I have been watching Hollywood’s growing penchant for the apocalypse with interest. First because I believe that the world is slated for apocalypse. Second because what Hollywood is disseminating about the biblical apocalypse is so inaccurate it goes beyond heresy (if there is such a thing). I know the writers of the apocalyptic shows currently crossing our airwaves would say that these offerings are just stories not meant in any way to depict a biblical theology; But the borrowing and redefining of Christian language is creating, at the very least, a pop theology based on misinformation that is actually polar opposite of what the Bible teaches.

Case in point the CW’s new show, “The Messengers” is about 7 people who are irradiated by a meteor and turned into “the seven angels of the apocalypse”. They are tasked with stopping Satan and holding back the apocalypse by stopping his four horsemen of the apocalypse from arising,  thus cancelling “the rapture”.

The storyline is filled with so many inaccuracies it leaves me wondering if the writers were actually trying to create a line of misinformation about the Christian apocalypse. Please! Please! Please! If you actually watch the show understand there is no Christian anywhere on the face of the planet who actually thinks this is how the end of the world is going to go down!

First there are no angels of the apocalypse trying to stop Satan from ending the world. Satan cannot end the world. He doesn’t have that kind of power, and frankly he doesn’t want the world to end. He likes the way things are going. The apocalypse is not just about destroying the planet. The Tribulation (the Christian term for Apocalypse) is about God coming and  setting things right in this fallen world by beginning the process of healing the darkness and evil that has overtaken our planet. It is God cutting out the cancer of sin.

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^a

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.^b That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Pet. 3:3-11

Second, if there were angels of the apocalypse they would not be humans changed by radiation. Angels are not humans and humans are not angels. We are as different from angels as humans are different from elephants.

Third, the rapture is God’s plan not the Devil’s and therefore it cannot be stopped and should not be stopped. Christians throughout the centuries have looked for the rapture to come. It is understood as God’s escape plan from the Tribulation.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thess. 4:13-18

Well my rant is almost done. I guess I believe that this surge of crazy Apocalyptic shows on the telly are really some entertaining form of propaganda geared to prepare the world at large for the very events the Bible predicts (such as the Rapture). I suppose if millions of people suddenly  vanished off the Earth, shows like “The Messengers” would offer an explanation that could be readily adapted for public consumption however erroneous and even hokey those explanations might be.

I’ll end with the words of one of my Bible college professors. Reuben Hartwick said, ” When it comes down to a choice of choosing Hollywood’s version of things or the Bible’s version of things we must always choose THE BIBLE!”