Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near

 

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

- Luke 21:20-28 

 

On Saturday we read that, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."  Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls."

 

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."  My study Bible comments that the phrase when you see indicates that many of the disciples would still be alive at the time of the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem, which would come in AD 70.   According to fifth century church historians, the early church at Jerusalem fled east of the Jordan at these signs.   The destruction of the temple was complete (see Saturday's reading, above), so that Jesus' prophecy that not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down was fulfilled.  That great conflagration and intense fighting included not only terrible loss of life and starvation of Jerusalem's inhabitants but also a massive destructive fire that swept the city, indicating days of vengeance indeed and certainly horrific hardship for those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies, making the necessary sudden flight impossible.

 

 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  How will Christ return?  My study Bible comments that the event will be unmistakable to all the world, as He will be coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  

In the mystery of this revelation and prophesy, we are given a glimpse of what are called end times.  In popular literature and media, end times are often portrayed as only the extraordinarily dramatic and frightening events close to the immediate time of Christ's return and of judgment.  But this is not the picture of end times that Jesus gives us.  Instead, the "time of the end" indicates the whole of the age in which we live now.  That is, these events of the end times begin, in Christ's words here, with the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem, and continue until the time of His Second Coming, which will be apparent to all.  Of that specific time of His return, He says, "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  But the rest of this discourse is concerned with times leading from the Siege of Jerusalem, through the present time, and until the time of His return, as described by Christ.  So what we observe from today's reading is a combination of worldly wars and disasters which we know, and then the signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." There have been times in the history of the Church when the sign of the Son of Man has been reported in the sky, meaning a brilliant image of the Cross, such as that noted by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in a letter to the Emperor Constantius II in the year 351, which remained for several hours and reportedly shone brighter than the sun (see Apparition of the Holy Cross).  But it is noteworthy that in the discussions we have of Jesus teaching about end times in the Gospels, the later first century destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem are mingled together with the end of the created world in the fullness of time, and there is no clear sense of chronology given.  The only conclusion we can draw is the relationship between the terrible event of the decimation of the temple and the city and the cataclysmic events to come which we're told will culminate in the powers of the heavens being shaken and the return of Christ in a cloud with power and great glory.  Even until today the many wars, famines, and natural disasters we know about have continued throughout the history that we know.  Certainly the evidence of tremendous violence, in and of itself, is notable, such as the wars of the twentieth century, great and small, involving so much of the world, and the development of massively powerful technology with which to wage war is noteworthy in terms of a kind of progression that seems to tie these themes together.  We have echoes of these prophecies throughout the ages, but most clearly in today's world we have strong warnings about environmental challenges, even as the world today dwells with an almost studiously-ignored uncertainty regarding what is by now the most heightened risk of nuclear conflict in history.  None of us should be ignorant of the fact that war is by now waged on a number of fronts which includes new technologies, including information, infrastructure systems, and many varied types of weapons unheard of before.  A true world war at this time would be something far more devastating than what was experienced in the previous century.  But what we may draw from Jesus' presentation of end times is simply that from that particular "type" of destruction of the temple, which He characterizes as vengeance, echoing through history until today, the world is seized in its own conflicts and trauma.  The struggle for spiritual truth brought by Christ into the world remains, and in the midst of that spiritual struggle are all kinds of other struggles and conflicts that magnify and echo one another.  "What is truth?" becomes yet another important question at such times of conflict and violence.  Perhaps the most important meaning we take from Christ's prophecy must be the singular importance of maintaining our understanding of who we are and what we must be about -- that none of the fearsome things we know, or the unknown things we dread, throw us off the track of maintaining our spiritual mission as Christ's followers.  We are not to make timetables about "the end" nor are we supposed to view any of these things except as signs to remind us of our real identity and the maintenance of our souls as those which belong to Christ.  That is, to be following in His mission and commandments for us, and most especially to keep in mind the real mission to care for one another as He has taught.  As St. Paul put it, to comfort and edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  These incidents that make us fear, great and small, man-made or seemingly natural, should function for us as echoes of the elements of Christ's prophecy, and at the same time reminders not to fear but put our trust in Christ.  For we have not only been told all things beforehand, but we are also those who are meant to live His teachings.   That would especially include the "new commandment" that we love one another as He has loved us.  In caring for one another, let us remember that includes comfort and encouragement, an assurance that there is a way God wants us to go forward in spite of difficulties and obstacles and fears of what might be.  For it is in Him whom we trust, and to Him we look to find our redemption.

