Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 21 NET, Ch. 22 HCSB

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Thoughts

In Luke 21, Jesus makes the statement concerning the Temple, that not one stone will be left on another. He prophesied the destruction that would take place 40 years later. In his account of this same conversation that Jesus had with his disciples, Matthew is more complete in what Jesus said, because it is more apparent that Jesus was also talking of His ultimate return at the end of the age.

So the disciples asked Jesus when these things would take place, and He gave them signs to look for.

And since I was a teenager, I have heard the question, “Are we in the end times?” And I’m sure that question has been asked countless times since Jesus was resurrected. 

Let me answer this way. Pastor Chuck Smith, the man who founded Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, fervently believed that Jesus would return before the end of his life. He wrote a book on the subject, explaining the reasons for his belief. I remember going to an event at the Anaheim Convention Center (I’m pretty sure that was the venue) where Pastor Chuck spoke about it. He made a great argument, and many people agreed with Chuck and believed that Jesus would be coming before 1980. 

Well, here we are in January of 2021. Jesus did not return in 1980, and Pastor Chuck went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2013. By the way, lest there be any confusion, Chuck was always very careful to say that “No man knows the hour”. He was not predicting Jesus’ return, he was merely stating that he believed that Jesus was coming soon. 

So my answer to the question of are we in the end times is, “I believe that we are. I believe that many things that must happen before Jesus’ return have happened. However, I have learned not to be dogmatic about prophetic events. God is sovereign. Jesus said, ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ (NIV) If Jesus doesn’t even know, how can I?” I’ll add this: I can imagine Jesus sitting on the edge of His throne, next to the Father, “Saying, now Father? Now?? Surely the time has come!”