Daily Reading 11-10-17
Matthew 24:1-14 The Voice (VOICE)
In our passage today, Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple, as well as end time events. There will be wars, earthquakes, persecutions, and false prophets. Love-which is connected to God’s Law-will be under attack by evil. Wickedness will abound. Jesus has not told us the time of His second coming. He has told us to be prepared for it, the “when” is task oriented. When the gospel of the kingdom is proclaimed through the whole world as a testimony to all nations, then the end will come. Do your part by telling someone about the kingdom today.
Matthew 24:1-14 (VOICE)
24 Jesus left the temple. As He was walking away, His disciples came up t Him and asked what He thought about the temple buildings.
Jesus: 2 Look around you. All of it will become rubble. I tell you this: not one stone will be left standing.
3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olivies, the disciples came to Him privately.
Disciples: We don’t understand Your predicitions. Tell us, when will these things happen: When will the temple be destroyed? What will be sign that You are returning? How will we know that the end of the age is upon you?
Jesus: 4 Take care that you are not deceived. 5 For man will come in My name claiming they are the Anointed One, and many poor souls will be taken in. 6 You will hear of wars, and you will hear rumors of war, but you should not panic. It is inevitable, this violent breaking apart of the sinful world, but remember, the wars are not the end. The end is still unfolding. 7 Nations will do battle with nations, and kingdoms will fight neighboring kingdoms, and there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But these are not the end. These are the birth pangs, the beginning. The end is till unforlding.
9 They will hand you over to your enemies, who will torture you and then kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. 10 And many who have followed Me and claimed to love Me and sought God’s kingdom will turn away-they will abadon the faith and betray and hate on another. 11-12 The love that they had for one another will grow cold because few will obey the law. False prophets will appear, many will be taken in by them, and the only thing that will grow is wickedness. There will be no end to the increase of wickedness. 13 But those who do not waver from our path and do not follow those false prophets-those among you will be saved. 14 And this good news of God’s kingdom will be preached throughout the whold world, a testimony to all people and all nations. Then, beloved, the end, the consummation of all things, will come.
Prayer: Lord, I see so many things that line up with your second coming, but I know your Word reminds us there is an end time proclamation of the Good News to the whole world. I am excited about it and desire to be part of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.