3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Jesus’ statement regarding the destruction of the temple area and Jerusalem incited three questions from His guys – when will these things take place and what will be the signs of His coming and of the end of the age. While sitting on the Mount of Olives His disciples privately approached Him with their questions. Our Lord begins with what is now known as the Olivet Discourse in response to their queries regarding their confused thoughts over future happenings.
To begin with, Christ gives them no answer regarding the appointed time yet the questions regarding the signs He answers fully. This prophecy was not only an immediate reference to the affairs of the Jews and the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem it looked further to the gospel church and the coming kingdom of the Messiah as well as most prophecies of the Old Testament did. This serves as a heads-up for us too. Interestingly, His Words to them were stated more to engage their caution rather than to satisfy their fleshly curiosity. It was to prepare them for what would take place rather than to give them concrete ideas of the events themselves. God desires a prepared people – always - who make the most of their opportunities. We are the foolish ones when we do not heed these instructions to know and practice the Truth. Scripture warns us against being a “Christian” in name only. Scripture is replete with admonitions regarding our faith walks. Paul writes to his beloved Timothy words we also should also take to heart. This is not just for preachers; it is for all of us who preach with our lives:
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Tim 4:1-2 (NIV)
"Maturity is for ministry! We grow up in order to give out. It is not enough to keep learning more and more. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe. Impression without expression causes depression. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation. Most of the time we’re more interested in 'serve us' than service. We say, 'I’m looking for a church that meets my needs and blesses me,' not 'I’m looking for a place to serve and be a blessing.' We expect others to serve us, not vice versa. But as we mature in Christ, the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service. The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, 'Who’s going to meet my needs?' and starts asking, 'Whose needs can I meet?'" Rick Warren
Our Lord first warns the disciples against being deceived. If we do not know Truth we easily fall prey to all sorts of Satan’s wiles as well and tend towards the pure depravation of self. When troubles are dark and threatening people will seek anything that appears as deliverance and Satan takes full advantage of these situations. The strength of the adversary’s delusion is such that many are and will be carried away by it. Nothing but the grace of God will be a protection. Jesus here warns us to engage our watchfulness. Many will come cloaked in deception easily ensnaring the unprepared and unlearned – those effortlessly duped by deceivers due to their ignorance of the Truth. The pretext of the greatest good is often the cover of the greatest evil. Satan acts most mischievously when he masquerades around as an angel of light. Our Lord here tells us to be on our guard against this. Remember, what Isaiah tells us, the true Christ did not strive or cry out:
1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.” Isaiah 42:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus goes on to tell them to not be surprised at wars and rumors of wars, nations and kingdoms rising against each other, famines and earthquakes in various places – all would serve as the beginning of birth pains. Ah, such dreadful judgments yet, our Lord states, these are only the beginning of birth pains. Anybody else besides me already feeling “twinges” of this in our day? It is not too hard to presently perceive the true depths of evil in the human heart and the uncertainty and fragility of life itself as well as the distresses and turbulent waters among nations and kingdoms. Yet our times are in His loving hands and the writer of Hebrews tells us our God offers us a coming kingdom that cannot be shaken and because of this we are to serve Him with thankfulness, reverence and awe:
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Heb 12:28-29 (NIV)