I have started sharing with people about my End Times book project in the last few months. With friends, Christian colleagues, various people I have met. Their reactions fascinate me. For some, the theme draws a blank; I might as well be talking about an obscure area of science or writing about time travel. For others, they are really, really interested, responding with their own sense of urgency about the signs of the times.

A third response really interests me. There is a slightly awkward silence followed by some polite comments. Often good conversation ensues but the initial reaction is telling. What I read into this is threefold. Some Christians feel as though they should be interested in End Time thinking, but really don’t know what they believe about it. Some are both supportive but wary, hoping that I will not be coming from an extreme or wacky point of view. Still others give a vibe of disconnect; that teaching about End Times and the return of Jesus is remote or not very relevant to the real issues of today, to their daily discipleship and to the current mission of the church.

Hmm… maybe I am writing this book for all these people. Certainly some extreme End Time teaching has put Christians off from engaging with the clear expectation in scripture for Jesus’ return. And also, because there are contrasting views on eschatology (i.e. End Times) and bible passages that focus on these subjects, people tread warily in conversation. It is like an enhanced version of the old adage ‘don’t talk about religion or politics’. And ignorance on such fringe issues of Christian beliefs is surely better than disagreement…is it?

I don’t think so. And so I feel encouraged that I am writing about these things. What could be more relevant than addressing the state of the world, how the bible sheds light on future events, and about the powerful hope that we can have through faith in Jesus? My book is certainly not the last word on this subject, but it is a helpful word, a provoking word, an important word to the church today.

I hope to keep blogging about these things closer to the launch of my book, The Forerunner Cry. If you are reading this, I hope that you find it interesting.

Thanks, William