[Linux4christians] Thursday – Read Matthew 24:1-35, Mark 13:1-27, Luke 21:5-33

[Pastor David]

*Thursday – Read Matthew 24:1-35, Mark 13:1-27, Luke 21:5-33*

	*Commentary*

	In Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-2 Jesus makes a prophesy 
about the Temple that is a
	continuation of the punishment of rebellious Jerusalem, the 
Temple would be utterly
	destroyed.  [Note:  It was, of course, later destroyed in 
70AD.]

	In Matthew 24:3-8 and Mark 13:3-8  Luke 21:5-9 Peter, 
James, John, and Andrew
	question Jesus as to the signs of the End.  He warns them 
of false Messiah's then
	provides a list of several signs of “the beginnings of 
birth pangs” but which should not
	alarm them.  Luke 21:9b contains a conditional that has 
rarely been mentioned by those
	over history who were in a rush to forecast the last days 
of the End Times “... but the end
	will not come at once.”, meaning that all of the signs will 
happen and still a great deal of
	time will pass.  [2,000 years so far.]

	In Matthew 24:9-14, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:10-19 Jesus 
describes the attacks of the
	religious leaders and of anti Biblical-Christian zealots of 
many kinds which would result
	in the persecution of the disciples and other believers. 
It is notable that this was
	described both in the immediate experience of His disciples 
in the first Century and in a
	continuing manner following the coming of “... many false 
prophets … and because
	lawlessness will increase so much”.

	In Matthew 24:15-28, Mark 13:14-23, Luke 21:20-24 Jesus 
describes what is known as the
	“abomination of desolation”, or the obliteration of 
Jerusalem in 70AD and the Tribulation
	yet to come.  There are several important notes distributed 
across the three texts; the
	Tribulation will be “cut short” so that the saved are not 
so overwhelmed that they are also
	destroyed [this parallels the promise of 1 Cor. 10:13 that 
God will not allow those who are
	His to be overwhelmed], He reminds them that He will return 
in such a way that
	everyone will know at once - therefore any claim of an 
“isolated” Return will be false, the
	false ones will also perform “... great signs and wonders 
to deceive ... you have been
	warned".

	In Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28 Jesus 
describes His return, the arrival
	of Son of Man to bring the final judgment and redemption. 
This will come at the height
	of the Tribulation when the spiritual battle in the 
spiritual realm has reached its peak and
	darkness falls across the Heavens and the Earth.  He will 
return with light across the
	Earth and a great trumpet call – there will be no doubt 
when the true Messiah returns.

	In Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-31, Luke 21:29-33 Jesus 
parallels the evidence of the
	imminent arrival of the Summer season discerned from a 
budding fig tree with the evidence
	of His return drawn from the details of His prophesy. 
Notable are His reference to “this
	generation will not pass away until all these things take 
place.”, meaning that all of the
	prophesies which had preceded – therefore He was referring 
to the “perverse generation”
	of Matthew 17:17, the “unbelieving generation” of Mark 
9:19, and elsewhere.  Also notable
	is that “Heaven and earth”, meaning fallen Creation, will 
“pass away” - be destroyed by God.
	

	*Discussion & Reflection - Keeping it Real*

	Consider that the “signs of the times” were only one early 
phase in the long journey from
	the coming resurrection to redemption, that many severe 
troubles will come to all people
	– including the saved – during the Tribulation, and that 
God will rescue His before they
	are overwhelmed.  How does that perspective impact you?

	While the natural course of a disintegrating Creation, 
doomed by the Fall and continuous
	rebellion, leads only to chaos and conflict the spiritual 
battle rages and must eventually
	come to a conclusion.  Does knowing the End make life in 
the “middle” more bearable?

	Jesus has warned us of false Messiah's and prophets, 
difficult times, persecution from
	unexpected sources, and the need for patience.  Do you find 
it difficult or easy to trust
	Him despite your own ideas as to what God should do, and 
when?  Do you trust that His
	timing and His ways are always perfect?
	
	*Truth in Action*
	
	Today I commit myself to fellowship, prayer, service, 
study, and worship so that I am
	both a valuable tool for His ministry and am prepared to 
bear-up as the hard times come.
	I will also identify at least one fellow believer for whom 
I will pray that they will likewise
	commit and that together we will encourage one another to 
press on.

	*Be Specific* 
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Friday's reading will be: Matthew 24:36-25:30, Mark 
13:32-37, Luke 21:32-38, John 12:44-50
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Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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