Before Jesus died on the cross, four of His disciples were with Him on Mount Olivet, a mountain ridge adjacent to Jerusalem on the east. From there they had a panoramic view of the city with its magnificent temple, one of the wonders of the ancient world, in the foreground. Jesus told His disciples, “…verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2).” This was alarming to His disciples and prompted them to ask, “…Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (v.3)” Strangely, He answered them with language that might be used to describe the ever increasing pains of childbirth. The harsh characteristics of the age began almost unnoticed and will intensify until Jesus returns to the earth.
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (i.e. birth pains). Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:5–14)”
Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple was fulfilled in 70AD when the Roman Emperor, Titus, ended a revolt by the conquest of Jerusalem. Jesus’ description of the age is a fair representation of life on earth since His first coming, and the hardships and horrors have steadily intensified—similar to the pains of childbirth. One might surmise that the end of this age is near, that soon Christ will return to complete the story of time. Are You Ready?