Back in 1995 a Newsweek feature stated that the old media outlets were in decline. Now, 10 years later, the numbers of people watching normal news coverage have only gotten smaller at a time of considerable population growth. The news audience is shrinking in the United States, and studies show that new sources like the Internet are not fully replacing the old ones, especially among young people.

Yet a recent article in The Wilson Quarterly explained, "The appetite for news, and for engagement with civic life, must be nurtured and promoted, and it's very much in the public interest to understand the task... Only by reaching a collective judgment about the value and necessity of vigorous news media in American democracy can we hope to keep our public watchdogs on guard and in good health" (Spring 2005).

This principle is especially important when properly understood from a biblical point of view.

The Bible underscores the need for an informed citizenry

Jesus Christ fully understood the importance of grasping what's occurring in the world in direct connection with His prophesied second coming—the greatest news headline event yet to be written.

The gravity of our times is highlighted by the historic/prophetic warning words He uttered in what theologians call the Olivet Prophecy. Christ said:

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22, emphasis added throughout).

Can we grasp the incredible global impact of those fateful words, spoken nearly 2,000 years ago? In this pivotal prophetic chapter Christ also spoke of major wars, religious deception, famine, disease epidemics and earthquakes in different places. And Jesus predicted that lawlessness would abound in our societies and that the persecution of Christians would lead to martyrdom for some.

In the context of world events, Christ commanded His true followers to "watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into" (verses 42-43).

What He said next is of the utmost importance to those who follow Him. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (verse 44). Christians should always be on the alert for whatever may happen. Apathy and complacency are not viable options.

Watching world events and spiritual readiness go hand in hand as the account in the much shorter Gospel of Mark clearly reveals. In context Jesus connects His second coming to all the prophesied events in the Olivet Prophecy as a whole.

Mark's three-part warning

Mark's primary addition to the story involves highlighting Christ's stark degree of emphasis. In the light of this whole prophecy, this Gospel writer wrote these words of Jesus: "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is" (Mark 13:33). Note carefully the combination of words, watch and pray. We are to do both.

Christ likens the Christian's task to waiting for a man (meaning Jesus Himself) who goes to a far country, giving authority to His servants (true Christians), assigning them work to do and also commanding a doorkeeper to watch for His return (please see verse 34—it's very important that you read these accounts for yourself in your own Bible).

Then Jesus repeats His command to watch a second time: "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping" (verses 35-36). Continual alertness and awareness is clearly required by your Savior.

Finally Christ concludes these warning words with yet a third command to watch. "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (verse 37). The English translators understood the emphasis and added an exclamation!

No member of the Body of Christ is exempt from this crucial responsibility. And the account implies getting this message to others as much as possible. That is part of the work Christ assigns His servants to do (verse 34).

Luke's warnings against apathy and complacency

Uninformed persons may think that one Gospel account describing the same overall event is sufficient. But the facts show again and again that each of the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) make their own unique contribution to understanding vital details. That is why having a harmony of the Gospel accounts would be a valuable addition to the Christian's small library of Bible helps.

A portion of Luke's version of the Olivet Prophecy is found in the last half of the 17th chapter as well as later in Luke 21. Note a part of chapter 17 first.

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man [when Jesus comes again]: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all" (verses 26-27).

Then Jesus mentioned the time of Abraham's nephew Lot and showed how the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah behaved in like manner until fire came down from heaven and destroyed them all (verses 28-29).

Notice Christ's crucial concluding remarks for the latter days or the end time when He would return to this earth: "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (verse 30).

The general populace will be drugged with a fatal dose of apathy and complacency—just carrying on with the normal cares of this life as if chaotic world conditions did not demand their urgent attention. A fool's paradise!

The primary part of Luke's version of the Olivet Prophecy is located in the 21st chapter. Jesus' general warning against apathy is repeated here in slightly different terms. "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (verses 34-35).

Notice that this prophecy is global in nature! It is not just intended for the United States or the Western world alone. That is one reason Christians must take this warning message to as many nations as possible, as Christ commanded (Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20).

Historically, the peoples of the ancient pre-Flood world did not heed Noah's warnings. Remember that this patriarch was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Nonetheless, God wants the whole gospel of Christ (including His sacrificial death as well as the warning and witness message) to reach all nations.

God has a plan for each person, and the Bible reveals that though many will not respond now, their hope is not forever lost (see our booklet What Happens After Death?).

But regardless of whether people in general act on the warning now or not, you will have done your part if you participate in His work. God in His mercy has somehow caused you to subscribe to this publication. What you need to do now is to heed its message and then take what steps God shows you.

Notice Christ's concluding words in Luke 21:36: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." What things? The events mentioned in the context of the whole Olivet Prophecy: religious deception, wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, spiritual complacency, etc.

The Bible and the news

As we have shown, world news must be properly understood. Grasping the "signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3) as Jesus described them is supremely important. Consider that at one time the Bible depicted the descendants of Issachar as those "who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). The same principle applies today.

Bare-bones news facts, without the background of a serious biblical understanding, will prove pretty useless. Even the secular world grasps the principle of this point, at least to some degree.

The Wilson Quarterly stated: "The most influential journalists understood that news is rarely news in the sense of being undisputed facts about people or policy, but news in the sense that it's a product made by reporters, editors and producers. They knew that news is about facts, but that it fundamentally reflects editorial judgments about whether particular facts are 'news,' and if they are, what the news means and what its consequences may be."

These secular articles recognized the fact that "reporting is essential in a country whose self-governing people need information to make all kinds of decisions." (Of course, it should be understood that people of all nations need essential knowledge for their decision making.)

Comprehended in the light of biblical prophecy, this basic principle cannot be properly implemented without the knowledge of God—without a working understanding of the great purpose of human life and how it fits into both present and future world events. We cannot make sensible spiritual decisions without the knowledge of God as revealed in the Bible.

That is why the United Church of God publishes several booklets that help explain the background you need to understand the importance of what is occurring today. Prominent among these are: What Is Your Destiny? Are We Living in the Time of the End? You Can Understand Bible Prophecy and The Book of Revelation Unveiled. All are free. WNP