ESCHATOLOGY

In 1984, I thought the world might blow up.

I’d heard a lot of stuff about nuclear weapons, cold wars, fallout. Mix in a bit of evangelical apocalypticism...and, well…you get a pretty nervous eighth grader.

Once, my best friend at church pointed out that President Ronald Wilson Reagan had six letters in his first, middle, and last names. He said that was sign of the End Times.

It couldn’t be...Reagan? But. Wouldn’t the Anti-Christ be likeable?

Curses!

I bet my own children are probably worried about an act of terrorism or climate change ending the world as they know it. Ugh. I hope not.

What shook me from my fears, I think, was seeing the film, SPIES LIKE US. Somehow, Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd having fun within the context of international detante eased my fears. If they were laughing about it...maybe I could, too.