The End




The End.  Many of us do not like endings.  It is hard to say goodbye.  We want to know what happens in the end, but we are not comfortable with things being over.  Is it a happy or not so happy ending?  What does the end even look like?  Do we move on to something else?  Or do we move into nothingness?  Is nothingness possible?  That doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, so let's just keep going as we are, don't you think?  However, last I checked, going as we are is definitely not one of the options that we have.  Everything changes.  Nothing stays the same.  Why?!


Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life…  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations…  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  And they will reign for ever and ever…  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:1,2,5,13 NIV)

There is a genre in the Bible that deals with end times.  It is referred to as apocalyptic literature.  Part of the book of Daniel is apocalyptic.  When asked about his temple destruction prediction, Jesus responded apocalyptically.  The most well-known example of apocalyptic literature is the book of Revelation.  Its pages are filled with six-wing eye-covered creatures, lion teeth crowned locusts, an intimidating double-edged sword tongued son-of-man, a living slain lamb, and many others.  Some of these have comparable figures elsewhere in the Bible.  

The book of Revelation has mystified scholars and scared the socks off of many others.  Some try to figure out its deeper meaning.  They look for clues and ways to relate the fantastical images to our current time.  Others like to avoid or dismiss Revelation.  They claim it was the product of some off his rocker, poor soul stranded on an island.

The word apocalyptic literally means, “the lifting of a veil, a revelation.”  Apocalyptic literature uses over-the-top exotic images, language, and symbols to elicit a powerful emotional response.  What better way to describe God’s cleansing of this reality to bring us into the next?  Reading apocalyptic writings is intended to be like gazing upon a good Picasso or watching a great sci-fi movie.  

In popular usage, apocalypse means the destructive end.  It is to be avoided at all costs.  It’s nuclear war.  It’s getting hit by an asteroid.  It’s a super volcano erupting.  It’s the end of the World.  Run away!  Where to is never said.  The truth of the matter is that the earth will cease to be at some point.  Eventually the Sun will go supernova, engulf our planet and much more.  We may be taken out by a different cataclysmic event even sooner.  Hopefully, it will be much, much later.  However, will that be the absolute end?  I guess there is no way of figuring that out.  If you do please let the rest of us know before it is too late:)

In apocalyptic language Jesus' is the Alpha and the Omega, the circle that has no beginning or end.  He is the light, river, and tree of life because Christ is pure sacrificial love.  The spiritual present of embracing apocalyptic truth is realizing that God desires to continually lift the veils that cover our hearts. It is a mysterious journey we each take to be forged into something new and Christ-like.  God is always moving us forward and breaking through ends.  The Beginning! 

Today is God’s Present!



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