Daily Advent Meditation DEC 14th - By Val Jackson

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Daily Advent Meditation
By Val Jackson

Matthew 24: 15-31
So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; someone on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; someone in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, "Look! Here is the Messiah!" or "There is Christ!"-do not believe it. For false messiah and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, "Look! The Messiah is in the wilderness", do not go out. If they say, "Look! Christ is in the inner rooms", do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Humanity. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

'Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Humanity will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see "the Son of Humanity coming on the clouds of heaven" with power and great glory. And Christ will send out the angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather the Messiah's elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. ' New Revised Standard Version

THE END IS NEAR

This passage, along with Revelation and parts of the book of Daniel are commonly assumed to be biblical prophecy about the end of the world. Many of us have heard the "End is Near" sermon preached in one format or another. That message still rings in my ears, and I can hear the preacher as he delivers it from the pulpit with an urgent fervor:

"We know the time is short," He says, "We know it won't be long because we see the signs of the times. No man knows the exact day. No angel in heaven knows the exact hour - Not even Jesus himself. Only God knows the appointed time when Christ shall appear. On that day, the sun will refuse to shine, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky and the Earth will tremble on its axis. It will be a time of great suffering and tribulation, but there will be no place to run and no place to hide. Behold...the heavens will split and all will look to the sky and see him, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, The Prince of Peace, riding on a cloud of glory, wielding the sword of power and justice. And Christ will send forth the angels to sound the final trumpet. Then the dead in Christ shall rise first. Afterward, those of us in Christ, who remain, who are the living Elect, will be gathered from the four corners of the earth and we will be caught up to meet him in the air. Glory, Hallelujah, brothers and sisters have you been washed in the blood of the lamb? Are you ready for that great 'getting up' morning?"

I can hear the joyful "Amens" and "Hallelujahs" coming from the congregation as the Elect rejoice in that great day of deliverance.

Even today, as I attempt to sort myth from fact, the possible from the impossible and the literal from the metaphorical, my heart feels the power of the message. Yet - my head finds it difficult to digest it. On the surface some scriptures appear to be too far-fetched to be useful, but I don't want to dismiss them immediately. Let's honor this scripture (as it reads or how we've heard it.) Let us invite in the Holy Spirit as we contemplate its significance for us. What is the meaning of the second coming of Christ for us now? Is there a message in this story which is plausible and useful?

Speak to us, I pray. (To be continued in tomorrow's devotional)


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