“The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where he should not be.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter. For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
“At that time, after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
Out of c
ontrolThe end of the world is perhaps the most intriguing topic for Christians and non-Christians alike. The Left Behind series has popularized a certain theological perspective on how the end of the earth will come about. Al Gores’ “Global Warming Campaign” presents another apocalyptic view of how humanity will cause the cataclysmic end of the earth. Movies, books, TV programs, research, all done in an attempt to determine how, when, where, and why the world will end.
I get sick of our fascination with the end times! So many Christians are busy trying to understand something we will never fully understand they have forgotten about ministering today. Our fascination with the end is spiritual wrapping around our inward compulsion to control the end. We want to be in control of everything, including the end of life.
Jesus presents us with another option. Instead of worrying, fearing, or attempting to control the end of life, we can rest in the assurance of our salvation. God’s love for us is so amazing He even shortens the time of our suffering. We are safe in the arms of God today, tomorrow, the next day and into eternity. Jesus declares no one can snatch us out of his hand. I don’t need to know when the end happens, I need to be sharing Christ’s love with dying people today. Being informed is not wrong, but if our motivation for information is so we can be in control we are sinning. Instead of knowing, I want to trust God has my best interest at heart and rest in the promise of his protection and grace.
Lord, when I try to control life today or in the future, please help me to remember you are in control so I don’t have to be. Help me to live each day in the assurance of your gracious salvation and provision for today and eternity. - Dan Jones
Horoscope or Hope?
Inquiring minds just want to know! So many people imbibe in salacious, gossipy tabloids in the super market checkout lines. Weird predictions, strange reports, spurious claims fill those pages.
Many want to approach this chapter, along with the writings of Daniel in the Old Testament and John in the New Testament (Revelation) with the same drooling thirst. “Just gotta know what’s around the next corning. Gimme details, sensational details.” We just want someone to map out the future for us so we, quite frankly, we don’t have to trust God. Getting the inside scope about tomorrow becomes our source of security. We want to turn the Bible’s talk about the future into a horoscope.
But Jesus speaks about the future in ways that just cannot be turned into a neatly packaged prediction, or a pretty chart. He speaks about a world gone crazy and that “after the anguish of those days” the world will witness the return of Christ. After? As in the next day, the next year, the millennia?
The world disintegrated before their eyes, for first century Jews. Ancient Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD in ways eerily similar to Jesus’ prophecy. But that was only one time the world crashed and burned! Read history since the time of Jesus and you’ll find repeated eras that Jesus’ prophecy describes.
In fact, listen to the voices of those eras, and you’ll sense that not only the human race, but all of creation, shook in fear of the calamities evil perpetrated on the planet.
Today, Jesus offers, not a horoscope, but hope for his followers. Life may well come crashing down before us, but God will see his people through. Spiritual confusion may fill our day, but God’s people can be alert and wise. The phrase “after the anguish” may encompass countless generations, leaving us to wonder just when he will return, but we have his word that one day he will gather all his people!
Savior of the World, I will trust you always, even if my world should fall apart before my eyes. I will hold onto your promise to see me through and return to earth at the right time. I will always hope in you. - Mike Leamon
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