Romans 8:17-18, “Now if we are children [of God], then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Saints, so many are writing these days about becoming weary … weary of the loss of freedoms, weary of imperious dictates by both elected and unelected officials, weary of being held hostage by a “virus.” There are even some who say they are weary of waiting for the Rapture. Mostly, I hear that Christian people are weary of living in what were formerly Christian lands but have now become pagan, Godless lands.

The Book of Romans, written by Apostle Paul, is packed full of wisdom to guide Christians into godly living while living in a pagan, godless land. Rome was not only a city but a huge empire which stretched from Asia to Britain. The saying ‘all roads lead to Rome’ was absolutely true in that day, for the Romans had built all the roads or improved what was already there. One road led into another until all roads eventually came to Rome.

Rome was notoriously pagan, as was every other nation occupying earth at that time. Christians suffered particularly brutal treatment from the Romans. The gods of Rome, which included each successive emperor, were to be worshiped alone. There was no room for any other, and those who blasphemed against the gods of Rome were in for a very bad time, usually some sort of torture and a heinous death at the end of that.

The emperors, who set themselves up as deities, saw the God of Israel as a real threat both to them and to the stability of the empire; for His followers preached a gospel that was so foreign, so radical to Romans, as to be considered by them as blasphemy, words of rebellion, and completely opposed to the Roman way of life. What did the Christians preach? Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. They preached, as we do, that the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world and, therefore, the rules of this Godless world do not hold sway there. They also preached peace, love and the Blessed Hope of redemption through Jesus Messiah.

In the kingdom of God, all is righteous, good, holy, and peace-able. The Romans were a war-loving people and held in great contempt the humble, the peace-makers – the followers of Christ, the Lamb of God.

Please consider what I am telling you about this ancient time as superimposed on our modern world, for the result is exactly the same, even down to persecution. The world, at this time, hates anything to do with Christianity – the teachings of Jesus Christ. And even today, in lands where Christians are the religious minority – Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Nigeria, Sudan, North Korea, and so on – Christians are tortured and murdered by the thousands each year. (The good news amongst all this horror is that the spilled blood of martyrs waters the tree of faith, and where there is shed blood, there is the forgiveness of sin and the growth of faith in Christ.)

The thing is, we “western” Christians of the 21st century, who have never before had to truly contend for our faith, are beginning to discover what the first-century believers were up against. We are discovering what it is for followers of Jesus to live in a world that hates Him and us. Jesus Himself said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first” (John 15:18).

But Paul tells the Roman Christians that their suffering is not worth even comparing to the glory which Jesus will reveal to us and in us. That glory, Paul says, will be not only be revealed TO us but will be revealed IN us. He likens the Children of God, us, to children of rich fathers who inherit their fathers’ wealth. He says we are heirs of God the Father – co-heirs with Jesus, Son of God. And what is our inheritance? His glory! And it is HIS glory that will be revealed in us, according to verse 18.

And, beloved, when God’s glory is revealed in us, we will have eternal cause for rejoicing.

Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Those of us of a certain age have certainly lived in one of the best times in the history of the world. Though our parents and grandparents lived through two world wars and a great depression, we, their kids and grands, have lived in a magical, mythical kingdom of great freedom (bought at their expense, by the way), with plenty of food, clean water and fresh air, an education system that taught us the basics needed to do business, to communicate well with others, and to get along with others, as well as a health care system that got us from the cradle to the grave in relative ease.

Over the past 30 or so years, this has all been changing right before our eyes, in plain daylight. The socialist and elitist globalists have slipped into our schools, our health care, and our governments and are working overtime now to bring about a one-world government and a one-world religion, utilizing the twin fears of climate change and the COVID pandemic. It has all changed so very quickly, almost in the twinkling of an eye, for those who have not been listening and watching.

For believers, this is really not strange nor even unexpected because God’s Word lays out exactly how it is all happening and will continue to happen on into the future until the man of lawlessness is revealed and the tribulation lays waste to the world.

Again, I caution you to remember AND BELIEVE that the LORD God, Who loves those who love Him, will not let you see this trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 3:10). The Rapture must happen either BEFORE the Man of Sin is revealed or right about the same time.

As we see certain foretold events seemingly coming to fruition (the Vaxx Mandate / Passport, e.g.), we ought to be preparing our hearts for the greatest joy we will ever know.

Apostle Peter speaks to this set of circumstances in the three verses (below) taken from his first epistle or letter.

