Read: Mark 13:1-31; Matthew 24:1-35; Luke 21:5-33
The disciples spoke about temporal things but Jesus spoke of spiritual things. They were talking about the actual stones of the temple but Jesus spoke about himself as being the temple. The disciples asked Jesus when this would happen and what would be the signs. Jesus refused to tell the time but he did tell them that the signs would dictate the time. So let’s look at the things he told us would happen. People would rise up and say they were the Messiah. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be famines and troubles, but these are just the birth pains. God’s people will be brought before the judges and beaten and the gospel will be given to all nations. Then he lovingly interjects for the people that are put on trial for the gospel sake. They don’t have to worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit will speak through them.
People will turn against those of their own household and betray them to the ruthless leaders.
The worse will come when a person or object is set up to be worshiped like Daniel 9, 11, and 12 talks about. Then it will be time to flee if you live in Judea. This will be a terrible time on the earth. There will be signs in the heavens. The sun will be darkened, the moon won’t shine and the stars will fall from the sky. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. This could be spiritual or physical. That will usher in Jesus’ Second Coming.
These scriptures have been studied and analyzed for centuries but if Jesus had wanted us to know all the detail he would have told us. He wants us to walk by faith and see his kingdom come. We have to learn to bring the kingdom from heaven to earth before we are going to leave this world. We have just begun the kingdom age so we have a long time before the end is here. We need to live for the kingdom and leave the end to God. He will not do anything he doesn’t first tell his prophets so it will not be a surprise to the people of God.
Lord, let us live in the age we are born in and be effective here on earth. Let your kingdom come in earth as it is in heaven.
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