moon? Think about that for a moment. How can you have a day, a calendar or a timeframe with no sun or moon? How can you even know what happened during those 3 days?
Revelation
It can be very tempting to get caught up in the prophetic prognostics of the eventful times in which we find ourselves, but this alone cannot sustain us, nor is it necessary. We have a greater light by which we live. Egypt may have been the advanced civilisation in the earth, but it was the slave nation of Israel who was kept in the light whilst the world was covered in 3 days of deep darkness. Israel was formed in a greater light than Egypt. God has always seen His people as good, and He won't let the darkness dwell with them.
Revelation is like x-ray vision, it pierces the darkness and sees through to the internal structure under the skin. Yet its effectiveness can be reduced by too much natural light. The wise of the age have always been those who like to do things to be seen by men, they place more value on the outward than the inward. They have their day in the sun, but their beauty is skin deep.
True revelation is a powerful thing
Revelation reveals the inner workings which others cannot see and penetrates the darkness. Jesus walked in the light of His Father and could see the dead and brittle bones inside the Pharisees of His day, yet those same Pharisees were blind to the Christ, and so blind they thought He had a demon! They had no revelation, and they missed the coming of Christ, Are we making the same mistakes today? Are we relying on our intellectual assessments (or assumptions) instead of The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would make 'all things known' and 'tell you of things to come'?
Jesus spoke in parables which some refer to as 'dark sayings', They are not possible to understand with the natural light of reason, only the light of revelation.
When Christianity needs to light candles, look at moons or draw timelines to understand our times, we have already failed to know our own significance.
It is the realisation of who we are, and what we have inside of us, which allows us to see the signs which others cannot, and gives us the hope that others have not.
Those who can see the glory through the darkness, the hidden, excellent treasure in broken earthly vessels and can say "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" are those who, with unveiled face shall behold the Messiah in all His glory. If we truly discerned the time, we would not be afraid of one another, but would love our neighbour as if they were Christ Himself, because, hey, who knows?
Joshua Robbie is currently serving the Lord under Pastors Ronnie and Shirley Naidoo of KZN Celebration Centre in Tongaat South Africa. He and His wife Rene' moved from Australia to South Africa in April 2016. Their desire is to help in whatever way they can so that the church can become all that God has purposed her to be. Josh also enjoys sports such as surfing, basketball and boxing.
Josh Robbie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/josh-robbie.html