Are the end times upon us? Unless you have been backpacking in the wilderness with no cell service, then you are aware of the conflict in Palestine that is raging between Israel and Hamas.
My Facebook feed has been saturated with friends and acquaintances sharing their thoughts (or the thoughts of someone else) regarding this conflict. The overwhelming majority point to this battle as some sort of fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Masses are convinced that this is a sign that the end is upon us. The general consensus is that this Jewish-Palestinian conflict is coming to pass “just as the Bible says,” almost as though it is destined to follow some Divine script.
Many of these comments are suggesting that we must stand with Israel because they are God’s chosen people. Others suggest that the signs of the end times are upon us, therefore we must get ready for the coming of Jesus?
Is this the beginning of the end?
Should we stand with Israel or risk being left out of the favor of God as he delivers his chosen nation?
The answer to this last question is another thought for another day. Let me just say that the church, the body of Christ, is the Israel of God today (Galatians 6:16), not the physical, political Israel that we see on maps of the Middle East.
Let’s address the question about the end times. Are we living in the last days? We certainly are, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the conflict now raging in Gaza.
Peter told the crowd gathered for Pentecost that the things they were seeing and hearing were a fulfillment of Joel 2, which would occur in the last days (Acts 2:16-17). The writer of the book of Hebrews states that, “In these last days he has spoken us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2).
Biblically speaking, we have been living in the last days since the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is the last age of time, until eternity dawns and time is no more.
Man has always had a fascination with eschatology (A fancy way of classifying end time or last days teachings, derived from the Greek word for last or final). Perhaps our fear of “the end” is what drives our fascination with what will happen at the coming of the Lord. When you couple fear with Biblical ignorance, it is a recipe for manipulation and hysteria.
End time prognostications are nothing new. Man has been predicting the end of the world since the world began, and even more so since the Bible was made readily available to the common man. Books, movies, and even religious movements have been centered upon all kinds of eschatological views. But is there something different about this conflict? Is this a sign of the end as found in Scripture?
Much eschatology is based upon a misunderstanding of Scripture, especially the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 24. It is here that his disciples ask the question, “When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?” Their question arises because Jesus had just said that the temple would be destroyed to the extent that not one stone would be left upon another. In the minds of the Jews, the destruction of the temple would have to mark the end of time. They could not fathom God allowing his house and his people to be destroyed, unless this was the end of all things. In their minds, this was one question or at least one idea — when is this going to happen and what will let us know that this is coming?
Jesus answers their query, but he gives the answer regarding the signs of the impending destruction of the temple as well as the signs of his coming in judgment at the end of time. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, Jesus offers great detail about what to expect. Wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, etc., would increase. They would witness the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:26-27), at which time Jesus instructs them to flee the city of Jerusalem. He goes on to say that they should pray that their flight should not be in winter or on a Sabbath, as such would make getting out of the city much more difficult.
Now, if these thoughts somehow pertain to the end of time, please tell me what good it will do to flee any place for another? The abomination of desolation occurred when the Roman army entered Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 under the leadership of the Roman general Titus. The thought of pagan Gentiles in the temple was repulsive to the Jews. The fact that an enemy occupier would dare enter the temple and desecrate it was an absolute affront to the Jews. When the Roman banners started their approach to the city, the Jews were then to flee for their lives by getting out of the walled holy city.
History indicates that no Christians died in the siege of Jerusalem, thanks in large part to the growing persecution of Christians that included the martyrdom of James the Just only a few years prior to the siege of Titus and also to the words of Jesus that are recorded in Matthew 24. Lest we somehow still think that these signs point to some end-time apocalypse, please note that Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). Just after closing out this thought, Jesus then shifts gears. He had been describing the signs that warned of the impending destruction of the temple. Now, he turns his attention to the other question—what would be the sign of his coming and of the end of the world?
Again, the questions about the destruction of the temple, the coming of Jesus in judgment, and of the end of the world were all one thought. But Jesus answered this concerning two events. He had dealt with the signs surrounding the razing of the temple. He now turns his attention to the end of the world. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). He goes from addressing “all these things” to “that day and hour.” Concerning the end, there will be signs. It will come as a thief in the night. In case we miss the concept of what it means to come as a thief in the night, Jesus says, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into” (Matthew 24:43). Look, it would be great if thieves scheduled their thievery with us. Wouldn’t it be so helpful if criminals would tell us, “I will be by your place tomorrow morning at 8:00 to steal your belongings”? Don’t you think we would be ready if such were the case.
Jesus then instructs his followers to be prepared, for we do not know when he shall return to usher in the Judgment and bring and end to this world. Many want to know that there are signs of the end so that they may live as they want until the signs appear. How many would take advantage of such a situation, choosing to “live it up” and then to “get ready” when they see the signs of the end? This makes a mockery of the way of Christ. Jesus wants his followers to live each day as if he is coming back today. He wants us to be ready at any moment for his return.
The question for us is this: Am I living in fear that Jesus will come back today, or I am living in hopes that he will come back today? Our answer to this will determine if we are ready for the end or not.
Quit looking for the signs to get your life in order. If that is what you are waiting on, then consider this your sign. Follow Jesus every day so that when he does come, “we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28).
Patrick Morrison is minister at Curry Church of Christ.
