Mat 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the
end will come.
Mat 24: 15 “So when you see standing in the holy
place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’spoken of through the
prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains.
Mat 24: 32 “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.
Mat 24:34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation
will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Mat 24: 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be
taken and the other left.
On 26 June 2013, the
Charisma Magazine in the US reported that "Satan’s End-Time Strategy to
Outlaw Traditional Marriage in Full Swing" in an attempt to stop gay
marriage. The term "End Time" here refers to the Bible End times and the same illogical messages being reported in SIngapore. However,
this is not blibical. We fear the end times, hence we blame gays for it.
As a result many christians used
the ridiculous comparison of end times events to gay marriage in order
to ridicule the entire notion of end times, of Jesus physically coming
back.
When Jesus comes back it would
not only be scary, but for those who believed that they will be judged
for the good and evil they did on account of going to heaven, they will
be surely dissapointed. By every measure, all have sinned and fallen
short of God's glory. We all need Christ redemption to substitute for
us.
Working hard, and staying awake
will not save us if we are looking for a judgement seat to see whether
we passed the tests. There is no tests in the first place, because Jesus
is totally righteous and we died with Christ at the Cross if we truly
believe by faith. He passed the test for us.
The end times signs of the bible
in Matthew 24 has a clear context which was given in Mat 24:1. It was
about the temple. The destruction of it. It had nothing to do with gay
marriage or was it so general without specifics.
Matthew was written for the Jews
and it is not blibical to say that the timing wasn't given. The exact
day may not be given, but we are given the a general timing or season.
1) Abomination in the temple (Mat
24:15): The end times started when the 2nd temple was destoyed by the
Romans in AD70, on 10th August. Co-incidentally, the same day in 586BC
when the first temple was burnt down by the King of Babylon. Forty years
later, Emporor Hadrian erected a statue of himself in the Holy of
Holies. The Jews fled to the mountains as they were expelled from
Jerusalem.
2) Return of Israel (Mat 24:32):
The fig tree is represented by Israel and when the fig tree begin
buffing again, the clock starts ticking for the final days of the end
time. The final countdown was set in 1948 when Israel became a nation.
3) Last Generation (Mat 24:34) -
the generation (120 years) from the founding of Israel will see Jesus
come back.
The bible gave all the clues and
the timing and season, but not the exact date. So the details are in the
bible. There is no absolute certainly of dates because Jerusalem was
retaken in 1967 hence the 120 years maybe from this date rather than
1948.
Why are we to keep ourselves busy
and working hard? The Gospel of the good news of the Kingdom of
Salvation in Jesus Christ must first be preached to all the nations.
(Mat 24:14). The notice period is more than 2,000 years yet some has
dished it or made it sound as if Jesus has returned back to earth. Gay
marriage will succeed because all the gates will be opened for people to
see Jesus, and gays are part of the body of Christ, the people group to
be reached.
The Christians were looking
forward to the coming back of Jesus, the physical coming back. In
reality, Jesus was already present with us spiritually through the Holy
Spirit of God. When Jesus comes back, it will usher in the new Kingdom
of is God where Jesus is the head. The kingdoms and kindoms of this
earth will be no more.
The most amazing event, the end
times, the coming back will be so fast. For in Mat 24:40, even whilst
walking in the fields, suddenly one will be raptured. There was no
warning. There was no preparation. If we have not made right with Jesus,
we would have no second chances.
We are to heed the times and stay awake and work
hard for the Gospel sake, when the hour comes for the return of Jesus,
there will be no 2nd chances for repentance. If one did not belive that
Jesus took their sins away, and cleanse them by faith, they will be
outside the Kingdom of God. The gate will be closed and no one will be
let in threafter.
When we missed seeing the end
times, we begin building our own kindoms and kingdoms, our power bases
of wealth, control and power here on earth. As much as we try to make
this a better place, the foundation is rotten and we can only be like
salt to a rotting world. The only solution is a new Kingdom.
The kingdom of Jesus Christ
will come and over take the kingdoms of this world which will be totally
destroyed. In the new Kingdom of God, we will finally have justice,
righteousness and love that is pure because the light of God spreads
throughout this new Kingdom to come.
In this time of advent or the
coming of Jesus, it follows that if we do believe in the physical
resurrection of Jesus Christ, then Jesus is coming back again to
proclaim His new Kingdom on earth. Then there will be no more weeping or
crying, for God will be our justice and righteousness and there shall be
no sorrow. There will be no lack, nor diseases and all will live in
peace. For Christ Jesus will reign.
The End is coming, but is only a
new start for a world longing for a new creation.
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