Apocalypse Now?

Our pastor has been preaching through Daniel lately. The past two weeks (and next week as well) have been about the end times and properly interpreting scripture as related to end time prophesy. It has been really interesting and thought provoking. I don't know about you, but growing up, I never wanted to discuss or hear about the rapture, the tribulation, the mark of the beast or anything else my church believed would happen at the end of our time here on Earth; it was all too hard to understand and too scary. Maybe it's because I'm older, or maybe it's because my relationship with the Lord is growing and I'm learning more about scripture, but these things don't really scare me any more. I'm actually beginning to see the hope in all of it.

Let's see if I can nutshell this.... I've learned lately that one of the things you have to consider when interpreting scripture is the genre in which it was written. Part of Daniel is apocalyptic. Until today, that word has had dreadful connotations. However, I learned today that, for the Christian, it actually gives hope. It reveals the ultimate defeat of evil and the final victory of Christ. It's purpose is to minister to those who are suffering. It is a reminder that God is not unaware of the pain we are suffering or the evil we are facing; He is still in control.

Then why, some ask, does He allow people to suffer? I don't know the answer to that. What I do know is this: My relationship with the Lord has grown most during those times when I felt like I was suffering. The following song came to mind as Bob was preaching, and then a friend was singing it later this afternoon. I'm not sure I'm to the point of asking the Lord to send pain but I definitely understand where the author is coming from.



Bring The Rain
MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty