I am having a sort of discussion with a friend about the Book of Revelation. The plan is for us to share with each other what we think each section/chapter means. I anticipate differences but we have committed to sharing and dialogue only – no attempts to persuade the other to change his mind. Hopefully it should be a fun exchange of ideas and an adventure in Christian love.
And so I thought it was kind of interesting that shortly after we began my reading took me to Luke 21. This is what is known as the Olivet Discourse. In this sermon Jesus addresses the destruction of Jerusalem and then leaps ahead to the second coming. Obviously there is a lot here and I have a short blog, so I can’t hope to cover it all. But there are three thoughts that strike me every time I read this sermon.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Jesus is prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in AD 70. He said, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. What’s the big deal? It is this phrase, the times of the Gentiles.
What is the time of the Gentiles? Jesus gives us the clue where to look. Just a couple of verses later, in 27 he says And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. He is quoting from the book of Daniel (7:14). I believe the purpose of Daniel, with his beasts and statue, was to introduce the times of the Gentiles. This is the period of time when Gentile world powers - Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome – would keep the Jews and Jerusalem under their thumb. Jesus said this subjugation would continue until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Have you noticed, Jerusalem is built again? With Jews living there and having their own government? Could it be we are at the end of the times of the Gentiles? That would mean that next on the prophetic calendar is the rise of the Antichrist. When you read Revelation 12 you find that the beast has a two-pronged attack:
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [Israel, the Jews and Jerusalem]
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. [spiritual Israel, the Church, Christians]
I believe we're at the end of the times of the Gentiles. Jesus is coming soon!
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
This is a powerful verse. Everyone understands that you can be overcharged or weighed down by surfeiting and drunkenness. (I like this word surfeiting. The English word means “an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something.”) Obviously, gluttony and drunkenness have a deadly effect on one’s spiritual life. But what is shocking is this: the cares of this life can have the same spiritually deadening effect!! Jesus teaches the same thing in the parable of the sower.
So, Take heed to yourself, Jeff, the cares of this life (work, play, bills, vacation etc) can so numb your heart and soul that the day of His appearing will come and you will not be prepared!!
What’s the cure for this tendency to be numbed? Take heed to yourselves, obviously, but then Jesus says:
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Stay awake, rouse yourself. Keep a watch over your soul, be awake to the events in the world.
Jesus is coming!
Take heed to yourself lest the routine of daily living lulls you to sleep, or the cares of this life numb your soul, or your thoughts are so occupied by fun, sports, entertainment, yard work, bills, retirement planning that your anticipation dims and you miss the signs of the times.
Watch: be alert, be ready, wait with expectation.
Pray. How in the world can I do all this? I'm a leaky vessel; fire naturally tends to go out; that which is hot cools down. I need help. I need to pray! Then shall I be able to stand before the Son of man and not shrink back at his coming.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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