10/26/2025 ~ Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Proper 25 ~ Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14 ~ YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j00HBwVekKY
VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701?video=1131371113

Apocalypse— Not Now

“Then, afterward, / I will pour out my spirit / on all flesh, on all humankind; / your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, / your elders, all of them, / shall have prophetic dreams, / and your young people shall see visions. / In those days / I will pour out my spirit / even on those who are enslaved;…” — Joel 2:28-29.

I got a letter a couple of weeks ago. While it had a local address, right away I realized even if it was somehow local that was not its true origin. It looked too computer generated for that. My bet is some of you got that same letter.

Inside, the words tried to disarm the reader by offering (quote:) “a comforting Bible message.” It said no one needs to worry about the approaching Armageddon, a gathering of armies for the battle marking the end of time. Right— don’t worry— at the end of time is here. That’s comforting— not.

In fact, I am aware at least twice so far this year and in quite threatening tones a date has been named for Armageddon, an end of time. But it did not happen. The only way I can describe that kind of prediction is to say it’s incredibly egocentric.

Why egocentric? Among all the people who have ever lived, anyone who insists the end of time will happen right now is saying they have somehow been chosen to have the privilege of seeing the end of the world. Boy are you special. (Sight pause.)

This kind of rhetoric is clearly theological since it’s often attached to concerns about evil, even about the possibility of an anti-Christ among us. One would think it should be clear to anyone of sound mind that an Armageddon, an approaching apocalypse, the end of time, is not just around the corner.

The Jews living in Roman Palestine, in the First Century of the Common Era, may have thought an apocalypse, an end of time, was just around the corner. Why? The army of a foreign invader, Rome, was living in the homeland of the Jews.

That army crucified about 10,000 Jews every year. 10,000 murdered each year— people must have felt this was a sign of the apocalypse, an end of time. (Slight pause.)

People living in Europe in the 14th Century of the Common Era might have thought an end of time was just around the corner. As many as 200 million people died in what we call the Black Plague or Black Death. It took three centuries for population levels to recover.

In my own lifetime I’ve known people who witnessed the stock market crash in 1929 followed by the Great Depression. That economic disaster devastated the economy both here and worldwide. How bad was it?

I’ve stated this before. In March of 1933 when FDR took office the unemployment rate was 25%. Many might have thought the end of time was at hand. (Slight pause.)

The picture the world presents to us today can be disorienting. We can feel displaced. But is the end of time really at hand? (Slight pause.)

These are words from the Prophet Joel: “Then, afterward, / I will pour out my spirit / on all flesh, on all humankind; / your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, / your elders, all of them, / shall have prophetic dreams, / and your young people shall see visions. / In those days / I will pour out my spirit / even on those who are enslaved;…” (Slight pause.)

It does not matter what the prediction is or who makes it. Prognosticators, prophets, pastors, pundits, pontiffs, priests, prelates, politicians or just plain people— all can be prone to making predictions about the end of time. But the truth is an apocalypse is not going to happen any time soon.

We may not like what is happening right now, feel displaced. But the end of time— nope— not even close.

Perhaps the end of an era is close at hand. And that can be disorienting. But eras, by definition, happen in a limited time frame.

To paraphrase and rephrase Voltaire’s Candide, today is not the best of all possible worlds. I get that. But it has never been the best of all possible worlds.

Indeed, was the Roman occupation or the plague of the 14th Century or the Great Depression the best of all possible worlds? No. But neither was it the end of time. So, what are these words from Joel, words repeated by Peter after the Pentecost event, about? [1] (Slight pause.)

The obvious question: if it is not the end of time why do people feel they need to speak in those terms, even Joel and Peter? We should realize apocalyptic language uses wonderful, powerful metaphors to describe what a deep experience of God feels like.

So these words were not and are not insisting on an apocalypse, an ending, but rather proclaiming joy because they rejoice in and hope for a beginning. This is about the possibility of a beginning of the realm of God— a beginning of the realm of God— right here, right now.

As I said earlier, an apocalyptic argument is a theological argument. But an apocalyptic argument, apocalyptic language is not about the end of time. Neither is it an argument about who wins or loses, about who gets to heaven and who does not, although some would have it that way.

Apocalyptic language is meant to reflect hope. To think apocalyptic language says the end of the world is at hand, is not a theological position. To claim apocalyptic language says the end of time is near lacks an understanding of its intent. (Slight pause.)

In a couple of minutes we will be invited to sing the hymn Christians Rise and Act Your Creed. What is our creed? The creed of Christians is not about specific beliefs. The creed of Christians is certainly not about an apocalypse, an end of time.

The creed of Christians is about action— positive action. Hence, the creed of Christians is about freedom, peace, justice, joy, equity, love. Thereby, the creed of Christians is very much about hope.

So here’s a predication for you. From now until forever we will find hope in the fact that God loves us. Amen.

10/26/2025
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “Question: what is theology? I’ve said this here before: the Hebrews did not have a theology. The Hebrews did theology. That is what theology is about: a true theology is about the action we call loving God and loving neighbor.”

BENEDICTION: God stands by us to grant us support and strength. All who trust in God are strengthened and blessed. So, let us go on our way, proclaiming the Good News: when we question and when we are open, when we struggle to know God’s will and walk in God’s way, God will be our refuge. And may the face of God shine upon us; may the peace of Christ rule among us, the fire of the Spirit burn within us this day and forevermore. Amen.

[1] Peter’s words from Acts 2 were noted when this passage from Joel was introduced.