No, Syria is not a sign of the Lord’s return.

This frothing at the mouth stupidity makes the entire Christian world look ignorant.

A recent survey has shown that nearly one in three Americans believe that Syria’s ongoing civil war is part of the Bible’s plan for the end times. One in four believe that a possible U.S. attack on Syria could lead to the Battle of Armageddon. And one in five believe the world will end in their lifetime.

Amid an increasing number of stories in the media on the linking of the Syrian crisis to biblical prophecy, Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked three questions about Syria and the end of the world as part of a telephone survey of 1,001 Americans between Sept. 6 and 10.

The survey found that 32 percent of those polled agree with the statement, “I believe the battles in Syria are all part of the prophecies of the Book of Revelation.” Forty-nine percent disagree.

The study also found that 26 percent agree with the statement, “I believe that U.S. military intervention in Syria might lead to the Battle of Armageddon that’s spoken about in the Book of Revelation.” And 18 percent agreed to the statement, “I believe the world will end in my lifetime.”

LifeWay Research president Ed Stetzer was surprised with the results.

via 1 in 3 Americans Link Syrian Conflict to Bible’s End-Time Prophecy, Survey Finds.

The Bible is quite clear:

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. — (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

and…:

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. — (Matthew 24:36-51 KJV)

There are some who like to make a huge deal out of the “seasons” of the Lord’s coming. Jesus did not have kind words for those people either:

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. — (Matthew 16:1-4 KJV)

Two things about the above scripture; one Jesus was speaking of those who wish to see some sign that God might actually be real and Jesus might actually have been his Son. You know, like Pentecostal Christians? Two, I believe Christ was also referring to those who get so wrapped up into when the Lord will be returning. I mean, there are people out there that have made a rather nice cottage industry out of trying to predict when the Lord is coming back. Most of them have been quite wrong about it too and have lead many a Christian astray because of it too.

The Word of God is clear, NO MAN, AT ALL, knows the day of Christ’s return; if they say that they do, they are lying and attempting to prey on people’s paranoia of the end times. This is another thing that really bugs me, a lot. I realize that I have survivalist links on this blog, and I also have advertisements for emergency food and such. However, there are some people that get wrapped up in survivalism and prepping, as it is called now; almost to the point of it being some sort of a religion. This is unhealthy for Christians, and yes, even Fundamentalist Baptists, like myself.

Here is why I say this: I, as a Independent, Fundamental, King James Bible-Believing Baptist — happen to be of the pre-tribulation belief system. So, why would I go out and spend all that money for prepper supplies and other such stuff? I AM NOT GOING TO BE HERE, WHEN THE WORLD IMPLODES!  My Bible tells me that the Lord is going to return BEFORE the tribulation is going to start. This is why I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour in the first place! To avoid the tribulation and go to Heaven! So, why would I worry about what is going to happen in this old sin-depraved world?

So, to my fellow believers; fret not about the Lord’s return. It will happen. We just do not know when, and instead of spending time fretting about when the Lord’s return is going to happen; how about trying to bring more people to saving knowledge of Christ? It only makes sense.

Enjoy your Sunday! Update: Um, Oops. Surprise Today isn’t Sunday, it’s Saturday. DohSorry about that, I got a little ahead of myself! The above is still true. Happy Even if the writer is a little goofy and doesn’t know what day it is… SillyLaughingHee hee

-Patrick