8-26-19 Today in the Word

Servant Discipleship: The Gospel of Mark
PREPARING FOR THE END
Monday, August 26, 2019 | Mark 13:1-23

Herod’s Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD with an incredible amount of violent bloodshed. In The Jewish War, historian Flavius Josephus describes the destruction with horrific and vivid words: “Crowded together around the entrances many were trampled by their friends, many fell among the still hot and smoking ruins of the colonnades and died as miserably as the defeated. Everywhere was slaughter and flight.” So great was the bloodshed, one very well might have mistaken those days for the last days.
Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, even while it still stood in magnificent splendor. Incredulous, the disciples pressed Him for more details wanting to know where and when it would happen so they could be prepared. The “end” Jesus speaks of here refers both to the destruction of Herod’s Temple in the time of the disciples as well as the end described in Revelation. Those living in the first century were to remain on their guard; those believers who are alive and the time of the rebuilding of the temple should be on their guard for persecution and attempts at deception.
Jesus’ explanation of events associated with the complete destruction of the Temple calls the reader to be watchful for deceivers in order to endure to that final end. Today, many try to take advantage of people’s fears, pointing to the chaos in our world, as we near the time of the return of Christ.
Yet our response to the hope of Christ’s return is to be watchful, guarding ourselves against deceiving words about His return and preparing without anxiety for the world’s hatred toward us to increase. We know that our Lord will be victorious, He will destroy His enemies. And we will be with Him in joy forever.
APPLY THE WORD
We are not to be anxious and fearful, but to be firm in our faith. The Lord promises salvation to “the one who stands firm” (v. 13). Losing salvation is not possible for the believer. But those who turn forever away from a profession of Christ reveal themselves as never having truly accepted Him. Those belonging to God will never lose their hope.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-17-23 It's Coming

It Is Coming - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/12/24/it-is-coming-by-daymond-duck/ On Dec. 17, 2022, it was reported that Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island, has introduced legislation to permanently bar former Pres. Trump from running for president again, and 40 Democrats have signed on. Cicilline is accusing Trump of orchestrating an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. At the time of this writing, it is debatable as to whether Cicilline’s legislation will get voted on before the new Congress takes office in 2023, but some conservatives have said from the beginning that the main purpose of the Jan. 6 fake show-trial was to stop Trump from being elected again. Some, including this writer, have said there is no telling what the U.S. shadow government will do to prevent making America great again (MAGA) because they want to surrender the sovereignty of the U.S. to the New World Order (coming world government). It was easy to see this comi
Read more

9-18-23 Rage Against Jesus And His People — The Ominous Trend Of 2022

Rage Against Jesus And His People — The Ominous Trend Of 2022 – By Hal Lindsey - https://harbingersdaily.com/rage-against-jesus-and-his-people-the-ominous-trend-of-2022/ By the end of 2022, eight billion people lived on the earth. They were besieged by a series of plagues, droughts, false prophets, war, the threat of greater war, hatred, rage, theft, and violence. The eight billion were fragmented in a variety of ways — according to their nations, level of income, race, gender, various understandings of gender and human sexuality, along with religion or the lack thereof. Change became overwhelming to most of the eight billion. For those over 40, it was almost unfathomable that by the end of 2022, not even half the students at Cambridge University identified as heterosexual. In 2022, deception ruled the day. Trust in government, educational institutions, and the news media had been largely obliterated. Trust in health officials and doctors had become severely damaged. In suc
Read more

9-16-23 Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 3: Genesis 17:19

Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 3: Genesis 17:19 :: By Paul J. Scharf Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles The Messiah was a descendant of Abraham. More than that, we considered last time how He was, in fact, promised within the covenant that God made with Abram (Gen. 12:1-3). According to the Apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16 and 19, He is the ultimate recipient of that covenant! Our Savior Jesus Christ is finally the One through whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Paul also quoted and discussed that portion of the covenant in Gal. 3:8-9. We ended last time with the realization that the promised Messiah would be the final Davidic king over Israel. As declared then, however, there are several intermediate steps, with accompanying prophecies, which are given between the times of Abraham and David and speak about His coming and the offices He would hold as the greatest prophet, priest, and king. And there are also more ance
Read more