Sharing Some Time

July 16, 2024

Some time ago, a close friend from my High School days had read some of my socio-political comments based on my Bible reading and studies. She asked if I was saying it was the End of the World. I replied that through history evil times have come and gone, and people have exclaimed, “The End is Near!” However, even though times looked very bad, the world kept turning. Therefore, I certainly wasn’t positive and said so. Still, things were sliding sideways in a Biblically catastrophic way… So, “Maybe.”

At least, she was one of the very few who gave any credence to my opinions and what I have been trying to share…So, there’s that.

As for the End of Days, here are a excerpts from Matthew 24, the first biographical book in the New Testament, where Jesus tells what the End will be like:

• the Temple that Herod built in Jerusalem will be destroyed

(Note” the original center of worship for the Israelites was a tabernacle, a movable tent-like structure. Solomon built the original permanent temple structure in Jerusalem, which was destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed once again. Herod built the last which was functionally destroyed by the Romans, and the “Wailing Wall” is all that remains today. So, maybe Jesus saying, “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” means that a more complete destruction is still down the road.

• false messiahs (Did you know that Charles Manson gathered a group of followers claiming he was the Messiah? There have been many cults who worship the leaders as saviors and lords…) So, He warned don’t be deceived.
• wars and rumors of wars (We certainly have plenty of those.)
• famines and earthquakes (ditto)
• persecutions and murders of Christians (which is occurring all around the world today, though it’s not on the Headline News — which could be considered a modern socio-cultural persecution, by default, sidelining God, Jesus, and the Bible these days.
• worldwide hatred of Believers (kind of an inconspicuous undercurrent)
• a falling away from God, Jesus, and the Bible — hating, betraying one another (two examples are the Christian Deconstruction movement and militant atheism online)
• many false prophets, deceiving many (the “christian churches” and TV money grubbing con men are replete with them)
• multiplication of wickedness (this is highly visible all around us)
• the love of most Believers will fail (this phenomenon is all around, too, but is less visible, unless it happens to you)
• very miserable days for pregnant and nursing mothers (anyone can look at photos on charitable websites for mothers in stark living conditions)
• the Gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached in all the world (which is happening today)
• false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible… (“Coming Soon to a Theater Near You” ?)

Jesus concludes, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ “ — Matthew 24:29.

Those are the signs of the times foreshadowing the End and the return of Jesus, and everybody “will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” That is to say, it won’t be like the first appearance — a kind of subdued clandestine affair which people have been disputing and arguing about from the very first time that He started His rabbinical ministry, saying, “Repent, because the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.”

Finally, Jesus used two axioms in particular, explaining the necessity of keeping a “weather eye to the sky,” in a manner of speaking:

• “Where the vultures are gathered together, there the carcass will be.” (or in today’s vernacular, “Where there is smoke, there is fire.”)
• “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door.” (Maybe a modern way to say the same thing is that when the tulips and daffodils flower, we know summer is right around the corner.)

Jesus finishes up saying, “Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

So, maybe I am off base about the End’s arrival, but from these Bible verses, maybe, just maybe… In any event, please, do not remain oblivious.

This subject is of greater importance than you might realize or have been taught in “Religious Instruction” or “Sunday School.”

Seek the presence of God in your life.

Seek a personal and dynamic relationship with God by hearing and giving credence to the Gospel message of the opportunity to receive a new nature to replace an old worn out human one.

Start a conversation with God — not just by talking at Him, but like you might talk to a friend…

Like these people are saying: Talking To Jesus | Elevation Worship & Maverick City

Quite the contrast in musical genres, this other song has had a stimulating significance in my life of searching and questioning and eventually finding the answers to all my questions. Woven through its lyrics are ideas and ideals which I gravitated towards in my struggle to discover an existential and transcendent journey forward from my youth for finding truth and justice and righteousness… all of which I finally found in Jesus.

Question — The Moody Blues — with lyrics