With all the news circling around the Iran war there's a lot of debate or questions as to who’s in charge around here? Trump or the fifth string Mullahs… and with that…people always want to jump to the end of days discussion.

A few days back, the verse of the day on the My Bible App featured Mark 13:30 where Jesus said “truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away” before Jesus comes back at end times.

Did Jesus get it wrong? What generation is he referring to?

I found a great article online by Dr John Oakes who wrote a piece in Bible Interpretation which was posted on July 12, 2022.

Dr Oakes opens up his article with this intro. Mark 13:30 has bugged me for some time now. For context, in chapter 13 Jesus predicts the Temple’s destruction, then lists events that signal the end times, saying, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (NIV)

This version, according to Oakes, assumes Jesus was speaking directly to the people alive during the end times. To which I say, “whose end times? Theirs or ours.” We have nations at war with one another just like they did in Jesus’ day.

Did Jesus make a mistake? Am I wrong to have doubts? Is this faith-shattering?

Thankfully Oakes has an answer for us to consider that has context and logic, so let’s take a look at it.

Here’s his answer.

If we look at Mark 13, but perhaps even more importantly, at Matthew 24, Jesus is prophesying concerning two different events. The prophecies cover the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, (AD meaning After Death of Christ), and also the second coming of Christ. For example, Matthew 24:15-21 is clearly and, I would say, unambiguously a prophecy concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem under Titus in AD 70. In fact, Eusebius tells us that the Christian church did indeed flee to Pella at the time of the siege of Jerusalem, escaping the coming judgment on the Jews who had rejected their Messiah.

They did so because they understood Jesus to be talking about the events of AD 68-70. The abomination of desolation is a reference back to Daniel and Daniel 8 and the desecration of the temple in 167 BC, but it is also a prophecy of the abomination and the desecration of the temple by Titus when he offered pagan sacrifice to the god of Rome right on the temple site.

So, when Jesus says that the current generation would not all pass away before the events are fulfilled, he is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened almost exactly forty years after Jesus spoke those words.

Take a look at Matthew 24: 1-14. If we are being honest and know our bible…these signs that Christ mentions were happening during his day and they are no doubt happening in our generation. In fact, all generations since Christ coming the first time, have witnessed wars and rumors of wars. Nations have been fighting nations since the beginning of time. There have been many “various places” of famines and earthquakes…”but these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

There will be tribulation, all that follow Christ will be hated by many because of his name. Many will fall away from the faith, betray one another and hate one another. Because lawlessness is increasing, most people’s love will grow cold.

Verse 13. BUT! The one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations….THEN the end will come.

Nonetheless I was able to walk away with a logical understanding with context that defined the generation he was addressing, Jesus’ generation.

Or did I? Isn’t it possible that our generation, this generation, your generation is witnessing biblical events today, all of

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LIFE IS A PARTY and Your INVITED.

The password to attend is GRACE.

In Luke 14: 15-24 there's a parable about a man who planned a large banquet and sent out invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to contact each of the invited guests, telling them that all was ready and the meal was about to start (verses 16-17). One after another, the guests made excuses for not coming.

When the master of the house heard these excuses, he was angry. He told his servant to forget the guest list and go into the back streets and alleyways of the town and invite “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (verse 21).

Jesus ends the parable by relating the master’s determination that “not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (verse 24).

The statement that prompted the parable is key. The man who, in verse 15, looks forward to dining in the Messianic kingdom probably subscribed to the popular notion that only Jews would be part of that kingdom. The parable Jesus tells is aimed at debunking that notion, as the following explanation makes clear:

The master of the house is God, and the great banquet is the kingdom, a metaphor that was suggested by the speaker at the table. The invited guests picture the Jewish nation. The kingdom was prepared for them, but when Jesus came preaching that “the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17), He was rejected. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

The excuses for skipping the banquet are laughably bad. The interpretation is that the Jews of Jesus’ day had no valid excuse for spurning Jesus’ message; in fact, they had every reason to accept Him as their Messiah.

