Local church hosts lecture series discussing end of world

By Emily Wilkins | Originally Published: 09/13/09 11:06pm |Modified: 09/13/09 11:36pm | 1 comment

Those waiting for the end of the world might not be waiting much longer, according to Steve Vail, a trained speaker who has lectured on topics in the Bible for 27 years.

Vail began a lecture series on the apocalypse Friday at the Greater Lansing Adventist Church, 5330 W. St. Joseph Highway, in Lansing. He said the Bible indicates that the world will end in times that resemble our world today.

“The warning lights are going off on planet Earth,” he said.

Vail said there are signs in religion, politics, nature and social life. In each of these areas, events are occurring the Bible predicted would happen at the end of time, such as corruption, wars and famine, he said.

“The Bible doesn’t teach that man will annihilate mankind off this planet,” Vail said Friday night. “God will come first. God is the one that is going to deal with the destroyers.”

The lecture series is scheduled to be held 6:45 – 8:30 p.m Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the month of September. During the sessions, Vail said he will discuss topics such as the United States’ role in Bible prophecy, how to survive the end times and various beasts mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The sessions are free and open to the public.

“I want to see secular people come,” Vail said. “People with no (religious) connections or churches to come.”

At the kick-off session Friday, participants worked on a group assignment that informed them about specific Bible passages dealing with the nature of Jesus and his second coming.

Participants also listened to Vail’s presentation, during which he outlined the topics for the future sessions.

“I’m very content,” said Gloria Reyourriego, a resident of Lansing. “It’s just the way (Vail) explains it, he goes into detail about it.”

Reyourriego said she believes the end of the world is coming soon, and she said she bases her belief on the Bible and on the worsening conditions of the world today. Others at the meeting agreed.

“I believe (the period of time before the end of the world) is going to be shorter than (100 years) … the way things are going in this world. It just seems to be getting worse,” said Greg Cabose, an East Lansing resident. Cabose is writing a book about the Bible’s prophecies and how they have been fulfilled.

“We need to be ready every day for the Lord’s coming,” he said.