 

 

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven

 

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.  

 

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.  

"Immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

 

- Matthew 24:15-31 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things?  Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be?  And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"  And Jesus answered and said to them:  "Take heed that no one deceives you.  For may will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

 

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes."    Jesus alludes to Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11), which was fulfilled in AD 70, when the Roman general Titus entered the Most Holy Place and had a statue of himself erected in the temple before having the temple destroyed.  My study Bible says that the Lord's phrase when you see is an indication that many of the disciples would still be alive at that time.  The parenthetical words whoever reads, let him understand are understood to have been inserted by Matthew into Christ's address, as an encouragement to his early Christian flock who may have witnessed this event.

 

"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."  My study Bible comments that the severity of winter weather or respect for the Sabbath would prevent many faithful from fleeing quickly in a time of desperation.  A patristic spiritual interpretation views "the Sabbath" as a symbol of idleness with regard to virtue, and "winter" as indicating fruitlessness with regard to charity; in other words, the failure to practice Christ's teachings.  Therefore, the person who departs this life in such a spiritual state will suffer judgment.  

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  Once again, Jesus gives yet another warning against being deceived, following false christs and false prophets.  Moreover, He seals this admonition with a description of His return.  It will be unmistakable to the whole world.  If there is any question or doubt, my study Bible points out, that alone is evidence that He has not returned.  As Christ's return will shine from the east, so whenever possible Christians historically have worshiped facing eastward in symbolic hope and anticipation of Christ's second and glorious coming.  Luke's Gospel reports Christ's final words here as, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together" (Luke 17:37).   A traditional understanding of this statement indicates that the body refers to Christ, and the eagles to the angels and saints.

 

 "Immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens will be shaken."  My study Bible says that in paristic tradition, the sun will not be destroyed, but rather darkened in relation to the glory of Christ.  In other words, the sun will appear to be dark by comparison when Christ returns in the fullness of His splendor.  We get a hint of this through the manifestation of the heavenly, brilliant light at the Transfiguration.

 

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."  The sign of the Son of Man is the Cross, my study Bible explains, which will be revealed as the standard for Christ's impending judgment.  While at His first coming, Christ came in humility and morality; but at His second coming, He will be revealed in power and great glory.  Regarding Christ's teaching that they will gather together His elect, see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, one of the clearest New Testament passages on the Second Coming of Christ.

 

 When we read about the destruction of Jerusalem that was to come within the lifetimes of those listening to Christ at the Siege of Jerusalem, we read accounts that are terrifying and frightening in the details that we have.  This is particularly true of the events which took place at the Temple and within it.  The details of bloodshed and warfare, the period of a war of attrition and the fury on both sides, in which countless numbers of innocent civilians died, is indeed horrifying.  The descriptions of the desolation that was left of what was once a beautiful city and magnificent temple tell us of the total destruction that resulted, and imply to us that Christ's words, though brief, tell a true story of devastation.  His warnings to flee proved prescient, as an account of the events of that time can attest to all who read it.  He steered His flock free of it, so that the Church was able to survive, as they fled to Pella before the outbreak of the Roman war.  In Luke's Gospel, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes" (Luke 19:42).   In a note on this passage, my study Bible explains that the name Jerusalem means "foundation of peace."  It states that only faith in Christ brings true peace.  Jesus' admonition to avoid participation in useless and devastating warfare that could only come to one end proved to be wise for the early Church, and we today must continue to heed His words.  Certainly the early Church was filled with believers who were also soldiers, so this is not a call for abolishing the reasonable necessity for the protection of a state and its civilians.  Indeed, many of the early saints of the Church were soldiers, who were martyred because they refused to participate in worship of Caesar, even when they themselves were being lauded and rewarded for their valor and courage.  Instead, Christ calls us to understand what it is that truly makes for our peace.  The terror of the destruction of Jerusalem serves as an illustration of what happens when we combine relentless and unbridled passion together with violence.  As the descriptions go, even the most disciplined soldiers refused to obey orders in the heat of battle and resistance, and participated in ruthless destructive violence.  And this remains a warning to all of us.   Any examination of twentieth century history will show us that we are still susceptible to needless destructive violence and cruelty on a mass scale, especially when human emotions are stirred by skillful manipulators with totalitarian aims and unbridled desire for more power and conquest.  Let us consider today the things that make for our peace, and remember to always seek Christ's way first.  For this also is part of His teaching to us that as His followers, our priority is to endure in our faith, through all things, no matter how terrifying they might seem to be.  This is our lesson from the early Church, and it remains our all-too-human lesson today.  For He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it, and salvation remains His way.  For in Him we seek to avoid the useless end of violence that begets more violence and ends only in senseless death.  His promise to us is resurrection and life, and this remains our hope and light.  The sign of the Son of Man is the Cross, and it is at the Cross we remain, for it points the way where all things are reconciled and we make the choice for His truth.

