The devil made me do it.

Are we living in the end-of-days?

On the eve of the anniversary of Jesus rising from the dead, I thought it a poignant time to reflect on some of the teachings of religion. For those that believe in a God, does that then mean that you believe in its antithesis, the Devil?

I am not religious. I neither believe or disbelieve, which I guess technically makes me agnostic. But I don’t like labels. I simply feel that we don’t have enough, or any evidence that any organised religions I have explored so far are on the right track. I agree with many aspects of various religions and spiritual practices, I disagree with more.

Yet I can’t help feelings that the times we are living through feels almost biblical in nature. Like there is something bigger at the helm steering the wheel. So I thought it would be a good time to look at what the most followed religions prophesize the signs of the end of days will look like. And more to the point, are we living in them?

The Book of Revelation in the Bible paints a picture of the "last days" being marked by intense trouble and suffering, the return of Jesus Christ, and ultimately, a new heaven and earth. It depicts a period of conflict, judgment, and divine intervention before the establishment of a new, eternal order.

The last days are characterised by a period of great hardship, symbolised by the opening of the seals and the outpouring of the bowls of God's wrath, which unleash a false peace, war and bloodshed, famine and economic hardship, death famine and plagues, souls crying out for justice, environmental catastrophes and then a whole heap of horrible judgements.

Then according to the Bible, thus begins the final battle between the forces of good and evil, ultimately culminating in the end of the world as we know it and the return of Christ. The battle known as Armageddon.

“When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

If this prophecy is true, I can only hope that Jesus Christ has a better understanding of good and evil than the pro Hamas protestors.

Muslims believe in the "Day of Judgement," a final reckoning where all people will be resurrected and judged by God for their actions in life. This day will be followed by a decision on whether they will enter paradise (Jannah) or hell (Jahannam). The end times are also marked by various signs, including the appearance of the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) and the Mahdi (a saviour figure), as well as moral decay and natural disasters.

Jahannam looks suspiciously like what I was taught to believe that Hell looked like.

Interestingly, Islam beliefs are not dissimilar to the Christians, as they believe that Jesus was a prophet sent by God and that he will return to earth in the end times to usher in the Day of Judgement.

As to whether the suicide bombers, honour killers, Islamic terrorists, rapists and Osama Bin Laden get to ascend to heaven in the Rapture is still up for debate. I will leave that one up to Jesus.

“And the devil will say, after the judgment had been issued, ‘God has promised you the truthful promise, and I promised you, but I broke my promise. I had no power over you; I simply invited you, and you accepted my invitation. Therefore, do not blame me, and blame only yourselves. My complaining cannot help you, nor can your complaining help me. I have disbelieved in your idolizing me. The transgressors have incurred a painful retribution." [Quran 14:22]

Jewish eschatology, focuses on a future period of redemption and restoration, with a focus on the return of the Jewish people to Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the arrival of a Messiah. It emphasises the importance of earthly actions and the pursuit of justice and peace in the world.

Judaism anticipates the arrival of a Jewish Messiah, a leader from the House of David, who will usher in an era of justice and peace for both the Jewish people and the world.

Interesting that the Jews include non-Jews in their version of the new world order. Their God doesn’t seem to punish those who aren’t Jews. I like that.

What I have always admired about Judaism is the focus on actions and purpose in this earthly life. They don’t believe in suffering in this life to attain some better life after death.

I love that. Well played Jews. Well played.

In Buddhist eschatology, the “end of days” refers to a period of profound decline and degeneration in society, before the appearance of a new Buddha, Maitreya. This decline is characterized by increased suffering, the loss of good values, and a shift towards negativity. Buddhists believe this is a cyclical process, not a final end, as rebirth and the cycle of existence continue.

It’s all starting to sound a bit ‘same same’ isn’t it?

So this is my out take from it all. Signs that the end of the world is near will be obvious, but also up to interpretation. So let’s interpret them.

Idolising false Gods, I would give a big yes to that. Whether its Trump, Kanye, Beyonce, Smart Phones, Money or fame, we are undoubtably living in an era of kneeling at the alter of ‘things’ we probably shouldn’t be.

Hieronymus Bosch's The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things

Economic hardship has also become the norm for many. Some of us have more than we have ever had, while millions of people still starve and live in subhuman conditions. Poverty is experienced world wide. Even in first world most affluent countries, there are now subclasses of the ‘working poor’.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).

Environmental catastrophe has become so blasé that it barely rates a mention anymore, even by the political parties that based their entire platform on the environment. The Greens are more interested these days in calling terrorists ‘freedom fighters’ than fighting climate change, saving the trees, reducing carbon emissions, reducing consumption or saving water.

Crime, injustice, war, instability, depression, mental illness, poverty, pandemics, violence and division are at an all-time high, all part of our daily lives despite having unprecedented access to information, technological advances and medical breakthroughs.

So are we in fact under attack from a demonic force? Have we been collectively tempted into sin? Have out thoughts been infiltrated by devilish thoughts, worries and troubles? Have we been lured into the proverbial desert by the Prince of Darkness at our own great peril? Are our great nations being deceived, gathering us in preparation for Armageddon?

Stranger things have happened.

Can we blame the poverty and injustice in the world on the work of Beelzebub? Are we just innocent bystanders being tricked and deceived by the work of Lucifer? Are blindly being lead to an end not of our own free will?

Maybe, but that sounds like a cop out to me.

I rather think that we have to take accountability for the world that we have created. And I believe we do have a choice. I think it’s more likely that WE are to blame for the chaos, instability and confusion in the world. WE have let go of the reigns and let others decide the course, and ultimately where we have ended up. WE have sat idly by and accepted the unacceptable. WE have sat back hoping that someone else will do it.

So can we claw our way back from the brink of the Apocalypse? Even if there is a small chance that we can, shouldn’t we? Isn’t the future of civilisation worth it? Isn’t the world we leave for our children important.

I think so.

Happy Easter all.