Left Behind and Planting Trees
Since you’re reading this, you've either been left behind or, just like every predicted rapture before, the date was wrong. Sorry if you sold your house, car, or yacht.
This September's prediction was courtesy of Joshua Mhlakela, a South African preacher, who dreamed Jesus gave him a vision that the second coming would occur on September 23rd. Or 24th. Either way, you missed the cut.
Ever since someone handed me a “Left Behind” fiction novel in college, I've believed that this theological guessing game is precisely that: fiction.
Sure, there are some end times descriptions in the Bible, but even Jesus says nobody knows when that day will come in Matthew 24.
Guesses of the apocalypse are nothing new. End of the world predictions not only have dates, but methods of how the world will meet a similar demise as the dinosaurs.
Rapture, however, is a relatively new phenomenon. Rapture in a religious context is the joy of Christians being taken to heaven during the end times. The term “left behind” meant, you didn’t want to be here on earth during the rapture because those remaining would be left to global turmoil.
In scripture, the Apostle Paul writes about his interpretation of the second coming of Christ. Paul, who once persecuted followers of Jesus, experienced the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. His missionary work and writings detailed how to prepare for the return of Christ.
But people who committed everything to follow Jesus began to die. Paul expected the second coming to happen in his lifetime. It did not.
William Miller, a Baptist preacher in the 1840’s, and his group the Millerites, decoded scripture for when the second coming would happen. Using the book of Daniel, he determined when the “sanctuary would be cleansed.” After October 22, 1844 came and went without a rapture, the Great Disappointment left many followers leaving the faith.
Martin Luther, the 16th century theologian whose writings and teaching would eventually become the Lutheran tradition, is credited with an idea that he never wrote down. It’s believed he said, “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I’d plant a tree today.”
I love that sentiment because no matter how much religious chaos is happening, the one thing that I can control is my attitude towards the future. The purpose of the second coming, as Jesus teaches, is to be ready and turned towards God.
For me and my faith, the second coming is experienced in heaven. What God asks is that I serve my neighbor and care for the world that God gave us. I will keep teaching students at Faith Lutheran about salvation, forgiveness, and grace. I’ll continue to preach about the unrelenting love of God who wants our world to thrive together.
If you are feeling like the world is coming to an end, instead of adding to the fear, doubts, and mistrust that is rampant in our cultural dialogue, try something else. Try hope. Feed others. Share what you have. Speak well of those you don’t know yet. Love your opponent; want what’s best for them.
Plant a tree.
Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at
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