Signs of the future

(Bible quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version, unless otherwise noted)

vs. 25, 26

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

NEB: 'Portents will appear in sun, moon, and stars. On earth nations will stand helpless, not knowing which way to turn from the roar and surge of the sea; men will faint with terror at the thought of all that is coming upon the world; for the celestial powers will be shaken.

NLT: "And there will be strange events in the skies - signs in the sun, moon and stars. and down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. the courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.

It seems that people have always wondered about the time when the world would end. My mother remembered a day when she was quite small when her mother dressed her and her sister in their Sunday best and sent them out into the garden to wait, because someone had convinced her that the end of the world was to come that day. In more recent times I recall when there was a prediction of a huge tidal wave that would wipe out most of the country and what a kerfuffle some people made about Y2K! These may not have been the kind of world-wide disasters that we think of as 'the end of the world', but there was enough fear for some people to begin to stock-pile food and other necessities.

When there are wars [and are there never wars?], earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and such natural disasters, someone remembers the predictions in the Bible and suggests that these must be the last days and the end is near. Religious groups have used Bible quotations to try to calculate when this will happen and how many people are likely to be saved from destruction. I find it interesting that it seems that only the people who follow their particular line of thinking are seen as the ones who will survive.

Even without the damage inflicted on our world by human beings, it seems to me that there are constant natural changes in our world, some of them sudden changes brought about by natural 'disasters'. I wonder whether God has not yet finished creating.

Jesus talked about strange events in nature but while on earth he admitted that even the Son of God did not know when the last days would come. That was only for the Father to know. [Mark 13:32] If Jesus did not know, why should we waste our time and energy trying to work it out?

v. 27

Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud" with power and great glory.

The Son of Man was a title Jesus used for himself and this time he was quoting a passage from Daniel [7:13, 14] that his listeners would know well. For Christians, the picture suggests the eventual return of Christ and the completion of God's rule on earth. This is something that Christians hope for and look forward to.

v. 28

Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Christians should not be afraid of the time when Jesus comes again and when they see strange signs in the heavens and on earth that point to Jesus' return. Although some people point to earthquakes and wars as being those signs, Jesus seems to be referring to things that are more unusual than these natural happenings. When the 'real' signs, portents and strange events begin to happen, I suspect we won't be wondering about what they mean. They will be so different from anything that has happened before that it will be obvious that they herald a unique occasion.

When Jesus returns, the Kingdom of God will be visible and totally realised. This is nothing for Christians to be afraid of. It will be a time of rejoicing for all people, when there will be no more poverty and injustice, no more disease, no more conflict between peoples. God's whole created universe will again be as perfect as it was intended to be in the beginning. No wonder Jesus said to stand tall and hold our heads high.

vs. 29 - 31

Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

New Bible Commentary, p 1014. In Palestine the fig tree is the first to show its leaves and indicate that summer is approaching; in other countries all the trees join it in announcing that summer is at hand. So the dreadful events prophesied by Jesus are in reality a sign of hope that the coming of the kingdom is near.

This little parable tells us not only the obvious: that if we keep our eyes and ears open for the signs God sends us, we will recognise the time when Jesus will come again. The parable also tells us something about how God works in the world. God often uses the natural things of creation to communicate with us. We are expected to remain aware of what is going on around us and to consider what God might be teaching us through the world we live in. The parable also tells us that God will not send disasters upon us without warning. We need to learn to understand the warnings that nature provides for us, both in our personal life and in the community or nation. The messages we find in nature are also often messages of comfort in times of distress or grief. In this parable, Jesus is talking about a message of hope given through nature.

v.32

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

If we try to understand this sentence literally it is difficult to know what Jesus was saying. It seems as if he really thought that his return was to happen within the near future, but we know that it didn't happen then - and we're still waiting 2000 or so years later. It is possible that many more human generations will come and go before it does happen. Some theologians think that Jesus did have the idea that he would return quickly, but others disagree. Who knows? God's time is not finite as ours is and he will bring about his kingdom when the time is right.

Quest Study Bible note, p 1457. Did all this happen within the lifespan of that generation? The destruction of Jerusalem took place in AD70, within the lifespan of those Jesus spoke to. Some feel this is what Jesus was referring to. Others say that the word generation can mean the Jewish race, not a literal 40-year period. Still others say that generation means humankind and that those who see the beginning of the end time events will also see their culmination in the coming of Christ. Whatever the meaning, Jesus affirmed the certainty of coming judgement upon both Jerusalem and the world. He did not give a timetable for these events.

v. 33

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

God's creation, including ourselves, does not go on for ever. Everything on earth has an end to it. But God is eternal. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that fact. Jesus told us not to be worried when the world seems to be disintegrating around us because God is still there and will never leave. Whatever he has told us remains true, no matter what happens.

vs. 34, 35

"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.

NEB: Keep watch on yourselves; do not let your minds be dulled by dissipation and drunkenness and worldly cares so that the great Day closes upon you suddenly like a trap; for that day will come on all men, wherever they are, the whole world over.

NLT: Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.

Stress and hopelessness can send people into a state of carelessness about themselves. We can become introverted, depressed and indulge in self pity, long or short-term. This is when some people begin to look for ways to dampen down their worries through drugs, eating disorders and other means of addiction or self-indulgent pleasure-seeking. Jesus knew what people are like. He did not want his followers to fall into such traps.

When stressful times come along, it is not uncommon for people to stay away from their Christian friends and from worship. It is when life is difficult that we need the support of other Christians through our church and to be reminded of God's love and goodness through worship and prayer. God has given us the church so that we can be supported and nurtured through the bad times as well as the good.

v. 36

Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

NEB: Be on the alert, praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all these imminent troubles and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

Jesus did not pat his disciples on the head and say, 'There, there. don't worry. Everything will be all right.' He always told it like it was. He did not try to hide the fact that there would be troubles and disasters, but he stressed the hope of a wonderful future in God's kingdom and the ever-present help of God accessed through prayer and through fellowship with other Christians. When he does return, Christians will be able to meet him joyfully, standing tall in the knowledge of his love. In times of trouble whenever they occur, Christians can even now stand tall in the presence of a loving and caring God.

New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,