Question:  Dear Greg,

            My 33-year old son sent me the following e-mail note this morning:  “In the year of the new century and nine months, from the sky will come a great king of terror.  The sky will burn at forty-five degrees, fire approaches the great new city.  In the city there will be a great collapse of two twin brothers torn apart by chaos while the fortress of the great leader will succumb.  The third big war will begin when the big city is burning.

            The events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and the continuing days since are very frightening and have raised questions from my kids.  I have four married, adult children who are just beginning to have children of their own.  They seemed to be very worried about raising their children in a world filled with this kind of violence and what the future may hold.  We are a very close family and they are all continually seeking our advice and guidance.  How can I answer their fears to the above e-mail and recent attacks of terror on our country?  Does the Bible say how we are to react to these things?  Can you help me with an answer for them?

            Thanks,

            Deborah

Answer:  Dear Deborah,

            Nostradamus is invariably quoted when disasters occur because of the sheer volume of what he wrote, as well as the vague nature of what he said allows for almost any interpretation.  Compared to reality and to the Bible, Nostradamus is like comparing fortune cookies to Shakespeare or to an encyclopedia.  No comparison.

            Jesus gave us sound advice when another tower fell—this one the Tower of Siloam, apparently a recent tragedy to which Jesus had reference when he spoke.  Note Luke 13:4-5, “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

            Jesus spoke of catastrophes and told us to learn that life is short.  Life is short for us all.  What should we learn?  To fear that the world will end tomorrow?  That this is the end?  That we should sell our house and retreat someplace far from civilization?

            No, we should learn that we should use our time now to turn to God.  Let catastrophes motivate us to realize time is short, and that now is the time to take our lives to God, and turn to our Lord and Savior.

            Jesus said that we should not fear those who can kill our bodies but not our souls, but rather He who has power over both our bodies and our souls (Matthew 10:28).  Yes, we fear those who bully and terrorize us.  But we should be comforted that no human can take our soul—that belongs to God.

            May God be with you and help you to comfort and direct your responses to your family.  Thanks for allowing PTM to help you.  That’s what we are here for.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht