January 26, 2000

COMMENTARY:
To predict or to proclaim?
That is the question
By Jerl Watkins
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Sweeny
___Certainly we all had grown weary of the Y2K propaganda long before the arrival of Jan. 1. Obviously, no one knew exactly what was going to happen at the stroke of midnight, but is that any different from any other day? The reality is that none of us knows what the next minute of any moment in history will bring. However, for the time being, the Y2K bug has been swatted, and fears of massive computer failures are easing (for the most part; beware Feb. 29).
___ The prophets of doom were not limited to the secular world, though. Many from the Christian community again used this opportunity to predict the return of Christ and the close of the age. There was a fervor of activity concerning the end of time. Books on the subject sold like hot cakes, and talk shows were replete with those who believe the return of Christ was surely imminent as well as predictable.
___ One of the "signs" of the end, which is so often reported in everything from the tabloids to Christian publications, concerns natural disasters and wars. However, many people believe Jesus expressly states "wars and rumors of wars, and famines, and earthquakes" are definitely not signs of the end.
___ Jesus' most definitive statement concerning the end of time is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. The Jews believed the destruction of the Temple would be accompanied by the coming of the Messiah, the close of the Present Evil Age and the dawning of the Age to Come. As the disciples were admiring their beautiful Temple, Jesus told them it would be destroyed. His statement probably left them dumbfounded; Matthew 24:3 seems to indicate that after making this comment, he walked off and left them standing in the Temple area in bewilderment and amazement.
___ Then they followed him up to the Mount of Olives and asked him 3 questions:
___ When will this (the destruction of the Temple) be? What will be the sign of your coming? What will be the sign of the end of the age?
___ As we read Matthew 24 (and Mark 13 and Luke 21), we must keep these questions in mind if we are to understand Jesus' answer. The following is a summary of Matthew 24. Note each of these verses:
___-- 1-2: Jesus' statement. The Temple will be destroyed.
___-- 3: Disciples' questions. Since the Jews associated the destruction of the Temple with the coming of the Messiah, they asked: When will this (the destruction of the Temple) happen? What will be the sign of your coming? (Since they did not expect a second coming. The reference here is to when he would reveal himself as the Messiah to the people). What will be the sign of the end of the age?
___ -- 4-8: Jesus begins with a warning. Do not be deceived by false signs or false Messiahs. Catastrophes in nature, etc. are not signs of the end of time.
___ -- 9-14: Jesus issues a second warning. Understand that God's people will suffer persecution all during the time that the gospel must be preached to the entire world. This also does not mean the end is near.
___ -- 15-22: Jesus answers the disciples' first question. The destruction of the Temple will be imminent when you see "the abomination that causes desolation" ("when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies," Luke 21:20). The destruction of the Temple is not the end, even though God's people will suffer from extreme persecution.
___ -- 23-28: Jesus issues a third warning. During persecution and calamity, there will always be rumors of the coming of the Messiah, but do not be deceived. The Son of Man is coming as surely as vultures gather around a dead body, but there will be no question about when it happens; everyone will know it.
___ -- 29-31: Jesus answers the disciples' second question. When the Son of Man comes, it will be like nothing that has ever happened before. It will be as if the sun and moon were darkened and the stars fell from heaven. (Compare this language with Joel 2 and Acts 2 concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost). The signs of the coming of the Messiah are not environmental and cannot be observed or calculated by men (Luke 17:20). Both salvation and judgement will accompany his coming.
___ -- 32-35: Jesus gives an additional answer to the disciples' first question. You can read the signs and know about the time of the destruction of the Temple in time to get ready for it. (This is exactly what the Christians did in A.D. 70).
___ -- 36-51: Jesus answers the disciples' third question. No one can know the time of the coming of the Messiah or the end of the age, so you always must be ready.
___ Jesus' basic answer to the disciples' questions was that the destruction of the Temple would not usher in the end of time and also that no one knows when the end will come. The Christian must know that the Lord could return at any time and always be ready. He should be deceived neither by false predictions nor environmental catastrophes. The Messiah surely will return, and the Christian should be about the task of proclaiming the gospel to the whole world, rather than trying to predict when he will return. Christians should be satisfied with Jesus' answer and be busy proclaiming the gospel rather than continuing to cry "wolf" to an ever-increasingly skeptical world.

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