Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies
“In every crisis I have ever studied,” says crisis management expert Ian Mitroff, “there were always a few key people on the inside of an organization, or on its edge, who saw the early warning signs and tried to warn their superiors. In every case, the signals were either ignored or blocked from getting to the top or having any effect.”
One of those who dismissed the red flags was OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. “We have heard the baseless cries of ‘you are going to kill someone’ way too often,” he wrote in 2018. Tech experts and an employee warned that his experimental carbon-fiber submersible would meet a “catastrophic” end, which it did on a trip to the Titanic wreckage in June, 2023. Rush’s response to the warnings was to fire the employee.
The Institute for Crisis Management annually studies global crises, and it rates “46 percent of these as ‘smoldering’ in nature–that is, likely to have occurred after red flags or warning signs.”
There are several reasons why warnings are ignored. Sometimes they are blocked by lower-level employees from reaching top management, creating a climate of fear of reprisals for speaking out. Sometimes the red flags reach the top, but the threats are downplayed because health and safety are not a priority (see Stockton Rush), and also due to the pride and overconfidence of the superiors.
And sometimes warning systems simply don’t work, or are turned off. (Have you checked your smoke alarms lately?) Before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and burned in 2010, managers deliberately disabled the warning systems because false alarms woke up the workers.
Senior researcher Tony Jaques concludes, “The best crisis management is to prevent the crisis in the first place. When there are warning signs of impending disaster speak up, and keep speaking up, until someone takes action.”
As we approach the return of Jesus, it is well for us to consider how God’s people received—or didn’t receive—Him during His first advent. Religious leaders especially had access to all the data they needed in the Old Testament prophecies to welcome God’s Son to their communities. Why didn’t they?
John 1:10-11 says simply that He came to this world (which He created) but His own people would not receive Him. Even though the religious leaders saw Jesus perform miraculous signs, they still challenged Him, asking, “How long will you keep us in suspense? Tell us if you are the Messiah.”
Jesus responded, “I did tell you, but you won’t believe. These miracles I do in my Father’s name are the only evidence you need.” (John 10:24-25)
Jesus didn’t fit their image of the Messiah. They cherry-picked messianic characteristics that fit what they wanted to see in a Messiah. King David, an anointed one (messiah), brought national power and prestige to Israel, so they decided they wanted the same type of ruler to crush Rome for them. Jesus’ message of humility and care for the less-fortunate not only seemed weak to them, it rebuked their own disregard for others.
Instead of teaching the masses about the Messiah of Isaiah 53, they taught their own distorted image of God’s Anointed One. This made it easy for them to whip up the crowd to cry “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!”
As we look forward to Christ’s Second Coming, are we in danger today of following a message that presents God’s kingdom as one of secular power and prestige instead of Godly love and mercy?
For Reflection
Connecting: Whistleblowers are often considered heroes by some, and villains by others. Can you envision a situation where you would risk your reputation and job security by raising an alarm on a potential crisis?
Sharing: Many in Israel realized—after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension—that their religious teachers duped them into supporting Christ’s crucifixion. What do you think should be their attitude toward those leaders?
- Mercy, since everyone equally ignored the signs of the Messiah’s advent
- They should at least lose their positions of authority—their jobs—due to their incompetence
- They should be tried as heretics
- Ignore them and get on with spreading the gospel to the world
- Preach to them, and try and convert them to The Way
- Other:
Applying: Many today, especially younger people, are rejecting Christ and His church due to the false image of Jesus being portrayed by several national religious leaders. How can you and your religious community counteract that apostate message? What are you currently doing to show the world a picture of God’s love and mercy?
Valuing: It’s easy to dismiss the idea that Jesus is coming soon. After all, haven’t Christians been saying that for the past 2,000 years? What signs do you see around you that indicate Earth’s history is coming to a swift conclusion? Take time this week to consider what it means to be ready for Christ’s return every day, and not lose faith if His return is delayed.
~ Chuck Burkeen
The Center for Creative Ministry is fully recognized by the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; it is also a 501c3 nonprofit organization which makes donations tax deductible in the U.S.
