I’ve been sitting under a series of sermons on Mark 13 (and its attendant Matthew 24:1-42). Now, I understand how people can get the idea that this passage is talking about the end of the world - it speaks in apocalyptic language about events that seem to correlate with our idea of what the end times will be like. But the question that needs to be asked is, “Is this really talking about what I want it to be talking about?”

Jesus uses phrases like “this generation” and such to describe events that will undoubtedly take place soon after he spoke them. Even though the events described appear to be about the end times - no doubt due to our unhappy obsession with them - I don’t think they really are.

You need to look at the question Jesus was asked to get an idea of what the answer means. The disciples were wetting their pants over the beauty of the temple, and Jesus tells them that the magnificent buildings are going to be razed so badly that not one stone will stand on top of another one when the whole thing’s over. They ask him when these things are going to happen, and he answers. That’s all. He answers a question about the temple and the end of that age. The end, I might add, of the Judean age. Not the end of the world. Why use terms like “the age” when all you’re talking about is the end of the world?

The most straightforward interpretation of these verses seems, then, to be that Jesus is talking about Jerusalem and that’s it. Not about Jerusalem and somehow also about events far in the future. Why would he? He wasn’t asked that question. All of the following verses need to be interpreted in that light. Not in the light of “What would this mean if it were about the end of the world?” That is to say, not in the light of what we want it to say, and not in the light of our degrading social situation. I mean, how many times I have I heard the “already but not yet!” theory about these verses? Why does it always come to that? What evidence is there for it? What scriptural correlations give birth to the idea?

Sure, prophecies are sometimes fulfilled more than once: but always in the light of scripture that reveals it to be so afterwards. The abomination of desolation happened already. Twice, even. Why a third time? Why not look at the history and say “that’s enough”? Besides, the abomination of desolation makes sense only in a physical temple. Yes, the church is spoken of as the temple in the New Testament, but how exactly does one abominate a spiritual building? It doesn’t make much sense at all: it’s reading into the passage something that really isn’t there.

If you read end times into that passage, you have this: tribulation and the end. It gets worse and worse until it ends. And look at things getting worse around us! Wow, it must be the end! But wait a second: it’s always been worse. I mean, right now things are looking a bit bleak here. But what about Africa? China? South Korea? These places are burgeoning with Christian truth and full of the gospel more so than ever before. I go so far sometimes as to say that China may be the next great Christian nation. And my firm belief is that the gospel - the only thing that really makes sense in this world - will one day triumph over its enemies, just like scripture says it will. Have a look at Psalm 72, for one good example. What is that talking about? Every nation will serve God - every nation will worship him - and his dominion will be everywhere.

I’m not the optimistic sort, not really. But this much I know: God will rule on this earth, and he will rule before he sweeps out of the sky like some sort of deus ex machina to save the elect when the devil finally gets too strong for God to do anything but just wipe the whole thing out and start over. Sounds a little ridiculous, doesn’t it? Jesus, who triumphed over Satan in his death and ressurection reduced to watching the world he created good reduced to a complete cesspool of sin until he finally gets enough of it and decides “that’s it!” That’s not even a very good story; the final chapter just sucks.

Here’s a better one: The world was created by and for Jesus. The devil corrupted and was set loose upon it. Sin took root and flourished. God sent his Son to conquer - and conquer he did. But not only did he conquer once, he’s going to grind his boot into the head of the serpent on the old troublemaker’s own ground. Here, now, on earth, in this temporal existance.

It’s not a fight we can’t win here. It’s a fight we can’t lose! No hiding in the corner praying that the tribulation will be too much for these few elect: these few elect will sweep the earth, and we will win the war. You know, the 20th century was filled with more persecution than any other up till this point. I hear it all the time. We’re so oppressed! (Of course, there’s a heck of a lot more people now than ever before, and we have better weapons, and better communication, and better record keeping, but never mind that.) This world is teeming with Christians at this very moment. We are the ultimate antiviral, we of the Way.

Think about it: the way, the truth, the life. How can that not overcome anything in its path?

Dan (Deep thoughts tonight. Feel free to reprimand me.)

Tags: scripture