When Exactly Will The World End?
“How am I supposed to stop the end of the world?” -John Koestler (played by Nicholas Cage) in the movie “Knowing.”
John Koestler surrendered. He joined his loved ones and let go and freed his mind of all thought of past and future. The end of the world is coming, right?
All varieties of Christians believe it: Catholic, Evangelical, Mormon, Orthodox, or Gnostic. Likewise all denominations of Muslims believe it … as do Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus. It’s a universal belief. Even atheists believe it … for good reason.
Scientists will tell you worlds come to an end for any number of reasons … so good luck enjoying your world while it lasts!
Physical cosmologists might tell you worlds end and worlds come into being in a cyclical pattern … and, again, if you are lucky you’ll be enjoying your world before it comes to an end.
Political conservatives tend to imagine the end of the world will be caused by Barack Obama and his Neo-Marxist Democrats. If you watch the Fox News Channel, you might hear end-of-the-world sounding laments coming from Glenn Beck or Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity. No doubt it must seem to people of common sense that Democrats really are hell-bent on destroying the world, but in fact Democrats are only interested in strengthening the socialism they worship, which only in their dreams does not appear as a spiritless hell. Barack Obama, like all fascist dreamers before him, actually believes he is striving to make a better world. Jesus Christ looks at Obama, laughs and says, “Bless his heart! He knows not what he does!”
Like scientists who say “enjoy while you can,” Jesus Christ absolutely advocates enjoying yourself. But here’s the rub: any joy you could ever experience is already inside of you and needs only the end of the world as you see it and a new way of seeing to help you experience it. The end of your old world view is crucial because your world, as you've been seeing it, keeps you aware of pain, sickness, suffering and death … rather than the ever-present awareness of everlasting joy.
Therefore Jesus Christ in his 21st Century revelation to the earth, A Course in Miracles, encourages you to bring your world to an end as soon as possible. To the cry, “The end of the world is coming!” Jesus, knowing what world you don't want, laughingly answers, “Bring it on!”
“The world you see has nothing that you need to offer you; nothing that you can use in any way, nor anything at all that serves to give you joy. Believe this thought, and you are saved from years of misery, from countless disappointments, and from hopes that turn to bitter ashes of despair. No one but must accept this thought as true, if he would leave this world behind and soar beyond its petty scope and little ways.
“The only purpose worthy of your mind this world contains is that you pass it by, without delaying to perceive some hope where there is none. Be you deceived no more. The world you see has nothing that you want.” (ACIM, Lesson 128)
And now an entirely new world replaces the suffering world from which you have withdrawn value. In place of the dark world you knew, a bright world is seen which had heretofore only been glimpsed in holy moments … a world of utter joy. Your world of sorrow comes to an end in joy.
“The world will end in joy, because it is a place of sorrow. When joy has come, the purpose of the world has gone. The world will end in peace, because it is a place of war. When peace has come, what is the purpose of the world? The world will end in laughter, because it is a place of tears. Where there is laughter, who can longer weep?” (ACIM, Manual for Teachers)
Most Christians will remind you that the Bible speaks of the world ending only after the gospel of Jesus Christ is spread far and wide:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)
But what is the gospel of Jesus Christ? Is it a gospel of fear, or a gospel of joy … a gospel of judgments believed to be "righteous," or a gospel of forgiveness so complete that grievances are unknown?
Regardless of human religious projections which have distorted the gospel, you know in your heart Jesus never taught you to feel sinful and guilty, you know in the depths of your being that you are a child of good, not evil.
Jesus states in the Bible, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) A little child does not know of, or see, evil or sin. Children do not automatically feel guilty (they have to be taught guilt). Now Jesus states his teaching more clearly than ever:
“The father of illusions is the belief that they (beliefs in evil, sin, and guilt) have a purpose; that they serve a need or gratify a want. Perceived as purposeless, they are no longer seen. Their uselessness is recognized, and they are gone.” (ACIM, Manual for Teachers)
If the concept of evil is seen as purposeless, if the notion of sin is recognized as foolishness, if the idea of guilt is silly … then unholy judgments will end and be replaced by joy everlasting.
“Yes, such a state of innocence feels right. But what do I need to do?” Nothing! For God’s sake and yours, learn to do nothing. All your doing is an unholy judgment upon yourself. All your doing strengthens the attraction of evil, sin and guilt. “Show me someone who thinks he or she has to do something to reach Heaven and I’ll show you someone who cannot escape the self-judgment of evil, sin and guilt,” says Jesus. “Give it all away, and follow me.” Allow all your ideas to be undone by the Christ, rest in the peace of total trust that what you really want already exists when you simply give away what you don't want.
So exactly when will the world end? It will end when it is replaced with total forgiveness. It will end when you have joined your loved ones and surrendered to your personal "course in miracles," whatever form that might take. It will end when you have said a million times and finally really, really meant it with all your heart and soul and being:
I choose to see that world instead of this,
For here is nothing that I really want.”
"...nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)
Click below for more information on A Course in Miracles Light Sessions:
Holy Instant Christian Fellowship in Salt Lake City
