Scene Shift

Mark 13:24-29 “But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. 28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
 
NOTE Jesus says, “In those days, following that distress.”  Jesus had warned his disciples to watch for the signs of Jerusalem’s destruction. Now he says there will be signs of his own conquest of the world. Jesus shifts his warnings from the impending judgment on Jerusalem in the near future to the final Judgment Day. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4, promising God’s power will be visible to all, “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
    Jesus revealed similar visions to John: Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. And in Revelation 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.
    From these cataclysmic events, Jesus will establish his reign over God’s new creation. How comforting to know the Son of Man will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. This is the great, sure hope we have for our future under Jesus’ salvation.
    All must also understand that within this promise is Jesus’ judgment. He doesn’t gather all in the world. Jesus gathers his elect to himself. Those not under Jesus’ salvation are sent into Judgment.
    Jesus, the Living Word, speaks through the prophet, the gospels and his vision to John to prepare his church for the end of time. We find it sad and difficult to understand why so many reject his message. The Lord Jesus has spoken. Let’s help people listen to his promises and be alert to his warnings.       
 
You Can Be Sure: the end will come….are you sure of your status at the end?