Wednesday Thought – December 30, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

In Luke 21, Jesus talks with His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. It is a hard passage to decipher. It is hard to tell when Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and when it is about the end of the age.

“The time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:6) What Jesus predicted came to pass with precision when in 70 AD the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the very stones of the temple were thrown down.

“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." (Luke 21:9) Wars and revolutions will happen, but they won’t be signs that the end of the age has come.

“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11) Earthquakes, famines, pestilences, signs on earth and in heaven – terrible things will happen in this world.

Persecution will happen to those who follow Jesus. In a strange twist, in one verse Jesus says, “They will put some of you to death.” (Luke 21:16) Two verses later, “Not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18) Physical death will occur, sometimes because we are followers of Jesus, but our lives, our real lives, will never even be touched.

“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) You can trace the history of Jerusalem and recognize the clear fulfillment of that prophetic word. Jerusalem has always been in turmoil and never have the Jews lived in peace there – not since before Jesus – and not till God declares that the day of the Gentiles is over.

So many confusing prophecies and pictures. Troubling times seem the norm, not the exception. History testifies to the truth of that picture. The earth has lived in turmoil for thousands of years.

So what? “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life.” (Luke 21:34) “Be always on the watch.” (Luke 21:36)

Those bits of wisdom from Jesus provide the bottom line for all of us as we wait the fulfillment of the confusing prophecies about the end of the age: be careful to follow the Lord and be watchful for His coming.

His, by Grace, Steve