This is the preoccupying question in America today, “How bad will it get?”

It’s a 24/7 thing now, and it’s game on in the political arena. But while our politicians scramble to prove it’s not their fault, Wall Street executives hunker down, and news cycle experts and talk radio hosts bark their analyses and theories, most of us just want to know, “How bad will it get?”

The only dependable authority for the Christian—the Word of God—is pretty clear in its answer to the question, “How bad will it get?”

Worse.

Even if the markets rebound, credit flows again, someone invents an alternative to fossil fuels, and we all pitch in to save the planet, it’s going to get worse.

Before you think I’m getting all doomsday on you, I also want you to know that there’s a place to go and Someone to talk to about all of this. This is someone smarter than Rush Limbaugh and more powerful than Barack Obama.

There’s a phrase in the New Testament inviting every Christian to turn to Someone else–Abba Father (Romans 8:15). This is an endearing and intimate title for God the Father that could be translated, “Father, my own dear Father.” It is the title a child uses to relate to a father when the child knows that he or she is dear to Him, the one He delights in.

As the world crumbles around us, you may wonder if this is the time when it all spins out of control and if the worst-case scenario guys are right. That question, “How bad will it get?” may be keeping you up at night. Here’s what I do when my anxious thoughts multiply within me—I crawl up on my Father’s lap and talk to Him about my fears, feelings, and hurts. It is the upside of crises for the child of God–deepening intimacy with Abba Father.

I bet if we spent as much time on His lap as we spend in front of our computers, iPhones, and televisions checking the latest bad news, we’d feel a lot better about the future. We’d probably say, “Well, my Abba always told me it would get worse, but He also promised to take care of me. You see, I’m very special to Him.”

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” –Paul, Romans 8:15

This is an excerpt from my book about the Jesus Movement, Reborn to Be Wild:

I had been attending Fruitvale Community Church for just a few months when it happened—my first over-the-top worship experience. Since I knew nothing about Jesus before I believed in Him, Ted’s sermons unfolded the wonder of new life in Christ every Sunday. But this particular Sunday was special.

Ted taught on the rapture—that future event when every living Christian would meet Christ in the air. I remember thinking, You’ve got to be kidding me! This just gets better and better. Jesus is the only way to heaven. He loves me. He died for me. He gave me new life. And now you’re telling me that He’s coming from heaven to get me?

And then Ted’s wife, Jo, sat at the piano and started to sing.

The market place is empty,

No more traffic in the streets.

All the builder tools are silent,

No more time to harvest wheat.

Busy housewives cease their labors,

In the courtroom no debate.

Work on earth is all suspended

As the King comes through the gate.

I could see it in my mind’s eye. Suddenly nothing mattered because Jesus just showed up. I remember thinking Jo sounded like an angel when she sang the chorus:

Oh the King is coming,

The King is coming.

I just heard the trumpet sounding

And now His face I see.

Oh, the King is coming,

The King is coming

PRAISE GOD,

He’s coming for me!

This was all too wonderful to take in cognitively—I could only stand and sing and cry. Not only is Jesus the only way. Not only is Jesus the King. Not only is He coming back to make things right. He’s coming back for me. Jesus was coming back for me, and I needed to get to work for Him.

I don’t think it’s an accident that our revival occurred during a time when the church and the world seemed preoccupied with biblical prophecy. Everyone, Christian and non-Christian seemed to be asking questions about the return of the Lord. Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth was the largest selling nonfiction book of the 1970s, and we virtually memorized it. Citywide prophecy conferences sprouted up in every major metropolitan center. Little Israel was back in the Promised Land, and the only explanation for her amazing victories in the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973-74 that made sense was the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel.

You may believe that prophecy is irrelevant today and feel that the church should be about the more immediate needs of humanity, but it seems reasonable to ask if there is any connection between prophetic teaching and revival.

It’s impossible to separate the explosive growth of the church in Acts from its prophetic hope. The early Christians who turned the world upside down for Christ hoped in Jesus’ coming. And so has every revival generation since. I know ours did.

Question: Do you have a Jesus Movement memory of when you first believed your King is coming?

Prophecy?

A new couple asked me after church, “Do you ever teach on prophecy?”

“Well, yes”, I answered. “Why?”

They explained that they haven’t heard a sermon on prophecy for years.

That made me sad, because it’s true. In this age where church is all about growth and trendy issues, many pastors feel that their people just aren’t “ready” for prophecy. I think that’s a terrible miscalculation.

It’s impossible to separate the explosive growth of the Church in Acts from its prophetic hope. The early Christians who turned the world upside down for Christ hoped in Jesus’ coming. They did not believe their world would ever get better apart from the resurrection power of Jesus. They did believe that they were a part of God’s ultimate rescue of their world in Christ. Paul said that he endured the suffering of serving Christ in this present time because he knew that the Church is part of God’s glorious plans for the future—the glory to come when all that creation groans for and all that we experience in the delivering power of Christ’s resurrection will be realized (Romans 8:18-25). They knew that Jesus would finally secure all that He accomplished through His cross and resurrection—the redemption and renewal of all that He created—when He returned. The early Church prayed constantly for and looked forward to the return of Jesus.

They knew their King was coming.

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Next Sunday I begin teaching Mark 13 at Church of the Open Door. Mark 13 condenses Jesus’ Olivet Discourse—His answer to two questions every follower of Christ asks when we read about end-time events:

When will these things be?

What will be the sign when these things are fulfilled?

I’m persuaded it’s important to teach Mark 13 because I believe prophecy is important to Christians. But not for the reasons a lot of people think of when you mention biblical prophecy.

It’s an intriguing truth that the general events of prophecy are pretty easy to establish if you believe that every word of the Bible is inspired by God and true. The details, however, are extremely difficult to interpret.

Ever wonder why?

Could it be that the Lord doesn’t really want us to worry and argue over the details?

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