While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

It’s all right to ask the Lord when we have outlandish questions.  It is.  Jesus did not get all mad at his friends and rebuke them.  He didn’t use sarcasm, nor did he gloss things over with allegory.  Jesus heard what his friends said and answered them.  Period.  Because it is a good thing to ask Jesus when we have questions.  It is wise to seek the Source for answers.

So, let’s ask!

Lord, what’s happening?

I look around and listen, and I am concerned.  Why concerned? Many people I know who love the Lord believe seriously, with all their hearts, that concern is not needed for Christ-followers. They believe, with all that they are, that they will be captured up to Heaven before anything terrible happens here on Earth.  They believe, more than I had expected, that they will live to bid farewell to this shackle of our planet and escape the coming trials and tribulations.  That they’ll meet the Lord in Heaven without having to face anything worse than a general economic collapse of global proportions.

Not that that isn’t bad enough, mind. But in terms of what Jesus told his friends to look for, it’s only a staging ground. Only a preparation. Not a real tribulation.

Matthew 24:4 Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of birth pains.

There have been people all through history who have been held up to be a Deliverer.  Media pundits (not mainstream, but off-of-center) have hailed President Obama to be such, whether in sarcasm or in relief. I do not claim that Mr. Obama has held himself to be so, though.  I do not believe that he is someone to be wary of in this regard.  But, there are others, even now, who do make that claim. I am not going to name names or share links, for I do not wish to send anyone to “see” them, but they’re out there.

So far, they’re all relatively minor players.  So far.  Jesus tells his friends not to be deceived.  To heed what is truth and to recognize truth from deception.

Did you catch that?  “Watch out that no one deceives you.”

See, Jesus puts the onus on us, for our belief. It is a matter of personal responsibility, for those in the Body of Christ. We are to be able to distinguish TRUTH, relying on the example of our Lord and God to do so.

There was no, “Don’t worry. Be happy,” in Jesus’ response.  There was “there’ll be wars, but don’t be alarmed. This is to be expected.”

This probably didn’t surprise even the disciples. Nations and kingdoms would do battle.  That might have been a little more alarming, but their Lord, Jesus, says here it is a certainty and would preclude the end of the age.  Famines. Yes, they had heard of those. Earthquakes were certainly more worrisome, I’m guessing. Earthquakes, to some, are the most terrifying experience imaginable.

Now, these things have been happening.  So when we ask the Lord, “What’s happening?” he might very well point us to this passage, for he has answered, already.

Have we arrived at this time? I believe we have. I believe that we are in an era that has seen all the above happen to the point that people have disaster-fatigue.  Much as Satan desensitizes us in terms of sin in our lives and in the lives around us, people have become desensitized to the disasters of the world.  And we have forgotten what they mean.

But even more so, what concerns me are Jesus’ next words:

9 “Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.

There are people of faith all over the world who are being persecuted. Here is one blog I know of that discusses this; there are others. But yes, Christians have been persecuted in the ebb and flow of societies and cultures for millenia.  However, Jesus goes on to say that his friends and those who will come after will be hated by all nations because of Jesus’ very NAME.

This is something I am seeing more and more often as I keep a watchful eye on public views.  That and that Christians, believers, take offense at one another’s definitions of FAITH. and they betray one another’s confidences and they HATE one another.  Hold one another in contempt.  In derision. In disgust.

This is becoming more and more prevalent among those who claim Christ as Savior and Lord. And this, my friends, is what concerns me most.

My mission is, largely, to the believers I might reach with my words.  Why? I believe it is right here in Christ’s words.  Yes, there are crises. Yes, there are wars. Yes, we have seen earthquakes and their terrible consequences…

But today, more than ever, people of faith are evidencing betrayal and hatred of one another.  This, Jesus indicates, is another sign of the end of the age.

What’s happening, Lord?  We are tearing each other up and hurting one another when we all belong to YOU.

What’s happening?

Only what he said would happen, when asked directly.  Are you ready to face what comes next?

Tags: believers, Christians, concern, economy, End of the Age, Faith, God, hatred, Jesus, Lord, tribulation

Reboarding my previous train of thought…

Yes, there are many astronomical events that will occur in 2012.  However, the events are not one-day moments.  They will be gradual events that could span many years.

Some say it is “bad astronomy” to make a big deal about these alignments. It might very well be “bad astronomy” but that does not change the fact that God created the stars and the planets and that he uses them and intends them to show times and seasons. Astronomers do agree that there will be some interesting occurrences in the skies during the winter of 2012.  But what does that mean for us?

As I said before, I do not believe that the world is going to end in 2012.  I do, though, believe that a series of events will be set into motion for those who are paying attention.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to ignore the signs of the times. On the contrary, he told them to keep their eyes open.

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect–if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

24 “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back–whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

No one knows when this day will be, but we have been given things to keep an eye on, in our lives. Are you watching?

Tags: 2012, God, Jesus