Title To discern the age... (Mark 13:1~13)
Contents
While the suffering of the cross is approaching every minute, the Lord looks at the Jerusalem temple and foretells the coming destruction of Jerusalem. The temple in the eyes of the disciples was splendid, strong, and majestic, but Jesus said that the strong temple would be destroyed, not a single stone on top of it.
When the disciples of Jesus ask when such things will happen and what will be the signs when such things happen, the Lord tells us what the signs will be when such things happen in the future.
First, he says that many people will come in the name of Jesus, claiming to be the Messiah, and will deceive people, that there will be wars and rumors of wars, there will be wars between nations and nations, and there will be earthquakes and famines in various places. Not only that, he said that the disciples of Jesus would face many tribulations and persecutions because of the gospel.
These words of Jesus are two-fold prophecies.
Closer are the prophetic words of the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. This prophecy was precisely fulfilled in A.D. 70, about 40 years after the words of Jesus. The Roman invasion of Jerusalem destroyed Jerusalem, and the Temple was completely destroyed.
These words are also the words of prophecy concerning the end times that will be fulfilled on this earth in the future. These signs will also be present when the final judgment is made on this earth by God's judgment. Signs such as religious and political turmoil, various natural disasters, and many tribulation and persecution against Christians.
We must sense that these signs are taking place in the times in which we now live.
Now is the spiritual time of the last days. Soon God's judgment will come upon this earth. We must pray and be spiritually awake. We must pray to God for spiritual discernment. We need to pray spiritually so that we can discern the times, but not be deceived by the teachings of erroneous people who preach vain tricks.
Today too, we hope for the Second Coming of our Lord, and we hope that we will be able to pray for the country, the people, the church, and the family while looking at the times with a spiritual perspective.