The detail that the invitation is opened up to society’s maimed and downtrodden is important. These were the types of people that the Pharisees considered “unclean” and under God’s curse (cf. John 9:1-2, 34). Jesus, however, taught that the kingdom was available even to those considered “unclean” (cf. Acts 10).

Those who ignored the invitation to the banquet chose their own punishment—they missed out. The master respects their choice by making it permanent: they would not “taste of my banquet.” So it will be with God’s judgment on those who choose to reject Christ: they will have their choice confirmed, and they will never taste the joys of heaven.

The basic message of the Parable of the Great Banquet could be stated this way: The blessings of the kingdom are available to all who will come to Christ by faith.

The inclusion of the Gentiles is a fulfillment of Hosea 2:23, “I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

John 10:10 …. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; but I can that they (you) may have LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY!

LIFE IS THE PARTY.

He didn’t come to indict us but to invite us…to life at its fullest.

How do you spell religion? Jesus spells it this way. D. O. N. E. DONE!

Musical Guest: Dave's album Warrior for the King. Song selection: Love Blood

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Today, we are going to examine what was happening AFTER the crucifixion and resurrection. What did the next 40 days look like?

What were the emotions, thoughts and questions whirling around in the heads of Christ followers, as well as the onlookers, the Pharisees and politicians?

No doubt, the weeks following Jesus’ triumphant entry, his arrest, the trials, verdict, and his mysterious resurrection three days post, was filled with many opposing emotions.

For Mary, Martha, Lazarus and all the apostles and witnesses present at the rising of Lazarus from the dead, just hours from Passover commencing, the emotions would have moved from deep sadness to jubilant amazement.

Jesus had now been arrested and was standing trial. Surely there was much hope that he would prevail…after all He was the great orator, story teller, wise and able to reach the souls of men in debate…He would convince the powers to yield and surrender!

Meeting with Pontius Pilate, the Sadducees and Pharisees HE would prove his case! The teachings, the healings and miracles would prove He IS who He says He is.

But the initial meeting turned to trials…ridicule, mockery, lashings, denial and silence from his followers (Peter being the first to deny knowing or testifying on Jesus’ behalf.)

Even Pilate found no crime in Jesus and gave the people an option. Jesus or Barabbas? “Give us Barabbas” they cried! “Crucify him” they demanded! ( John 18:35, 37-40 ). Hope was vanquished, taken over by despair, fear of what may come next for those that associated with him…and then the crucifixion! It was official. It was finished! Their messiah was not what they had expected.

Rejection, abandonment, confusion, regret maybe for the time they had spent following him.

What was Saturday like for his followers? Lots of questions maybe along with many tears. All seemed lost! Whatever each imagined would happen last week was now dashed…a painful memory of what “could have been.”

But on Sunday Mary delivers the message…the tomb is empty!! He is risen! He’s meeting us here tonight!! Surely the disciples thought she was delusional, had snapped and deeply overcome with denial! Emotions, questions, and previously held belief in his promises and messages were suspect. Confusion, debate, anger, what next (can I get my boat back, my nets back?), 3 years of lost income…and for what?

What happened that evening? Jesus appeared to those in the upper room. This was their first manifestation of Jesus post his crucifixion. But Thomas wasn’t there, so Jesus came by again…eight days later! This was their second manifestation of Christ.

In Acts 2:40-41 we read: “And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

So to those listening that have also shared similar emotions…doubts, fears, disbeliefs, confusion, anxiety, anger or had questions like those we’ve presented we are encouraging you to do this:

• Accept that Emotions are natural
• Ponder them deeply, identify why you are having them
• They may be leading you to deeper revelation
• Consider the testimonies of those that believe and are following Christ teachings
• Listen to your heart as you examine them for truth
• Truth that stirs your heart is the voice of the Holy Spirit, the voice of God
• It may come with discomfort but if it speaks true to your heart, listen
• And when you finally accept what is revealed to you, accept Gods grace…forgive yourself and begin a new with Christ at your side

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