The idea that the end-times prophesied in the Bible are upon us isn't nearly so scary if you know what the Bible has to say about the Second Coming, evangelist Robb Long says.

"Jesus said, `The truth will make you free.'"

Beginning at 7 tonight, Long will present the first of a series of lectures designed to help people understand the messages in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.

Titled "Confidence Amid Chaos," the series is scheduled to run for 12 nights at the Show Me Center, with different topics discussed each night.

Lectures are on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays and come with titles like "When Church and State Unite in Revelation," "The Handwriting on the Wall!" and "The Antichrist and the Number 666!"

Every postal patron in Cape Girardeau and Jackson was sent a flier inviting them to the lectures. Long, a former pastor based in Des Moines, Iowa, has been presenting the series at various locations in Iowa and Missouri.

His wife Chris also participates in the lectures, beginning each night with a "health nugget" that teaches about the link between physical health and spiritual wellbeing.

Some churches pay scant attention to the Book of Revelation with its prophesies about the end of the world. But Long says the book contains knowledge that will see people through tribulations and can explain away some of the scariness.

"I'll be presenting a message of hope and encouragement," he says.

The days prior to the end of the world will be a time of turmoil, war and destruction, Long says. But "The Bible compared it to a woman travailing in birth and being ready to be delivered once the pain and suffering are over," he said.

Once the end comes, the Earth will continue to exist but not in the state we know it today, Long said. "God's intention is to take it back to the way it originally was designed to be, a place of peace and joy for the inhabitants."

Tonight's lecture is titled "Countdown to Eternity!" and will delve into some of the signs that the end of the world is nigh.

"We can't pinpoint the exact date but through studying the Bible and comparing it to the world we can know we are living in the last days," Long said.

"We will look at just how close we are to the end of time."

The end of the world actually means the end of disasters and destruction and the coming of peace, Long says.

"It's not the end of life. It's actually the beginning of what I would call real living, with deliverance from sickness, suffering, death, disasters and all the things that plague us."