But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light…And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.
Mark 13:24-27;32-37
Mark devotes this entire section of his gospel to Jesus’ prophecy of His coming again, His Second Advent. In our verses today, Jesus tells of events to occur after the “tribulation” of the saints He spoke of in our devotional yesterday. While many theologians make this “tribulation” a span of 7 years after a “snatching away,” a rapture, of the saints on earth, Jesus teaches that a great tribulation will come upon saints that are on the earth at that time. Jesus tells of turmoil in the universe among the stars and planets, our sun and moon, and much shaking of the universe. At the same time, the people of earth will see the Son of Man, our Savior and Lord, glorified, come upon the Shekinah Clouds of God’s Glory, with great power and glory. Jesus will send His angels ahead to sort the sheep, redeemed peoples, from the goats, unregenerate peoples. In our next section of Mark’s gospel, Jesus tells those who read His Holy Scripture, using plain, understandable words, that NO ONE knows the day or the hour of this event. Though Jesus is God Incarnate, touching His humanity, Jesus did not know for He speaks here as a human being and the Holy Spirit in-dwelling Him does not reveal this information to Him. Again, our Savior and Lord, Jesus gives us understanding that we are not to speculate on these events! Yet, there seem to be so-called theologians who defy our Lord’s Truth about these events. Jesus admonishes His Bride, all Christians, to be “on guard, keep awake.” Christians are to be alert to the signs of the times near to Jesus’ return and guard our hearts against those who would take advantage of Christians, even deceiving them if possible. Jesus’ return has been imminent for 2 millennia. It is the evil one, Satan and his demons, who work to blind all people, even Christians, to the Second Coming of our Lord. Jesus ends this account by saying, “Stay awake!”
Source: S C Ball May 8, 2023
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