 

 

For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled

 

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.   And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

- Luke 21:20–28 

 

On Saturday we read that, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."  Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls."

 

  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."   Although His entire discourse on "end times" (here in Luke and elsewhere in other Gospels) mixes both the events to come in a generation in Jerusalem and the fullness of worldly time, here in these verses the focus is clearly on the Siege of Jerusalem, which would occur in AD 70.  Jesus quite vividly and truthfully describes the terror and destruction that is to come.  My study bible comments that Christ's phrase when you see is an indication that many of the disciples would still be alive at that time.  Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies is a reference to the difficulties of fleeing quickly in a time of desperation.  

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  These verses refer to the fullness of time and the "end" of worldly time.  Possibly we are to understand them as the playing out of the great spiritual conflict which exists unseen, and which is resolved in the power and authority of Christ.  But one thing is quite clear, and that is that when Christ returns it will be something unmistakable and not hidden to anyone.  Christ will be revealed with power and great glory:  these are the same words used by Matthew in Matthew 24:30.  My study bible comments that while at His first coming, Christ came in humility and mortality, at His second coming He will be revealed in "power and great glory."

 

 How do we think of Christ's second coming?  How do we think about the end of time, the fullness of the times of the world?  These things are great mysteries and they are meant to be and to remain great mysteries.  There is nowhere in the telling of these prophecies that Christ invites speculation about when they will happen.  Rather, He is giving us a warning not to be fooled and not to be afraid when we see calamitous things happening.  Christ's specific warnings about Jerusalem were clear to His followers, and for this reason, the early Church there was able to recognize the signs He foretold about the destruction of Jerusalem.  Neither would it be such a terrible shock and surprise to them when the temple was destroyed, an act which was likely to be unthinkable to the Jews of His time.  In fact, even the Romans had not wanted the temple to be destroyed, but in the heat and chaos of war there is no prediction of what will happen.  In its fullness, the Siege of Jerusalem must have simply been a horrendous thing to live through and to witness, just as Jesus describes it here.  It happened near the time of Passover, the city was full of pilgrims when a war of attrition began.  Just as Jesus says, an army encamped all around the city and it was "surrounded by armies" who prevented pilgrims from leaving, and allowed no provisions in, so people were slowly starved.  This is not something alien to wars then and now, and we should understand the full horror of what Jerusalem endured, even as fighting broke out among varied Jewish factions under the pressure of the siege.   We should think about Jesus' words of pity for the women who were pregnant and nursing babies, and consider that time and the things people went through.  Jesus calls this time "the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled."  We might well wonder what He is talking about.  He has given many warnings in parables about the rejection of Himself and His ministry, such as the one found in this reading about the Wicked Vinedressers.   In chapter 11, Jesus has said, "Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation" (Luke 11:49-51).   What these words imply are not a condemnation upon the whole of the nation, nor are they in any way positive statements about the horrors of war (quite the opposite; see, for example, John 9:1-3).  But they do convey to us the reality of the power of God in the world, and the consequences of our rejection of the grace that is given to us.  These are not prophecies of foreboding and warning in some general sense.  They are statements about the consequences of knowingly rejecting something given by God:  a call, a revelation, a gift of God's love.  Jesus' statement in chapter 11 mentions the blood of all of the prophets "shed from the foundation of the world," a cumulative rejection which will have its effect in this generation.  What the prophets, Christ, and those who truly bear the Kingdom into the world have in common is that they are sent by God.  What we must take away from this is the understanding that whether or not we recognize some effect in the world that results from the rejection of God's call which has in some way been given as a gift of love, there really shouldn't be any doubt God's power is at work in the world, and that rejection of a gift of grace has its effect one way and another.   Whether we want to recognize that or not, whether we are conscious of this reality or not, there is little doubt that the power of this Kingdom is something real -- even a spiritual reality that might remain completely unknown to those who reject it for themselves.   At the end of the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, Jesus speaks of the stone that was rejected:  that those who stumble upon it have a chance to think again and reconsider.    Without faith, none of this makes sense.  And certainly, the Gospels go out of their way to establish that not every hardship or difficulty results from sin -- far from it!  There is injustice aplenty that is no fault of the victims.   But let us not forget in times of hardship and difficulty -- as well as times of peace and plenty -- that the power of the Kingdom is something true and good and beautiful.  It works through the small and the weak (2 Corinthians 12:9), it lifts up the lowly, scatters the proud, pulls down even the mighty from their thrones (Luke 1:51-52), and its rejection has its effects, understood or not.  Let us consider at all times our participation through faith in this Kingdom, and count our blessings, recognizing our great gift and not taking it for granted.

