Days of Distress Unequaled

“Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.” (Mark 13:19–20, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “Those were the days.” Seems like we hear people saying this more and more. Or perhaps “back in my day.” I know I find myself saying that more as I get older. Or how about “that’ll be the day.” Well, in this text Jesus said something that should make everyone take notice – “those days.”

What were “those days” that Jesus spoke of? “Peter, James, John and Andrew [had] asked him privately, ‘tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?'” (Mark 13:3–4, NIV 1984). Matthew, in his Gospel tells us that this what not all that they wanted to know. “‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?'” (Matthew 24:3, NIV 1984).

“When will this happen,” was in response to Jesus foretelling the destruction of the temple. This did happen in 70 A.D., and true to Jesus’ prophecy, “not one stone here [was] left on another.” (Mark 13:2, NIV 1984). But “your coming and of the end of the age” is yet in the future and may very well happen in our lifetime. And “those days” will make “those were the days” seem almost idyllic.

Just consider some of the “the sign of [His] coming.”

“Wars and rumors of wars…Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Mark 13:7-8, NIV 1984).

“Earthquakes in various places, and famines.” (Mark 13:8, NIV 1984).

“You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. All men will hate you because of me.” (Mark 13:9, 13, NIV 1984).

“False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.” (Mark 13:22, NIV 1984).

“Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.” (Matthew 24:10, NIV 1984).

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:11–12, NIV 1984).

Does it sound an awful lot like today’s news? “Do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. These are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mark 13:7- 8, NIV 1984). Increasing frequency and intensity is yet to come. Just like birth pains. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37, NIV 1984). What was it like in the days of Noah? “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5, NIV 1984). That’s how bad it will be.

“But for the sake of the elect” we “do not [need to] be alarmed.”

My Advice – “But the end is still to come.” “So, [we] also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when [we] do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:43–44). Because “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (Matthew 25:31–33, NIV 1984).

“That’ll be the day.”

The Sheep – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'” (Matthew 25:34. NIV 1984).

The Goats – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'” (Matthew 25:41, NIV 1984).

Those in Christ, need not be alarmed.