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END OF EARTHLY EMPIRES (MARK 13:1-20)

REFLECTION

End of the earthly empires is the theme for our reflection. Once upon a time there were powerful empires and civilizations that predated the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. There was the Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek and Roman empires. Each of these empires had once colonised Israel. Today all these empires are subject matter for world history class, tourism and archaeological sites. Jesus prophesied about the end of the empire of His time and the persecution that will befall his disciples before the end of the age. (Mark 13:1-2)

Jesus did not prophesy doom to cause fear and panic. He did so to put His disciples and all those who will come to believe in Him on notice so that they will be on guard. “Watch out that no one deceives you. “Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. “You must be on your guard.” (Mark 13:5-9)

Jesus’s prophesy was in two folds. The end of the empire in His time and the end of the empires after His time which will culminate into His second coming which John described in Revelations 21:2-4 as “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” During this time, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. However, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “(Matthew 24:35-36). The greatest lesson today’s reflection teaches us is that a Christian must live as if the next minute is his or her last moment on earth and regardless of whatever persecution he or she may be going through on account of His or her faith in Jesus, “the gospel must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:10). Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will be with us and teach us what to do during the time of great tribulations. (Mark 13:11). As we wait for the end of our time and age, we must “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” (Philippians 2:12-15). My dear friend, regardless of the civilisation and empire we find yourself in, nothing on earth is permanent therefore let us repent, accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour and continue to grow in faith towards our ultimate salvation in Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Amen (Philippians 3:18-21)