1 Peter 1:6-7, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

In Chapter One, he writes to the first-century Christians that though they may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, it will be only for a little while. Now, he doesn’t say that we will rejoice AFTER we have suffered for a while. The words are this: “In all this you greatly rejoice.” Why? Because trials have come to prove, not to God, for He knows all things, but to ourselves that our faith is genuine. When we are tested and find our strength in the LORD, our trust in Him enlarges. The more we suffer and persevere in Him (all the while rejoicing in HIM), the stronger and more resilient our faith becomes. And Peter tells us our faith is worth more than gold which is refined by fire.

What is our faith worth? More than anything on earth, when it results in praise, glory and honour for our God, when Jesus is revealed at the end of the age.

This is why Jesus says it is so important to stay strong, stand firm until the end. His glory and the glory of all of heaven will be worth more than the entire earth and all its riches … nay, more than the entire physical universe! This is glory we cannot fathom but must take on faith. I’m willing to take it on faith. How about you? Something that is that glorious, and not fleetingly so, but eternally, is worth suffering for a little while, don’t you think?

1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

According to Peter, we won’t just rejoice; we will be OVERJOYED when Jesus’ glory is revealed. Our human hearts would probably burst at their seams, except we will by then have new bodies, and our joy will be complete, meaning it will be perfect joy for eternity!

For years I have tried to imagine what heaven is like. I know it must be absolutely gorgeous, for the earth, even in its fallen state, is pretty spectacular, and God made heaven as well the earth. A friend, a fellow writer, is so enthused about seeing Jesus in the Rapture, he writes that he can’t wait until he sees Jesus. He says, “And after falling down before Him in utter amazement and joy, I’ll get up again and see Him, see His face and His glory, and I’ll be happy forever.”

I’m beginning to understand now that heaven is being with Jesus, merging with Him, somehow in His glory. Even as I write these words, I am overcome with goosebumps and shivers. Someone once told me when that happened, it indicated a visit from God’s Holy Spirit. Well, His Spirit lives in me already, so that may well be.

The last verse from Peter is 5:10, “And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

What this verse tells me is that if I suffer for Christ and do it with joy in Him, He will give me what I need to stay firm in my faith in Him until the very end. He IS the God of ALL grace, and the LORD God has called us to believe in His precious Son, the One Whom He sent to die for our sin; the One Whom Father God will send again to the atmosphere of earth to gather up His believers, His children – catch them up in the air – rapture them to safety and peace. And Jesus will bring us with Him when He returns to the surface of the planet at the very end of the age, touching His foot on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and sorting out the wicked from this world to usher in His Millennium Kingdom. And we who will by then be living in His glory will reign with Him for a thousand years! (Revelation 20:6).

After that, the LORD God says He is making all things new. Behold, a new heaven and a new earth! And He will wipe every tear from every eye. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. And God Almighty told Apostle John, who recorded all these things in the Book of Revelation, to “write this down because these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5).

I’ll leave you now with ancient words from both the Prophet Isaiah and King David. See if they are not as spring-fresh today as they were then:

“For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:3-4).

And, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Let us pray:

Heavenly LORD, we wait for You as patiently as we can. Sometimes our human impatience urges us to pray for Jesus to come sooner rather than later. Yet we know that Your timing is perfect, O LORD, and all things happen according to Your time. One day with You is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day on earth. All will happen as You have laid out for us in Your Holy Word. Please give us patience and steadfastness to wait upon You in Your time. Still, we pray Maranatha – Come, LORD Jesus. Amen.

If anyone reading this devotional has not yet received Jesus as their Saviour, but God has touched your heart by His Holy Word, please email me (amadea649@gmail.com) or find a Bible-believing local church and ask the Pastor what you must do to be saved in Grace. In the meantime, please consider the ABCs of Salvation:

A – Admit

Admit what you have done wrong and ask forgiveness.

Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.”

I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

B – Believe

Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as payment for your sins.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

C – Confess and Choose

Confess and choose to allow God to be in charge of your life.

Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This article, based on God’s Holy Word, was written by the inspiration of God’s own Holy Spirit. All glory to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Lynda Janzen

The Olivet discourse or prophecy is the last of the five discourses of Matthew and is also found in the other two synoptic gospels of Mark (chapter 13) and Luke (chapter 21 and 17). The timing of this discourse between Jesus and some of his disciples occurs just before the “passion of Christ’s” beginning. Before we examine the contents of this prophecy from Jesus, let’s first examine the events that take place immediately beforehand.

