Theater terror in Denver.

Last Friday morning at the midnight opening of the latest Batman movie, a lone gunman burst into a packed theater in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Aurora, set off a smoke bomb and tear gas, and began firing his weapon into the crowd (Good Morning America, July 20, 2012).  Survivors recalled the terrifying confusion and panic of those trapped inside the theater.  Twelve people were killed and many more injured before the 24-year-old man ceased his rampage (ibid.).  Authorities report the apparently deranged gunman claimed to be the villain in the Batman movie and acted very oddly during his questioning and court appearance (Good Morning America, July 25, 2012).

In response to the shooting, “All over the nation, gun-sellers are reporting big increases in sales in the wake of the Colorado movie-theater shootings” (www.KHOU.com, July 25, 2012).  People are buying weapons out of fear and a desire to protect themselves and their families.  

This event in Aurora is tragic and heart-rending.  True Christians should always view such tragedies with deep sadness and a greater desire for God’s Kingdom to come soon!  God expects His people to “sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within” the land (Ezekiel 9:4).  

But we should also expect such events to occur with increasing frequency as the end of the age approaches.  God warned ancient Israel and her modern descendants that “…I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart,” because of their sins (Leviticus 26:14-16).

We live in a God-rejecting age when the ways that lead to peace, God’s laws, are no longer honored or obeyed.  And as a result, we experience the consequences of rejecting Him. God speed the day when this powerful prophecy is fulfilled:  “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).