Does this mean that Christ is returning soon?

by Dér Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D. © 2001

     Through e-mails and at various Church functions I have been asked a number of questions about the same issue: Do the events of September 11, 2001, signal that we are at the end of time, that Christ is returning soon? Of course, the Second Coming of Christ is an important milestone and an event to look forward to for all Christians. It is understandable that at times of great ‘trials and tribulations,’ many turn their gaze skyward and wonder when Christ will return. In this article, I want to clarify a few points regarding the Second Coming of Christ, which I hope will act as a guide to discern and ‘to know the times,’ as the Gospel tells us.

     First, no one really knows when the Second Coming of Christ will take place, except for God the Father. Christ said very clearly: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7) In other words, unlike a Super Bowl where human beings set a time, a place, and artificially build-it-up as an important “history making event that you would not want to miss,” the Second Coming will not need human fanfare or artificial promotion. When it happens, people will know it, and no advertising will be necessary to get their attention! The return of Christ will also be unlike an opening night at the theatre, where a few entertainers come lavishly dressed to attract media attention, and fans come to watch and be entertained. Rather, everyone will be involved with life and struggling to survive. There will not be performers and those being entertained. Everyone will be equally and completely involved! Perhaps watching the September 11 events on television may have given a taste: No one could watch those events and not have a sense of anger, despair, or helplessness. You could not help but be at least involved emotionally! At the Second Coming, without exception, everyone will be immersed into the events even more - with heart, mind, and soul!

     Second, a number of theologians have made the distinction between ‘the end of time’ and ‘the end times.’ This is a very important distinction. Since human suffering seems to make time stand still, people in distress have always thought that somehow time has come to an end. This was true around the end of the first millennium, 1,000 AD, when people such as the Armenians who were caught up in various wars, thought that the end of time has come. However, theologians have pointed out that the Bible actually refers to ‘the end times.’ The ‘end times’ do not refer to the ‘end of time,’ but rather refer to a set of events that clarify and reveal that the need for the salvation of Christ is inevitable. These events fulfill the promise of Christ: “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (St. Matthew 23:39)

     Furthermore, when a person recognizes the need for Christ in his or her life, instead of time coming to an end, it suddenly stretches to eternity. One who discovers God, discovers true Life, and instead of time coming to an end as the edge of a cliff ready to drop into a dark abyss, time stretches brightly into the future, into eternal life. So the ‘end times’ are the times when it is made crystal clear to all of humanity that it cannot survive without God’s love, guidance, and grace, and that this survival can only be attained through belief in and following the exemplary life of Christ! As Christ put it: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (St. John 17:3) So, is this the end of time? Only God knows that! Are these the end times when it is becoming clear that humanity cannot live without God and needs the salvation of Christ? Definitely yes! Let me illustrate this.

     “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:18) This verse has caught the imagination of many. People throughout the ages have found numerous ways of assigning numbers to alphabet letters and showing that a name’s alphabetical values add up to the value of 666. Without adding or taking away any weight from the efforts of these well intentioned persons, a plausible way of understanding this value of 666 is recognizing that the value of ‘6’ is “man’s number,” since the human being was created on the sixth day of Creation. Thus, a value of ‘666’ refers to a ‘volume’ or ‘sphere’ of human influence, creativity, and effort, that rejects and rebuffs the need for God’s protection and His salvation. In other words, the beast with the number 666 refers to the effort of human beings to live and progress on their own, while not asking or even rejecting God’s guidance and protection. The events on September 11, when thousands died as millions others witnessed it helplessly, illustrate once more in clear daylight to all humanity that no technological advancement, military strength, or human preparation can protect us against the atrocities of fellow human beings. The only true and lasting protection comes from God!

     So the events on September 11, 2001, do not tell us that time has come to an end. Rather they point to the imminent Second Coming of Christ in that they illustrate once again that human effort and civilization cannot sustain life by itself against evil, but rather it has to depend on God if it will have a chance to last. The events prove once more that in the face of such evil, only the Cross of Christ is victorious; over such devastating death, only the Resurrection of Christ can conquer forever! And finally, the events make it imminent once again, that evil such as this will end only when Christ returns at his Second Glorious Coming!

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Cover Page for
Physical Attack, Spiritual Response:
September 11, 2001 Events!

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