THE DAYS BEFORE THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

The year was AD 33 in the Jewish first month of Nisan. As Jesus and his 12 disciples were traveling to Jerusalem for the upcoming Passover Feast (possibly the fourth one he attended during his three-year ministry), he took them aside and predicted his death and resurrection. This was the third time he had done so. They say the third time is a charm. In this case, I’m not so sure, as the disciples still did not understand fully what all this entailed.

Previous to this, Jesus had been teaching on the Kingdom of God by way of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Jesus ended this parable with a great truth regarding His Kingdom to come: “The last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 20:16).

A little while later, Jesus reiterated this thought to John and James and their mother after she had asked Jesus if her sons could sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His Kingdom. Jesus called his disciples together and said, “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Four days before the Passover, on Nisan 10, AD 33, Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and presented himself to the Jews as their king. This was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Zechariah, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

There was a great multitude in Jerusalem at this time, for it was a few days before Passover. Initially, the Jewish people accepted him as a king (a son of David), as some of them spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down palm branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The multitudes cried out, saying: “Hosanna (exclamation of joy, praise) to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9). This event later became known as “Palm Sunday.”

Nisan 10 is also the day that the sacrificial lambs (without blemish) were to be selected by all the households of Israel. They were to keep the lambs until the 14th of the month when, at twilight, they would then be killed and eaten. This is known as the Lord’s Passover and is a Jewish tradition dating back to its origin during the time of Moses and the Exodus, as described in Exodus 12:1-28.

Upon entering Jerusalem, the first thing Jesus did was to enter the temple and cleanse it, as he drove out the merchants who sold doves and other small sacrificial animals and overturned the tables of the money changers. He then healed the blind and lame and all who came to him in the temple. Even after seeing these miracles, the chief priests’ and scribes’ only comments were to ask Jesus to condemn the masses for their previous praises of “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The religious leaders and rulers of Judea did not recognize Jesus’ authority as king or Messiah. The people would later bow to political pressure from these religious elites and desert him in just a few days. He would be killed on the day of the Passover Feast on Nisan 14, AD 33.

The next morning, on the way back to Jerusalem from Bethany, where they had spent the night, Jesus and the disciples passed a fig tree by the road. The scriptures say Jesus was hungry, but there was no fruit on the tree, only leaves; so he said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately, the fig tree withered away (Matthew 21:18-19). Most Bible teachers believe this is a prophecy regarding Israel and their lack of faith (fruit) in Jesus as the Messiah.

Jesus’ next parable teaching on the Kingdom was regarding the wicked vinedressers and their killing of the landowner’s servants and son. Jesus said to his disciples, “Have you never read the scriptures?’ The stone [Jesus] which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you [Israel] and given to a nation [Christians from every nation] bearing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:42-43). The scriptures Jesus was referring to are found in Psalm 118:22-23 and Isaiah 28:16.

Jesus then describes what will happen to those who try to impede the Kingdom of God, “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44). Daniel talked about this same stone (Jesus and His Kingdom) in his prophecy/s of Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45.

In Matthew 22, Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God again, as it is his favorite topic during his last days before his crucifixion. This time the Kingdom of heaven is compared to a wedding feast, where a certain King (God the Father) arranged a marriage for his son (Jesus) and sent out his servants (prophets and disciples) to call those who were invited to the wedding (Jews), but they were not willing to come (Matthew 22:2-3). The invitation (for salvation through faith in Jesus) eventually was sent into the ‘highways’ and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good (Gentiles).

In this parable, Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Church is the bride. Notice he is teaching on a subject by way of a parable that is still in the future. The Lord is teaching in an ambiguous way because he did not want to reveal all the details of these future events at this time. Eventually, the disciples would understand Jesus’ parable after the Holy Spirit was given.

In Matthew 23:1-36, Jesus pronounces 7 woes (8 in some translations, such as King James) or exclamations of griefs to the scribes and Pharisees for their religious hypocrisy and apostasy. In verses 37-39, Jesus predicts and laments over the coming destruction of Jerusalem. He ends with this prophecy: “Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till I say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 23:39).

THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

A few days before the Passover (and Jesus’ death), the disciples were commenting on the beauty of the temple. Jesus reminded them of their earlier conversation and 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” (Matthew 24:2). Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives when this conversation developed, so Peter, James, John, and Andrew (according to Mark 13:3) naturally wanted to know the details of this great revelation from Jesus.

The discussion that ensued is known as the Olivet discourse. The disciples asked him three questions pertaining to this future event and the end times, including his coming to set up His Kingdom, which he had been teaching them about with such frequency during the last few days. The three questions in order were:

1) When will these things be (destruction of the temple)?

2) What will be the sign of Your coming? The disciples had been made aware of Jesus’ prophecies concerning his death and resurrection, so they were asking him when he would return (after his death) to set up His Kingdom.

3) What will be the sign of the end of the age? The disciples were true Jews, as they proved the point Jesus made in John 4:48, when he said, “Unless you people [Jews] see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Paul would later echo Jesus’ words when he said, “for Jews require a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22).

Jesus did not answer the first question in the accounts of Matthew and Mark, but he did in Luke 21:20-24, although he did not mention a specific time or date. In hindsight, we know it occurred 36 years later (ironically, or not, about the age of Jesus upon his death) in AD 70. Jesus answered the disciples’ questions out of order. He answered the third question first (what shall be the sign/s of the end of the world?).

THE SIX SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

There are six sure signs Jesus gave regarding the beginning of the “end of the age/world” before the Kingdom of God is established. These signs are slightly different in all three gospel accounts, so I have consolidated them here.

1. False Messiahs (Matthew 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6, Luke 21-8).
2. Wars and rumors of wars and nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:6-7, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:9-10).
3. Famines (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11).
4. Pestilences (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:3, Luke 21:11).
5. Earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11).
6. Fearful sights/events and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:11).

Matthew and Mark describe these signs as “birth pains” in some translations, for they will get stronger and more frequent as time progresses. The birth pains culminate during the last 7 years on earth before Jesus’ Second Coming, known as Daniel’s 70th Week or the Tribulation, and are recorded in the book of Revelation, written by John the apostle.

THE TRIBULATION IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION – THE CULMINATION OF THE OLIVET SIGNS

1. The first sign or birth pain, false Messiahs, will culminate with the false prophet convincing the world to worship the Anti-Christ as their god (Revelation 13).
2. The second sign, war, will reach its climax during this time as described with the opening of the second seal (Rev. 6:3-4) and the sixth trumpet judgment (Rev. 9:13-21), and the war of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21).
3. The third birth pain of the Olivet discourse, famine, is born when the third seal is opened (Rev. 6:5-6).
4. The fourth sign, pestilences, will reach its peak when the fourth seal is opened (Rev. 6:7-8).
5. The fifth sign of the Olivet discourse, earthquakes, is mentioned in Rev. 6:12, 8:5, 11:3, 11:19, and the “mother of all earthquakes” in Rev. 16:18.
6. The sixth sign, great sights in the heavens, will culminate during the sixth seal opening mentioned in Rev. 6:12-14, and when the first five trumpet judgments are sounded in Rev. 8 and 9, and during the fourth, fifth, and seventh bowl judgments (Rev. 16:8-11, 17-21) are poured upon the earth, and, of course, when Jesus returns to the earth as Lord of lords and King of kings.

In the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of these signs in verses 4-31, thus answering their question (what shall be the sign/s of the end of the age?). These are all signs that the end of the world (as we know it) is near, and Jesus will be returning to the earth soon.

SIGNS, TRIBULATION, AND THE SECOND COMING

Let’s dissect Matthew 24 further. Verses 4-8 are describing the signs immediately preceding Daniel’s 70th Week and will culminate in the Tribulation as outlined above. Verses 9-26 include the entire 7-year Tribulation…start, middle, and end. Verses 27-31 describe the Second Coming, where there will be more signs in the heavens. “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 24:30-31).

John F. Walvoord, the learned theologian, wrote in his book, Every Prophecy of the Bible, that the ‘elect’ in this verse refers to more than the elect still living on earth. It will include all the elect, or the saved, including Old Testament saints, saved Israel, the Church, and the saints of the tribulation period leading up to the second coming. However, Revelation 19:14 says that the armies of heaven (including the Church saints) will follow Jesus back to the earth during the Second Coming riding on white horses.

THE FIG TREE

Verses 32-35 explain which generation would see the Day of the Lord. Here Jesus is again talking about the fig tree as he did earlier in Matthew 21:18-19. I don’t think this is a coincidence.

This time, instead of cursing the fig tree, he tells the disciples to learn this ‘parable‘ from the fig tree. “When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors! Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32-34). A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, so I don’t think Jesus was just referring to a fig tree that blooms in late spring. I believe this is a typology of the modern nation of Israel, and the generation that was born when Israel became a nation (or in her youth) will not pass away until all the events of Matthew 24 are accomplished.

In part II, we will look at the coming of the Son of Man.

Randy Nettles

nettlesr@suddenlink.net