If you haven’t heard yet, then you haven’t been listening to the news. According to Harold Camping, May 21, 2011 will be the day when the world as we know it ends. Nearly every news network has reported on this, mainly due to Harold Camping having a massive network of Radio stations that broadcast over the world from the US. Read some of the news stories at independent.co.uk, smh.com.au and heraldsun.com.au.

The idea of May 21 as the day of judgement comes from a series of calculations that Harold has made dating back to Noah’s ark. I couldn’t follow the logic in the argument enough to explain the details, but if you would like to read more about it then you can at their website, here.

So… Is the world as we know it really going to end tomorrow? Will Jesus return tomorrow…?

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I think I may be too young to think about my last words, but that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about the last words of others.

Recently in Bible study, we’ve been reading 2 Timothy, which was the last letter that Paul wrote. In 2 Timothy, Paul is passing on his final words of wisom to Timothy, his mentee. Although the letter does not represent his final words, they are some of the last words that Paul wrote from the chains of his imprisonment in Rome.

Before I get on to some of my favourite last words from Paul, I thought I’d have a search for some other famous last words.

“Don’t worry, they usually don’t swim backwards.” (From TopTenz.net)

These are the last recorded words of Steve Irwin, the Australian conservationist and crocodile hunter. These were sadly his final words before he was killed by a stingray spine.

“I have offended God and mankind because my work didn’t reach the quality it should have.” (From World of Quotes)

The last words of Leonardo Da Vinci.

“Nothing, but death.” (From corsinet)

Were the last words of Jane Austen when asked by her sister what she wanted.

Thinking through the last words of people can be quite sadening, as death in this world is scary and unknown. However, some of the last words of Paul are quite the opposite. They are victorious and encouraging. Read them below.

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But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

If Christ has not been raised then preaching is useless and Christians are to be pitied above all others, but Jesus is risen and is alive today!