Walter Allen Columnist
Last June (2024), an event that only occurs once every thirteen years occurred in the southeastern United States: a certain species of cicada rose from the earth to begin its life cycle above ground.
Over a period of four to six weeks, these wonders of nature would emerge from their skeletal shells, dry their wings and begin mating. During this time, the noise of these flying “bugs” filled our yards, shade trees and forests. After mating, the adults would die, leaving their offspring in larval cocoons that would burrow back into the ground to await the passage of time. Now Mother Nature and Father Time take over.
God of the universe, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is the Creator. He created this miracle that happens once every thirteen years. He also created time, that intangible but knowable element by which man measures and records all aspects of existence. Examples: How old is this stone? What is the average human life expectancy? How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun? When is your birthday?
In the course of its studies, mankind has divided the passage of time into epochs, ages, eons, millennia, ages, centuries, decades, years, etc.
If you accept that God created time, He can also end it. Time will end. We just don’t know when, and we are not meant to know. However, in Matthew 24:1-14, Jesus describes several events that will precede the end of time. “Be careful that no one deceives you. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation. There will be famines and earthquakes. You will be killed and hated for my name’s sake. Many will betray one another. False prophets will arise. Lawlessness will increase. Love will grow cold.” Verse 14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Further references are given in the book of Jude, verses 18-19. Revelation chapter 1, verse 3. Acts chapter 1, verse 7, and 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1-2.
So if someone like me believes that these events are a prelude to the end, I ask the question: Have you heard and seen the news from the world today? Humanity is living in the End Times as described in the Scriptures. So what “category” are we referring to? Is it an era? Is it a century? Is it a month? What about the next hour?
Everything Jesus said in those first thirteen verses is happening right now all over the world. Or is that a moot point? Does it even matter?
The consequences of your belief determine your bottom line. If you’re not a believer, that matters.
Your unbelief will bury you underground, not for thirteen years, but forever. If you are a believer, that is important. Your faith will bring you back to life, for all eternity?
“When time has surrendered and the earth is no more, I will still cling to the old, rugged cross.” (Gaither singing group)
Walter Allen is a graduate of TCHS and Auburn University. He is retired from the paper industry and has published several books. He is past president of the Laurens County Museum Assoc. in Laurens, SC. He lives in Tuscaloosa County, AL.
