How shall we look at these readings? Paul was writing about his Jewish Brothers, and at one level Christ was predicting the sack of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in the first Shoah. But then he goes to the end.
There is one thing we can know. That we will, as humans, be allowed to run the course. This would will end up akin to a slag heap. And those who will be slaves will not be liked, or approached, or have influence. At the end, the times will not be good.
And yet, Paul talks about salvation: that Christ will save and preserve those who call upon his name. Although the law can preserve us, indeed save us, none of us can keep it in the fullness of the law. We are all reliant on mercy. None of os are new: we are dented, rusted, requiring maintenance.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Message of Salvation to All
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Romans 10:1-13 ESV)
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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 out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matthew 24:15-31 ESV)
Before we talk about what to do we must, always and at all times, remember to pray for the Jews. For they have zeal for our Lord, but it is misplaced. We are not Paul, and we may be irritated by members of the tribe. But God loves them, and so should we.
We should take the same attitude with those within the church who we consider have errors. Our hearts desire is clear: they should be saved. We need to pray that the word of God, living in active, will work, at times despite us.
But at times we need to run: which would be hard for this misanthrope. who lives about as far away from the centre of Western civilization geographically. When the invaders destroy our buildings and our people, it is time to leave. The inevitable consequence for that nation and that land is not our problem: for if they reject the people of God, God will reject them.
Lol "This is not theater" MT @markknoller: Obama on marquee at the Paramount Theater in Austin for his speech today. pic.twitter.com/N6qiQ6uG18
— el Sooper (@SooperMexican) July 10, 2014
But here a warning. God is not man, that he should change his mind. The covenant o Moses still exists. And the Jews are the people who salvation sprang from. If you reject the Jews, a nation will find itself under judgment.
And that is fairly easy to spot. Look for the destruction of the marriage, and the increase in both institutionalized corruption and sexual licence as the nation is allowed to let discipline and civilization fall away. When the rainbow flag flies, a nation and city is under judgment, and prepare to flee: persecution will follow.
When that happens, keep your passport current and have enough cash to be able to run, you and your family. For the next step, historically, has been the state sponsored mob, the pogrom, the shoah.
We all need to be ready to run.
