end
26 - 03/25 /12:37
The disciples asked Jesus privately, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
— Matthew chapter 24
A few days prior to being crucified, Jesus told His disciple the Jerusalem temple would be destroyed. This prophesy shocked His disciples. The temple was the house of Yahweh. How could it be destroyed? The destruction of the temple seemed like the end of the world.
So later, privately, they asked Jesus, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Note: disciples asked Jesus three questions. When will the temple be destroyed? What will be the sign of your return? What will be the sign of the end of the age?
Note Also: how Jesus responded. Before answering their question He warns, “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Jesus then answers the three questions in a non-linear fashion. Instead of revealing a chronology of the future, He combines events separated by centuries.
The destruction of the temple would be proceeded by, “‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel.” According to the 4th century historian Eusebius, the Christians of Jerusalem acted upon Jesus’ prophetic warning, abandoning the city when Jewish zealots transformed the temple into a fortress.
The temple was destroyed about 40 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Romans tore it down to its foundation—fulfilling His prophecy … explicitly.
Along with His prophesy of the temple’s destruction, Jesus promised He would return. Before He returns there will be false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, Christians persecuted, the gospel preached to the whole world, “and then the end will come.”
Jesus prophesied His return would be sudden and cosmic, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. … And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
As surely as the Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 70ad, Jesus shall return with power and glory. Christ-followers shall be gathered from the heavens and earth by angels to join His victorious return.
By God’s grace—via the wonderful, mysterious miracle of the Cross—believers shall join Jesus’ victorious return as Lord and rightful King of the world. By God’s race you can be a part of Jesus’ victorious return. But, for those who refuse to believe, Jesus’ return shall be terrifying. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard