The Doomsday Clock

At doom’s doorstep: It is 100 seconds to midnight

January 20, 2022

Doomsday Clock Statement

The clock has already been set for us.!!

It was in 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis, when thermonuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union seemed imminent.

The fate of the planet hung in the balance, and the Doomsday Clock was set at two minutes to midnight.

Since then, the clock has moved several times—even back as much as 15 minutes, but most recently it had held steady at 11:59…….

Now it has moved again. This time. 100 seconds ……

Tensions between the United States and Russia, cyber warfare, lack of progress on climate change, a steady rise in nationalism, and deteriorating global security are among the reasons Bulletin scientists gave for readjusting the Doomsday Clock.

If it’s 100 seconds to doomsday scientifically, what time is it prophetically? Indeed, many of the global conditions that spell disaster among the scientific establishment today were predicted two millenniums ago by a Carpenter who said He was the Messiah. His “bulletin” was given in answer to a question about His second coming and the end.

On Climate Change

Luke 21:11 (NLT): There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.

On rising nationalism and deteriorating global security

Matthew 24:6 (NLT): 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

Matthew 24:12 (NLT): 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Social media is overwhelming with posts, tweets, videos, and memes proving the validity of Paul’s prophecy to Timothy that in the last days

2 Timothy 3:2–5 (NLT): For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Has the clock is ticking, is anyone really listening?

Does anyone hear the warnings?

As I write these words, I’m thinking about my own young adult children. They are millennials living in this world that is nearing its end.

I thought about them and wondered what advice I could share with them on this topic that would be real, practical, and not preachy. I figured if I came across as real and helpful to them, I might come across that way to you too.

If it’s nearly “midnight,” stop living as if it’s only 9:30 P.M.

We are living like we have all our life to live. But let’s face it, we are living in the end times

We need to come to reality with it

We do the same thing when it comes to Jesus’ second coming. The Bible is clear that these are the “end times.” It’s nearly midnight. Yet, many, including believers, live in their own version of “standard time” (as if it’s only 9:30). Standard time is preoccupied with standard things—eating, drinking, career, raising a family, entertainment, retirement planning, and so on.

Luke 17:26–30 (NLT): When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

There’s nothing wrong with any of these activities in themselves. It’s all about the timing. There were a lot of social activities aboard the Titanic too! (The band kept playing as the ship went down!) But when you’ve struck an iceberg, it’s time to get into the lifeboats, not time for another round of shuffleboard (or Candy Crush Saga).

Luke 21:34–36 (NLT): Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

We have to occupy until Jesus comes, true. But don’t get so preoccupied that you are unprepared for His coming. Be sure you’re in sync with God’s time, and you won’t be late for the “wedding.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends that everyone have a 72-hour supply of food and water in the event of an emergency. It may take up to three days for first responders to get to you, so you have to prepare for a delay. “You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.”

Let’s take a look at the oil crisis of Matthew 25 and see how this compares to what the DHS recommends

Matthew 25:1–13 (KJV 1900): Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Jesus used a story about ten bridesmaids who fall asleep during a wedding delay to teach about being prepared for His coming. The crisis wasn’t about the sleeping. It was about the oil in the bridesmaids’ lamps. Five brought extra oil for their lamps (perhaps a 72-hour supply), while five “did not take any oil with them” (verse 3). These only had an immediate supply—enough to get by on a “standard time” schedule.

When the bridegroom finally arrived and the young maidens trimmed their lamps, the five “enough to get by” girls didn’t have enough oil to get into the wedding. Their lamps were going out. In desperation, they begged the prepared girls for some of their oil.

“No,” the wise girls replied. “There may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves” (verse 9).

Through this story Jesus compared His coming to an emergency. He predicted a delay and pointed to “oil” as the essential ingredient for admittance to heaven. In the Bible, oil is a symbol for the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is essential for knowing God. Knowing God—having a personal relationship with Him—is what this parable is about, for when the unprepared girls came back to the wedding banquet, the master of the banquet said, “I don’t know you” (verse 12).

Isaiah 55:1–7 (KJV 1900): Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,

And he that hath no money;

Come ye, buy, and eat;

Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, A leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not,

And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee Because of the Lord thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

“Listen to . . . [God]” (verses 2, 3). God is heard speaking in His Word. Read and study the Bible. Even 15 minutes to read a chapter a day will yield big results.

“Come to . . . [God]” (verse 3). Jesus promises rest from sin to all who come to Him (Matthew 11:28).

“Eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:2). The words of Christ “are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). They are to be put into practice daily for spiritual and eternal life.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). Pursue a relationship with Jesus with urgency—while He may be found. There’s a time for seeking, and it is now, before the crisis hits. Make this your top priority, and God will take care of all the other necessities of life (Matthew 6:33).

“Call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Pray. Talk to God the way you would talk to a friend. Don’t “unfriend” Him through non-communication. He is near now. The busier we get, the further away He seems.

Develop a prayer life now—while He is near. Midnight will be too late to “phone a friend.”

Forsake wicked ways and thoughts (verse 7). Live according to God’s preparedness manual—the Bible—and fill your mind with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (see Philippians 4:8).

“Turn to the LORD [in repentance]” (Isaiah 55:7). If you’re living on “standard time” in the end times, reset your watch and get in sync with God. Repentance is about changing direction and moving toward God instead of away from Him. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [the “oil”]. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off [the unprepared]—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38, 39).

Just because the end of all things is at hand doesn’t mean that we can stop caring for the earth and those who live in it. Our young people want to be involved in things that matter. God wants the same for all of us. Godliness calls us to pursue social justice (Isaiah 58:6–12; Matthew 25:35–40).

This is how you set your clock for the end time, and these are the actions needed to reduce the risk of the greatest disaster—not being ready for heaven’s rescue. In 2022, the dangers of distraction are greater, and the need for action is more urgent than ever before.

It is 100 seconds to midnight.

The Clock is ticking.

Reset your life . . . while there’s still time!