 

As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

"Immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

- Matthew 24:15-31

Yesterday we read that Jesus went out and departed from the temple in Jerusalem, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things?  Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be?  And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"  And Jesus answered and said to them:  "Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes."  Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:23) was fulfilled in AD 70, when the Roman general Titus entered the Most Holy Place and had a statue of himself erected in the temple, before having the temple destroyed.  My study bible explains that the Lord's phrase when you see indicates that many of the disciples  would still be alive at that time.  It adds that the words whoever reads, let him understand are commonly understood to have been inserted by Matthew as an encouragement to his early Christian flock, who may have witnessed this event.

"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!"  My study bible cites Luke 23:29 here, as a similar reference by Christ to what is coming in Jerusalem.  It's an expression and acknowledgement of the pain endured at seeing one's children suffering.  A nursing mother's life is concerned with care for her child, but an inability to save the child is understood here by Christ in its terrible pain.  One cannot help but consider the knowledge of His own mother's experience that is soon to come.

"And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."  The severity of winter weather or respect for the Sabbath would prevent many people from quickly fleeing in a time of desperation. Jesus' emphasis here is clearly on the desperate need for escape at this time, and the terrible reality of the circumstances.  My study bible notes that there is a patristic spiritual interpretation given to this passage, which sees the Sabbath as symbolizing idleness with regard to virtue, and winter as indicating fruitlessness with regard to charity.  Therefore, the person who departs this life in such a spiritual state, it says, will suffer judgment.

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  Jesus speaks here about His return, the Second Coming.  He does this chiefly for clarity in the terrible circumstances under which they experience suffering and will be susceptible to those who falsely claim His return.  My study bible says that the manner in which He states He will come back clearly suggests an event that will be unmistakable to the whole world -- and that is there is any question or doubt, this alone is evidence that He has not returned.  As Christ's return will shine from the east, so Orthodox and other Christians worship facing eastward whenever possible, in symbolic hope and anticipation of His second and glorious coming.

"Immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens will be shaken."  Here Jesus continues to speak about the time of His return.  According to patristic commentators, the sun will not be destroyed but rather darkened in relation to the glory of Christ.  In other words, the sun will appear to be dark by comparison when Christ returns in the fullness of His splendor.

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."  My study bible says that the sign of the Son of Man is the Cross, which will be revealed as the standard for Christ's impending judgment.  While at His first coming, Christ came in humility and mortality, at His second coming, He will be revealed in power and great glory.  (See also St. Paul's description at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

What will it be like when Christ returns?  I don't think we can have a way of understanding that, save to say that what we are given here is the understanding that it will be unmistakable, instant, and clear to everyone.  These are the clues that we have been given. But it is also important to understand the context in which these descriptions are given.  Jesus is first of all intent upon enforcing to His disciples that they should not be fooled by false christs, false reports of His return, or false prophets.  He gives them an understanding of His return so that they are not deceived in desperate circumstances in which they face great hardship.  Secondly, we are to understand this critical warning of what is to come in Jerusalem.  He is emphatically urging them to flee at the first sign of the wars that are coming, and to pray that this does not come at particular times which will cause even greater hardship.  There are those who teach that it is because of His warnings that many survived from the early Church at Jerusalem after the destruction of the city.  But there is a deeper truth here we can read into the text.  The Siege of Jerusalem will mark not simply the end of one age, but the beginning of another which in itself is the "end time."  It is, in spiritual perspective, all of a whole.  We remain in this time, and we await His return.  We live with the problems today that He names, with uncertainties and seemingly ever larger and more widespread warfare even as we progress industrially.  As such, He gives us a kind of roadmap for our faith in the time in which we live:  we await His return but we live in the here and the now.   Our focus should be on following His commands and living the life He has taught, and not on when exactly that will happen.  His assurance to us that it will happen in an unmistakable way gives us the freedom to consider how we best live out our faith even in the midst of difficulties.