“…and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity…Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
The above scripture, found in Luke chapter twenty one, is generally considered to be part of our Lord’s Olivet Discourse. Matthew and Mark’s accounts have a more Jewish flavor. Luke seems to be addressing Gentiles, thus omitting the strong Jewish element. Some believe Luke’s description is the fulfillment of the siege of Jerusalem in A.D.70 by the Romans. There are elements that could be applied, but the context overwhelmingly lends itself to the future coming of our Lord back to earth.
Most of the the crisis events listed in this prophetic chapter, (political, social, and religious) have always been characteristic, (geographically) in every age to some extent, but not world-wide in their scope. Their increase and intensity will be greater than ever seen, as His coming draws near. For example, there have always been earthquakes, but not in “divers places,” (simultaneous) as our Lord predicted. I recently found on-line three- hundred and fifty-nine in the past seven days world-wide.
Some day will be the last days of this old world. Jesus said we’ll know them by a universal distress among the Nations. Earth’s population will tremble, their hearts terrified with fear, with the coming events that will cast their shadow upon all of mankind. These calamities will be more than humanity can handle or endure. When this world begins to unravel at the seams, humanity will be, as Matthew Henry puts it, “dispirited and unsouled.”
Many believe Christians will be delivered from all these atrocities, others that we will go through them. The question for both sides is, “Are you ready? As to the former, are you ready to suffer for His Name sake? To the latter I would inquire, “Are you ready to stand before God and give account of your life? “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best” The latter can easily be fit in to our schedule. It’s the wise person that prepares for the former. Just in case.
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