Part 2-The Timing
Our eschatology must be consistent with the belief that God is good. In this installment on the topic let’s discuss some timing issues that are important. Many people focus on certain scriptures as futuristic in nature. The scripture was written futuristic to the ones it was written to but, it does not mean that is was written as futuristic to us.
We need to look at the scripture to see if there is a timing that we can understand and then look at history. One of the main passages people refer to is Matthew 24.
Matt. 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
All end time, dooms day teachers will point here to say that this is coming. Yet, as we investigate we might see something fresh. This great question so easily taken for something in our day has a focal point that should not be ignored. That focal point is the Temple. Jesus just pronounced a chapter full of judgments upon Jerusalem and ends with this statement.
Matt. 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
Matt. 24:2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
It would be a weighty matter to the Jewish apostles that were with Jesus. Therefore it is no surprise that they ask these questions. In Mark’s and Luke’s gospels it is worded differently.
Mark 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
Luke 21:7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
It is clear that they are asking for signs leading up to the destruction of the Temple not to the end of the world. There is another point here as well, just because Jesus reveals something does not always mean it is His will for it. God is often looking for someone to stand in the gap and alter the course.
Back to our topic, Jesus is telling the apostles when the Temple age will end. This is the age He is referring to. This was a major paradigm shift in the world. A new covenant was going to be instituted and remember the apostles don’t know it yet. Jesus will fill them in later. The Temple is everything to the nation of Israel. If that does not sound like a shift, I don’t know what is. Wars and rumors of wars were the signs leading up to this major event, not to the end of the world. There is another important event, The Great Tribulation. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 24.
Matt. 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Matt. 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened
This event is not the prelude to the end of the world but to the end of the age. For those who like to make it a double prophecy Jesus answers that as well, “Nor ever shall be means that this is the greatest one.” Hopefully we have at least in a short synopsis opened up the possibility that this prophecy was for another time. This greatly affects our outlook for the future.
It is difficult to lay out complete teachings in these weekly letters, but I hope what I have shared has begun to shine a light on the hope of the Kingdom. Soon in the future I will be doing a teaching series that will go into greater detail.
Addicted To His Presence,
Louis C. DeSiena
No comments:
Post a Comment