THE END IS NOT YET

"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet." (Mark 13:7)

JESUS was with His disciples on "the Mount of Olives opposite the temple." Only four of them were present, Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mk 13:3). Prior to this, Jesus had been watching "how" people put their money into the Temple treasury. After beholding "a certain poor widow" put in two small coins, Jesus called His disciples aside and said, "Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mk 12:41-44). Then, as He "went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!'" (13:1). It was as though the disciple was saying, "These buildings cannot be maintained with small coins! How is it that You say this woman has given the most?"

IT WAS THEN that Jesus boldly declared, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (13:2). The saying perplexed the disciples. Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, "Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" (13:3-4). Matthew unveils the fact that they actually asked three questions: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:3). Jesus then began to unfold to them facts concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the holy city, as well as events related to the end of time. He showed them how the devastation of Jerusalem was also a portent of the end of the world, in which all men would made accountable.

FOREMOST in His answer was the warning NOT to be deceived by any man (v 5). "Many," He said, would come in His name, actually saying "I am Christ," or the one appointed to bring deliverance and resolution to the world. Tremendous global disturbance would occur among the nations, as "wars and rumors of wars" would rise to the consternation of many (v 7). Frightening things, indeed – at least to the flesh.

IN SOVEREIGNTY, however, Jesus allays the fears of the interrogating quartet, adding that there is yet more to come. "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet." The words sound strange. Why did He say them?

THE POINT of His Word was that the world is operating under a Divine agenda. Jesus was not simply announcing grievous things to come, but pointing them to "the end." There is a purpose being fulfilled in the earth, and it is strictly governed from heaven. The troubles rising in the earth are evidence of iniquity boiling over, revealing the wickedness of men and the extent of their rebellion against God. "The end" will not come until this has been sufficiently manifested to declare God is righteous in His judgment of the wicked and exoneration of the righteous.

WITHOUT being filled with morose or fearful, God's people must adopt "the end is not yet" mentality. In other words, they must recognize that until the end, trouble and disturbance are actually normalities in this wicked world. They should neither frighten nor discourage us. Rather, they are to assist us in preparing for "the end," when they will all be terminated.

– Given O. Blakely