End Times
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?” Matthew 24:3
It's common when something catastrophic or concerning happens, for many to say that such things are “signs of the times.” Sometimes they also try to pinpoint specific Bible passages which apply to this or that current event. Someone put a microchip in their wrist? That must be the mark of the beast! Some political candidate did something I don’t like? That must be the Antichrist! Volcanoes? Hurricanes? Tsunamis? Oh my! It must be the end!
But is this saying, “signs of the times,” actually biblical? If you look up Matthew 24 in your Bible you might see a section heading that reads “Signs of The Times.” But that title isn’t part of the Spirit-inspired text and it's really not accurate. In this section, Jesus talks about signs of the destruction of Jerusalem. It is true that the destruction of Jerusalem is a warning and picture of the judgment to come. Yet, look at how Jesus points to “wars, earthquakes, famine etc” (24:8-9) and does not call them “signs of the times.” Rather, He says, “the end is not yet.” He calls such things “the beginning of the birth pains.” They are signs that something is very wrong in this world, signs of the curse of sin, signs the end is going to come. They are not signs of when it will come.
Luther illustrated this with the picture of a man imprisoned in a dungeon after some wicked ruler had kidnapped him. The man hears the castle suddenly booming and shaking. It seems terrifying. But the booming and shaking are from his own barron, who has come to his rescue and is attacking the castle. He is battering the gates, tearing them down, and coming to set him free. These are therefore hopeful signs. For while birth pains do mean sorrow for a time, that sorrow soon gives way to joy when the child comes!
Jesus promises, “I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” (John 16:22)
Lord, when we hear creation groaning, make us joyful in tribulation, faithful in love and constant in hope. Amen.