Page 106 - Signs of the End

70 THE SIGNS OF THE END

been attempted as to why there is this discrepancy of over 200
years, but none are certain. One explanation is that there were 250
or so years that were so terrible in Jewish history that the rabbis
just erased them from the calendar!

What makes this millennial change so ominous is its correla­
tion with modem technology, specifically the wonder tool of the
computer. Because of the computer and the new millennium, a
new word has entered into human vocabulary, Y2K, which means
"year two thousand." Because of the need to save space in early
computers, only two digits were used to designate years, instead of
all four (i.e., 95 instead of 1995). The computer scientists were not
thinking of any problems that might develop when 2000 came. A
few years ago, there developed an awareness that numerous com­
puters and chip components that were time based throughout the
world would become confused, and think that it was 1900, when it
was really 2000.

If the problem was not corrected, then chaos might well devel­
op in banking, governmental, military, travel and many other areas
of modem life when the new millennium begins. The difficulty is
that no one really knows for sure what is going to happen. There
are highly qualified experts on both sides of the issue. Some tell us
that all pertinent equipment has been fixed, and that there will be
scarcely a blip in the world's economy when Y2K hits. Others are
predicting dire consequences, with riots, famine and great disrup­
tions occurring at the change of the millennium.

Only time will tell how serious the impact of Y2K will be, but
one thing government officials fear is that Y2K might become a
self-fulfilling prophecy. The thinking goes that people will panic,
which will cause runs on banks and other institutions, and bring
about a manufactured chaos when it was not inevitable.

By the time many read this book, Y2K may have come and
gone, and may be only a memory of passing interest. For those of
us still on this side of the millennial change, Y2K is still shrouded
in mystery.

All of these developments are indeed signs of the end. All of
them point to an imminent return of the crucified and risen Savior
to return and rescue His own in the Rapture, bring down the birth
pangs of the Tribulation, and establish the Millennial reign of
Christ on earth.