“”Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” …He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” …Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.”
Luke 21:5-9, 17-19 NIV
How relevant are Jesus’ warnings for us today!
Our world is in turmoil. Talk about shaking! God said He would, in the last days, shake everything…and for one reason, to sift the temporal and transient from the permanent and eternal.
“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”
Hebrews 12:25-27 NIV
Sobering words! People think that this world is eternal. They act as though everything they live for and depend on will last forever but …there’s a problem!
What is the most serious problem in our world and world system today, which has always been since Adam? Jesus put His finger on it…deception! The entire world, without God, functions on a delusion…that man can run the world his way, without God.
God’s arch enemy had one purpose in mind when he confronted Eve, and Adam through her…to lure them by deception into delusion…that they could be free from God to be God. The deception was subtle. By following the devil’s insinuation that God was not to be trusted, they transferred authority, not to themselves, as they thought, but to the devil. They placed themselves firmly in his camp. Instead of being free to live and serve God, they became slaves to Satan.
So, in answer to the disciples’ question, “When will the disaster (destruction of the temple) happen and how will we know when it’s about to happen?” In the other gospels, for example, in Matthew…their question not only related to the fate of the temple in the near future, but also to Jesus’ return and the end of this age…
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:3 NIV
…He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”
A great deception…the first of many signs…about what? Do we not have many voices proclaiming, in the midst of the current shaking, “Listen to me! I have the authority to tell you that Jesus’ return is near.” These would-be false messiahs interpret prophecy according to their own imagination, putting in place timelines and dates and casting doubt on Jesus’ words…Jesus said clearly,
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Matthew 24:36 NIV
Why would the Father keep secret the day of His Son’s return?
First, this is part of the protocol of the Jewish wedding. The Bible has in it, among other themes, the story of the Father’s search for a bride for His Son. Having chosen His Bride, and before the Groom comes to claim His Bride, He, the Bridegroom, prepares the bridal chamber, at His Father’s house, for the consummation of the marriage. He would return for her when the Father was satisfied with the condition of the bridal chamber. Thus, only the Father could determine the time of the Bridegroom’s return.
So, as Jesus told His disciples…
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:2-3 NIV
Wedding talk…He would return for them at the Father’s appointed time.
Second, the great danger is that many people, even including some of God’s own people, would live careless lives with the idea that they could repent in good time for Jesus’ return.
Jesus often spoke of His return and how to be ready…
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 24:42 NIV
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”
Matthew 24:45-46 NIV
The crux of the matter is simple. Mature believers are those who are steadfast in their faith and secure in their knowledge and practice of the truth. They are not easily unsettled by those who propagate deception or fear. They remain faithful to their calling and their tasks. They are ready at all times, no matter the circumstances, for Jesus’ return. They know that testing and suffering may come but their hope is in God and in the security of His eternal kingdom. As Paul wrote…
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
Ephesians 4:14 NIV
So, in the midst of whatever form the shaking may take…wars, famine, political turmoil, natural disasters, family upheavals, even loss or death…our hope is anchored to the eternal values and promises of God’s kingdom.
To be continued…