Space Shuttle
Exploded;
Does it mean the end is near?
By, John P. Crandell
02/01/03
As we all know, on February
1st 2003, space shuttle Columbia exploded before it was entering back into
earth's atmosphere over the state of Texas which has taken the lives of seven courageous
people. Rick Husband, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, William
McCool, David Brown, Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon were those seven people
who were in that shuttle.
Ramon, as you might know,
is an Israeli. Here is what AOL news had to say about Ramon:
Ramon, 48, a colonel in Israel's air force and former
fighter pilot, had survived two wars. He became the first man from his
country to fly in space, and his presence resulted in an increase in
security, not only for Columbia's launch, but also for its planned
landing. Space agency officials feared his presence might make the
shuttle more of a terrorist target. [1]
which means many unbiblical eschatology writers are going to try to use
that to mean that Bible prophecy is back in action since they will claim
that they have received another sign by God through means of signs by a
newspaper and even the Scofield refrence Bible[2], but as we all know, those of
us who study Solo Scriptora, none of what just happened has
anything
to do with end time theories.
The study of
scripture
David Curtis who is pastor of
Berean Bible Church states a very good example on how we need to go about
on applying Bible scriptures to our here and now when he said, "The
Bible is written for you but not to you." Also in one of his messages
David mention on how we should look at scripture to bring about it's true
meaning:
"...looking at this text
through first century glasses gives us a whole new meaning of Jesus'
words. Jesus is not talking to us (twentieth century Americans), but to
His disciples (first century Jews). Things that were future (to them),
at the time of the writing, are ancient history to us. This whole
discourse is concerned with answering the disciple's questions
concerning the end of the Jewish age (not world) and the parousia of
Christ, both of which would be demonstrated by the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Jewish temple." [3]
But, as we know:
"The majority of Christisdom
looks for a future Second Coming of Christ, but according to Jesus' own
words, all these things took place in "that generation," to
whom He spoke. Jesus came in 70 AD in power and great glory and His
coming was manifested in the destruction of Jerusalem. The heavens and
earth of Old Covenant Israel passed away and the new heavens and earth
of the New Covenant, the church, were consummated."[4]
Let us Move Forward
The cause for the
shuttle's explosion should not surprise you and cause you to say that this
was a sign of the end. What we should humanely and honestly see from what
happen with the shuttle like one
person said on the news around 11:50 am on NBC pacific-time, "we are
only humans and machines are built by humans. Everything cannot always be
perfect."
Trials are a part of
life, and life must go on. If we sit back and let our trials control us
instead of teach us we will always be doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
Though this has been a great challenge for those seven astronauts,
they were willing to press on even though it lead to their death on the
mission they politely accepted
to do for their country. As President Bush Jr. has said on national TV:
"This day has brought
terrible news and great sadness to our country. At nine o' clock this
morning, eastern-time, Mission control in Houston lost contact with our
space shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen fallen from
the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors. On
board was a crew of seven."[5]
Than President Bush respectfully
mentions the names of the seven astronauts who have given their lives for
their country, and than President Bush goes on to say:
"These men and women
assumed a great risk in a service to all humanity in an age when space
flight has come to seem almost routine.
It is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket and the difficulties
of navigating
the fears outer atmosphere
of the earth. These astronauts knew the dangers and they faced them
willing knowing that they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because
of their courage and daring and idealism we will miss them all the more.
All American today are thinking as well, the families of these men and
women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You are not
alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you love will
always have the respect and gratitude of this country. The cause in which
they died will continue. Mankind is lead into the darkness beyond our
world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our
journey into space will go on. In the skies today, we saw destruction
and tragedy. If farther than we can see,
there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'Lift
your eyes and look to the heavens who created all these he who brings
out the stary host one by one and calls them each by name' because of
his great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing. The same
creator who creates the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we
mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to
earth yet we can pray that all are safely home. May God bless the grieving
families, and may God continue to bless America.[6]
Bill Readdy of
NASA said on NBC,
"we will find the cause and fix it than move on" which
is a very good word of advice to us as Christians. We as Christians have
found the cause to why so many people are confused when it comes to the
true study of eschatology...which is the dispensational view that brings
about "misplace hope"[7]. Now it is time for us to fix it,
through the study of Solo
Scriptora, and move on by encouraging others that Christ came as He
has promised and fulfilled his very word that he was returning quickly as
Revelation proclaimed.
If you want to get some
kind of sign from God on what has happened, take into consideration that
some of the debris which fell from space shuttle Columbia landed in Texas
in a city called Palestine which might mean that God wants us to stop
supporting Israel as His quote unquote "special people". Israel,
ever since the New covenant came into action, is physically no longer
God's people. God's people are only those who come to Him through Jesus
who went to the cross on our behalf.[8]
Conclusion
I close with another quote taken
from one of David Curtis' sermons:
"There is only one parousia talked
about in the New Testament. That is the parousia that took place in the
fall of Jerusalem. The parousia that brought about the fulfillment of all
of the promises that God make to the fathers of Israel."[9]
Footnotes
-
Shuttle Columbia Breaks
Up Over Texas, by Marcia Dunn from AOL News
-
The Scofield Reference Bible itself was bound to
have a tremendous influence upon the beliefs of many, when three
million copies were published the first 50 years! (Some look on the
notes almost as the word of God itself!) Taken from "The Early
Church and the Millennium June 2000"
-
A Third Coming? Matthew 24:36-42 February 22,
1998, by David B. Curtis pastor of Berean Bible Church.
- Ibid.
- February 1, 2003 on NBC news on channel 17
- Ibid.
- "Misplaced
Hope" by Sam Frost
- John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth,
and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
- A Third Coming? Matthew 24:36-42 February 22,
1998, by David B. Curtis pastor of Berean Bible Church.
