|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
18.11.07 |
All Saints' Church |
Signposts of the
End |
Rev. Tony Higton |
Luke 21:5-12, 24-28 |
|
In the last few days 29
members of a cult, which calls itself the "True Russian Orthodox
Church" have taken up residence in a cave 400 miles southeast of
Moscow and threaten to blow themselves up if the authorities try
to remove them. Their leader, Father Pyotr Kuznetsov, told his
followers to hide themselves away to await the end of the world,
which he predicted will take place next May.
Bearing this sort of thing
in mind, we have to ask the question: “Is it looney to look for
signs of the End?”
Well, if it is (and I am not
being irreverent) Jesus encourages us to be looney! When his
disciples asked him what the signs of the End would be, he
answered them. “‘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’”
(verses 7-8) and went on to talk about the signs.
The conversation had begun
when he foretold the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He
prophesied that not one stone would remain on another. It must
have seemed incredible to them as they stood near this
magnificent building. But within 40 years it was literally
fulfilled. The only stones of the Temple now visible are the
foundations. Not one stone of the actual building rests on
another. This is important, Jesus was making prophecies about
real events.
Then he moved into the signs
of the End and of his return to earth. It is reasonable to think
that he was still prophesying real events. But to understand his
teaching on the signs it is helpful to think of the signs on a
motorway. There are long distance signs which refer to far-off
places, say, over 100 miles away. There are medium distance
signs which refer to places, say 25 miles ahead. And there are
local signs which refer to an imminent exit from the motorway.
It is the same with Jesus’
signs, some refer to far-off events, some to nearer events and
others refer to imminent events.
Long distance
signposts
Here he mentions false
messiahs and false prophets. “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.” said Jesus (verse
8).
There are, of course,
messiahs today, such as Sun Myung Moon and Rabbi Menachem
Schneerson. There have been many others and will be more.
Jesus continued: “When you
hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things
must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then
he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and
pestilences in various places.”
Again, there have always
been wars, revolutions, earthquakes, famines and pestilences.
These are long distance signposts which keep reminding us of the
end, but they don’t mean it is imminent.
The implication of Jesus’
teaching is that when we hear of such things we should have two
thoughts in mind. One is of compassion towards those adversely
affected as to how we can help them. But the second thought is
to remember that Jesus said these are repeated reminders of the
fragility of life, of the End and of his coming. Anyone who puts
the second thought first is deeply lacking in Christian love.
Nevertheless, we are to live in the light of the End and of the
Second Coming of Christ.
Medium
Distance signposts
Jesus went on: “But before
all this [the End], they will lay hands on you and persecute
you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you
will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account
of my name. ……” (verse 12)
Christians have been
persecuted throughout history but more Christians have been
persecuted in the last century than in all the previous
centuries. Persecution is a major fact of life in the world. It
seems that this sign of the coming End is increasing.
Then Jesus makes a
fascinating reference to the future of Jerusalem and the Jewish
people: “They [the Jewish people] will fall by the sword and
will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be
trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled” (verse 24).
Three quarters of this
prophecy has been literally fulfilled. The Jewish people were
slaughtered by the Romans in huge numbers and taken prisoners to
all nations. Jerusalem has been trampled by Gentile power after
Gentile power for almost 2000 years.
The last part of the
prophecy implies that Gentile rule over Jerusalem will end (and
surely this 25% should also be taken literally). I am very well
aware that this is a big subject and raises some very important
issues (which I shall be dealing with elsewhere in detail) but
the fact is that, whatever the justice issues, the Jewish people
did regain full control over Jerusalem in 1967 for the first
time in over 2000 years and it seems likely that they will, in
general, retain that control. If that is a coincidence then it
is some coincidence (especially knowing the historical and
political context). Is the return of the Jewish people to
Israel the beginning of a fulfilment of Jesus’ words? You
decide!
If we were reading the
parallel to this passage in Matthew we would see another sign is
the Gospel being spread to the whole world. This seems a sign
largely fulfilled in recent times.
But none of this proves the
return of Jesus is imminent. However, Jesus goes on to speak of
signs which immediately preceded his return and the End. These
are, so to speak, the Local Signposts.
Local
Signposts
Jesus says: “There will be
signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be
in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on
the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken” (verse 25).
We do not know what Jesus is
referring to but his logical implication is that Christians will
be able to recognise when these signs are taking place. I am not
saying that the following things are the fulfilment of Jesus’
prophecy. But I simply want to mention one or two factors which
show how credible his prophecy is. Such things could be part of
the fulfilment but I am not saying they will be.
Jesus appears to be
referring to astronomical events. Could part of the fulfilment
be the earth being hit by an asteroid or comet (as has happened
in the past)? Astronomers have certainly become very concerned
about this in recent years. The US government has commissioned
NASA to catalogue all those Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) larger
than 1 km in diameter. One of these hitting the Earth would
cause a local catastrophe plus serious effects globally and
hundreds of them have been discovered so far. The UK government
has set up the NEO Information Centre.
Then, of course, there is
the whole matter of global warming with its potentially
disastrous effects on the Earth.
When Jesus refers to the
nations experiencing “perplexity at the roaring and tossing of
the sea” it could be literal but I am inclined to think he is
using a common metaphor for global turmoil. The idea of “men
fainting in terror” is not difficult to envisage with e.g. the
prospect of nuclear terrorism.
Again, I am not saying these
are fulfilments, although they could be. I am saying that there
is nothing incredible about Jesus’ prophecies being fulfilled in
actual cataclysmic events.
However, Jesus ends on a
very positive note (to say the least!). He says: “At that time
they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and
lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”
(verses 27-28).
What a wonderful prospect:
the return to Earth, not of the babe of Bethlehem but of the
Lord of glory! We don’t know what that will be like, but I
often imagine it as an incredibly beautiful sunset, as Jesus
himself descends, in the same way as he ascended into heaven
(Acts 1:11).
Are you ready for that day?
Or if you die before that day, are you ready to meet the Lord of
glory, our judge, after death?
As we say in the Communion
Service: “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come
again.” Even so come Lord Jesus!
Tony Higton |
