Recently there has been a raft of TV and radio programmes looking at the Cold War.  This was the tense political position between the East and the West during the 1950’s to 1980’s.  Those who lived through the time will remember the imminent threat of nuclear war.  All of these programmes about this time period talk about the potential for “Armageddon” or the impending “apocalypse”.  In 1982 there was even a satirical comedy about the position called “Whoops, Apocalypse”.  But what are Armageddon and the apocalypse, and are these words being used correctly in these contexts?

Both words relate to the Bible and the book of Revelation. An apocalypse (Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apocálypsis, from ἀπό and καλύπτω meaning ‘un-covering’), translated literally from Greek, is a disclosure of knowledge, i.e., a lifting of the veil or revelation.  So the whole book of Revelation is an apocalypse.  But with the book referring to the end of the current time and the return of Jesus, people interpret the apocalypse as meaning the end of the world by any means.  Indeed the aforementioned documentaries married the idea of total nuclear annihilation by man due to nuclear weapons as being the apocalypse.  In fact the apocalypse (or revelation) clearly states that the earth will not be destroyed.  It talks about a new heaven and a new earth after Jesus returns; but it will be God who facilitates this, not man.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; 

Rev 21:1

The book does appear to make reference to a battle between the believers and non-believers at a place called Armageddon; but this will be one thousand years after Jesus has returned.

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon

Rev 16:16

This verse (the only time the word is used in the whole of the Bible) is in the middle of a section of symbolic language and so it’s unclear whether this is a literal or figurative battle.  Again though, it has come to be associated with any huge battle, which will end with the destruction of mankind.

It’s a sad fact that a lot of the time people misuse or misinterpret words or ideas associated with the Bible.  Indeed the book of Revelation has been a stable touch-stone for many a horror writer; but in fact it couldn’t be further away from the truth.  The book is difficult to understand; but at the end it talks about the earth being returned to its original perfection.  The Bible as a whole explains how you can be in that perfect world.  The choice is yours.  To find out how, visit our what we believe  page.

 

This week the media has been extensively covering the Christening of the Duke and Duchess’ baby son Prince George, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. at the chapel in St James’ Palace.   It was interesting to note how different reporters and commentators sometimes used the word “christening” to describe the process and others the word “baptism” (one BBC reporter used both words in the same sentence!).  So which term is correct?

Baptism is a Biblical expression.  Here are a few examples of where it is mentioned.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.

Matt 3:13

Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:16

 Tax collectors also came to be baptised. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Luke 3:12

 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptised.

 

John 3:22

All the Biblical references to baptism have these things in common:

 a)  The people who were baptised asked to be baptised (i.e. it wasn’t forced upon them by their parents).

b)   They were all of an age where they understood what they were doing (i.e. they were adults not babies).

c)    They were totally immersed in water (i.e. not sprinkled on the head with water).

Baptism is symbolic of washing away sins and is an important stage in living a Christian life.  The Bible makes it clear that only a person who understands the need to change their ways and to start afresh can make the decision to be baptised.

So why do people “christen” their children.  Christening probably came about under the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century.  The Roman Empire adopted Christianity as its main religion in 313 AD and in an attempt to popularise it, and get it into the people’s culture and psyche, Christening was introduced.

This partly played on parents’ fears stemming from the quote “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  Parents were encouraged to have their children christened young so they would then grow up in the church.  This was a great way to rapidly expand the church; but it fundamentally changed the purpose and experience of baptism.  Constantine effectively threw the baby out with the bath water (no pun intended!).

There is no harm in having a child christened but it doesn’t have any impact in the eyes of God.  He would rather that a child grew up, learned about him and his son Jesus and then (and only then) decide whether they wanted to be baptised or not.  God is not a “pushy parent” who dictates what he wants from his children.  The Bible makes it clear what he would like us to do; but he created us with free will so we can make our own choice.

If you look at our beliefs page then you will see that full immersive adult baptism is at the heart of what we believe, as the Bible is at the heart of our lives.