"Letting The Clock Run Out"

Growing up in the shadow of the Doomsday Clock

Myth 1 - Mankind can stop it.

Myth 2 - Mankind causes it (okay, okay - there is a bit of truth to it)

Lessons from Scripture:

The Day of the Lord

200x in the Old Testament

Amos 3:1 ESV

Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

Amos 3:2 ESV

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

The New Testament

2 Peter 3:1 HCSB

Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder,

2 Peter 3:2 HCSB

so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.

2 Peter 3:3 HCSB

First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,

2 Peter 3:4 HCSB

saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:5 HCSB

They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God.

2 Peter 3:6 HCSB

Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded.

2 Peter 3:7 HCSB

But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

2 Peter 3:8 HCSB

Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

2 Peter 3:9 HCSB

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:10 HCSB

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.

2 Peter 3:11 HCSB

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness

2 Peter 3:12 HCSB

as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

2 Peter 3:13 HCSB

But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

The Day is coming - like it or not

2 Peter 3:14 HCSB

Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish.

2 Peter 3:15 HCSB

Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.

2 Peter 3:16 ESV

as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

2 Peter 3:17 HCSB

Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability.

2 Peter 3:18 HCSB

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Don’t fall asleep.

A lesson from sports

When the clock does run out:

Revelation 20:11 HCSB

Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:12 HCSB

I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.

Revelation 20:13 HCSB

Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.

Revelation 20:14 HCSB

Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15 HCSB

And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

God knows

What you should know…and cherish:

Revelation 19:6 HCSB

Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign!

Revelation 19:7 HCSB

Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.

Revelation 19:8 HCSB

She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

Revelation 19:9 HCSB

Then he said to me, “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb are fortunate!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”

Revelation 19:10 HCSB

Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”