Someone in the “much-beloved” press termed the fire in Los Angeles to be apocalyptic. It seems from one month to another that someone somewhere in the world claims some tragedy to be apocalyptic. It is not. It is not even close. We can and should call the Los Angeles fire serious, even ominous. Perhaps a record tragedy for L.A. But no way is it apocalyptic.
Let’s take a look at the basic meaning of apocalyptic. Oxford defines it as, “describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world.” Los Angeles being partially devastated by catastrophic fire is not the destruction of the world. Oxford tells us in the following picture that it comes from the Greek “apokaluptikos”. And Oxford gives a little graph that shows the increase of the word since 1950. Its overuse started then, and it has galloped to the forefront of usage, if I read the graph correctly, many times over. Everything has become “apocalyptic”.
Partially destroying Los Angeles is certainly devastating. But it is not “the destruction of the world”. Our use of the word probably comes from Revelation, which literally means “apocalypsis”. Wikipedia has this to say on the book of Revelation: “The Book of Revelation or Book of the Apocalypse is the final book of the New Testament. Written in Koine Greek, its title is derived from the first word of the text: apokalypsis, meaning 'unveiling' or 'revelation'. The Book of Revelation is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament canon.”
If the book of Revelation is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament (and it is), it certainly covers everything. The center 17 chapters of Revelation describe devastation to man and the earth that is unequalled in history. Over 90% of mankind is destroyed when the the judgment of God is thrust upon the world over a seven-year period. Billions of people are brought horrifically to their deaths. That is apocalyptic.
Hundreds of books are on Amazon describing what the end of the world, as we know it, takes place. Creative authors have imagined things like the internet “blinking” out one day through different causes. Nuclear war, famine, plagues, and hits from objects in space have all been envisioned. These books all depict a complete falling-apart of the world in the judgment of God. That is the proper envisioning of apocalypsis, what it might mean.
Our pastor has been teaching on Jonah the past month, and I have been reminded of Jonah’s willingness, even eagerness, to see the great city of Ninevah be judged by God. He skillfully took us through several weeks on the topic of Jonah. Each week he reminded us of Jonah’s temperament: Jonah wanted to be the spectator with a front row seat, watching for the judgment of God upon this terribly wicked city. Instead, the city repents and God relents for a time from his judgment.
Jonah is devastated and disappointed because the judgment is postponed. And that reminds me a little bit of us Christians. Many of us, and I include myself, want to see the end come. As fiercely as Jonah, we “camp” outside and look at the world, proclaiming the end is coming. Perhaps it is our fault that the word apocalypsis is so overused.
As Christians in the end time, what is the proper attitude for us to have? Are we really to be like Jonah, eagerly watching for the end? This week I have become interested in a study of Peter, as our small group touched briefly on 1 Peter. Our teacher reminded me of the great Bible Project, and they have really done a great job of summarizing 2 Peter, the last letter of Peter. It touches so poignantly on my subject that I want to close with.
Peter talks almost in newspaper headline about our world. He warns us about corrupt leadership, mainly people who are indulging themselves in sexual fantasies and greed (following their own evil desires), pretending they have God’s approval. They were teaching falsely that God would give no final reckoning, asking the question, “where is the promise of his coming?” Thus they scoff at God, forgetting “deliberately” that the world is created and destroyed by a world-wide flood. Peter then gives two quick points that I would summarize.
First, Peter reminds us that God is patient, not willing that any should perish. This is a main focus of what our attitude should be, looking to the world and reaching out with the gospel we have been entrusted with. God withholds judgment and surely the scoffers are having their day. But the patience of God is not without end and it is quite proper for Christians to look for the end of wickedness. The “day of the Lord” will come exactly at the right second, not earlier, nor one nanosecond later.
Second, Peter reminds us that the world will pass away, even the elements melting by fire, so that all of the wickedness of mankind is fully exposed. God’s purpose is not to stop there with judgment; his stated purpose is to give us a new heaven and new earth. This is really what those of us who would be like Jonah should stress. The signs that “the end is near”, proverbially put in so many cartoons for so many years, is not quite the accurate picture of us “Jonahs”. Instead, we are to look beyond the judgment toward the very plan of God. God plans on getting rid of the evil world, only to replace it with a new heaven and a new earth.
So, to summarize, Christians who feel a bit like Jonah, ought to take the better viewpoint of Peter, who looking forward to his death, was prescient enough to warn us of God’s longer plan. Though the time has extended out to nearly two thousand years now, yet the plan of God to end evil in this world is as sure and absolute as ever. We “Jonahs” can look forward to the new heaven and new earth, meanwhile proclaiming the gospel to the lost as often as possible.
