Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them.

‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Question:

Some feel that with a string of bad happenings in the world’s events, we must be in the last days.

Comment:

Virtually every generation from the time of Jesus to the present day has had within it people who were convinced that the "last days" were at hand. It is important to understand that Jesus was always both speaking to his immediate listeners and planting seeds for a deeper, less literal understanding at a later time. Indeed, if he were just talking about the immediate future as it concerned those listening to him, we'd have to say that he was a failed prophet, since 'the end' didn't occur.

What is 'the end'? Is it, as many believe, a day of final judgment, when all will be called to account and sent either to heaven or hell? There is really nothing in the teachings of Jesus that would suggest that was his expectation. It seems clear he was describing a day of new beginnings—a time when human consciousness will be lifted to Christ Consciousness, which is really the entire purpose of our human existence. We are to embrace the consciousness of our true Christ identity, and make that new consciousness the basis for all our human choices. He is clear that the world as we know it—the world based on, and defined by, our previously limited human consciousness—will resist the changes that Christ Consciousness will bring. There will be conflict and dramas. He wants us to know that so we can stay alert and be prepared. The temptations and dualistic expressions of human consciousness will actually seem to grow stronger. That makes it all the more important that we stay focused on our spiritual truth and spiritual identity. We must have the strength and focus to stand before the Son of Man—the Christ Presence of God—and allow the kingdom to come into expression through us.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed