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Continuing our focus of Luke’s Gospel, this week please read Chapter 21 verses 25-38 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 21:26-28 (New Living Translation – NLT)
‘People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So, when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”’
So much of Scripture is illustrative and is used to give us a general picture of things. Many of the writings were never intended to be literally applied. For example, when Jesus is breaking bread with His disciples, He says ‘This is my body’. There are some who believe that the bread actually changed into the body of Jesus and the wine transformed actually into His blood. However, I do not believe that and it’s clear from other scripture references that Jesus was talking figuratively or illustratively in regard to His body and blood.
When we have to interpret Scripture in this kind of way, it can lead people astray and so we have to use other Scripture references to be its own ‘interpreter’. While there are many Scriptural references for the return of Christ, the timings and associated events aren’t always so easy to put together. In such cases, the door is open to opinion and debate.
Until all of these events actually happen, we will probably never really know the detail of what Jesus is prophesying and which bits are literal or figurative. Yesterday, I mentioned the impact of underwater earthquakes. If you add to this even the slightest change in the moon’s position then we would see a massive impact on our oceans. I’m sure that those kinds of things would indeed cause people to be absolutely terrified. Even under normal storm condition, the oceans can be an incredibly frightening place to be. I remember one story being told to me about a journey down to the furthest point in South America. The person was on a large ship in the middle of storm. The swell of the waves was huge. At one point, the entire ship was almost at a 90-degree angle downwards into the sea. We see surfers doing this kind of thing, but this was an entire ship! The ocean is vast and is very, very frightening.
Jesus says “Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming…”. We have no idea as to the timing of the return, nor how bad everything will become before His return. However, He goes on to say “When all these things begin to happen, look up for your salvation is near.” (italics added). As said yesterday, I believe that Jesus’ return has two specific events – The first is His return for His church and the actual ‘second coming’ when every eye will see His power and glory. I think that Jesus is referring to both events in these verses.
Firstly, He is saying that prior to His return, things are going to get bad and that there will be a lot of physical signs that will point to that event. He says that after these events take place, ‘Everyone’ meaning all mankind will see Him coming back in Power and Glory. However, He also makes a statement that is almost an aside to His disciples: “When these things begin to happen…your salvation is near.” I believe that we as His church will see the beginning of things but then He will call us to Himself at the Rapture prior to the actual second coming.
I’m sure that there is much debate out there and that perhaps you don’t entirely agree with me on these points. One thing is absolutely sure: He will return in Power and Glory! What a great God we serve and what an amazing salvation He has provided for us.
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