And
the disciples
asked him:
Master,
tell
us, when
shall these
things
be?
Answer #1 Below...
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Great Questions to Jesus
Within the following paragraphs are the words of Jesus, for them and for us:
"And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be?" (Luke 21:7)
Answer #1.- When the disciples were admiring the stones of the temple, Jesus hit their minds with a painful reality: "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Luke 21:6) The Temple? When? "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." (Luke 21:20)
Jesus had come as the Savior, the nation had rejected Him, and soon He will be hanging on the cross. After Jesus crucifixion and resurrection divine mercy still gave them almost 40 years to repent of their crime. On 66 A.D. Cestius Gallus came with the Roman armies around Jerusalem, but for some unknown reason he retreated. Those who remembered Jesus words, as soon as the army departed, they ran away from the city to far away places. On April 70 A.D. Titus the son of Emperor Vespasian came back with the Roman armies to begin the final siege. By September, more than one million Jews had perished by starvation, the battle and hanging on crosses outside the walls; at last, the Temple is burned to the ground, and most of th city razed to the ground also.
Today, these things are happening on a global scale.
1.- To prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ.
The preparation takes place under Christ commands:
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:18-20)
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water." (Revelation 14:6, 7)
Every one is invited, even if still in Babylon: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:4)
2.- To awaken the unbelievers and the half believers that the end is coming on a galloping crisis and total devastation.
The events sent or allowed by God are advertised on the prophecies of the Bible with enough time to be saved on the way Almighty God provided. Examples: the Flood, the destruction of Jerusalem, the Second Coming of Christ.
The events brought about by the prince of this world, Satan, come suddenly most of the time, to snatch out the life of men and women before they have the oportunity to find Life in Christ, the Savior. Fitting examples are the tornadoes and the earthquakes. "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12:12) On an individual basis, the protection of the Lord could spare anyone from the attacks of the devil. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1Peter 5:8) Signs, wonders and supernatural miracles will come before the eyes of the people to keep them under the deceiving power of Satan.
"For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:35, 36)
Caiaphas, the High Priest, had Jesus under arrest before him. He wanted a valid motive or declaration to condemn Jesus to death, so he asked: "Art thou the Son of God?" (Luke 22:70)
Answer #2.- Jesus said: "Ye say that I am." Standing before Caiaphas, a man pretending to be God; that was all he needed to seek the death penalty for blasphemy.
Then and now, the Scriptures reveals Jesus as the divine Son of God:
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary... thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest... (Luke 1:30-32)
When Jesus was twelve years old, on a trip to the feast of the passover, while hearing and asking questions to the doctors of the temple, the parents could not find him for three days. "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:42-49)
Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist. Coming out of the water, "A voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22) The same John added his testimony: "And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (John 1:34)
On certain ocassion Jesus took three of His disciples and climbed a high mountain for a special revelation of His glory. There appeared Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." (Mark 9:7)
On the last days before the crucifixion, Jesus was feeling the pain on his flesh, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:27, 28)
Jesus was not satisfied with the personal identification that the people around gave of Him. Jesus asked the disciples: "But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15, 16) And Christ inmediately made the distinction between Peter: 'Petros', mobile stone, and Himself the solid rock: 'Petra' upon which to build the church. "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that follow them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:4) Where ever the children of Israel encamped in the wilderness the Rock provided a spring of water for all to drink.
There are numerous passages in the Bible declaring Jesus Christ as the Son of God. One more from John: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36)
Answer #3.- "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Does man know any formula to develop love from man to his Creator God? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were personally acquainted with the Lord, but the generations of the children of Israel living under the lashing arm of Pharaoh knew only what the family stories were telling about God.
One day, Moses appeared among them to carry out the promised deliverance by the Lord, and immediately a double experience unfolded in the life of everyone. They began to see rays of hope as the mighty hand of God with miracle after miracle was pressing the will of Pharaoh to let the people go. On the other side, their slavery turned heavier and bitter by the extreme demands of the task managers. (Exodus 5-12) The love of God for His people prevailed and the strong hand of the Lord guided de children of Israel out their bondage in Egypt around 1445 BC.
They saw the mighty hand of God opening the Red Sea to cross on dry land; and the provision of bread from heaven (manna) on a constant cycle of six days on the ground and none on God's rest day, the Sabbath. They saw the pillar of fire at night, and the shading cloud during the day. They saw the pure water running out of the rock, time after time, to calm their thirst and give them life.
Nevertheless, most of the people were still partially influenced by the Egyptian culture and the profuse adoration of gods made by their hands. It was necessary to bring to their minds the fulness of the Law of the Kingdom of God and an experience of a closer knowledge of the living God. God is eternal; His kingdom is eternal; therefore His law is not transitory, but also eternal. (Matthew 5:17-19)
The Lord came down on top of mount Sinai to give the Law to His people: "there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled... (Exo. 19:16) "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (the first commandment)... (Exodus 20:2-17)
Now the children of Israel saw the difference between the living God and the gods of the Egyptians: "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Exo. 20:19) The advice of Moses: "Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you... For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:23, 24)
Moses understood the behavior of the children of Israel. The supernatural nature and power of the Lord generated more fear than love in the minds of the people. Moses had heard the Lord expressing Himself: "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, ..." (Exo. 34:6, 7) Once more, after repeating the Ten Commandments before the children of Israel, Moses added: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5)
"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." (Deut. 7:9)
In the times of Jesus, a lawyer who knew well the Ten Commandments asked Jesus which of those ten is the great commandment.
The first four commandments are to measure our relation to God: (Exodus 20: 2-11)
The first four commandments are the content of the great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22:37) As the children show love to their parents with obedience, all human beings show their love to the Creator God with obedience to His commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) The Ten Commandments is the Law of Liberty. (James 2:12) You keep it, you are free; we break it, we come under the law, under the condemnation of the law. Since the law does not save anyone, because it is only a mirror to see our sins and faults. In that mirror we see the black spots of our lives, and blessed are the ones running to the Savior for cleansing. We all need a Savior. Jesus Christ is the only savior who paid with His blood and life for all our transgresions. "For sin is the transgresion of the law." (1John 3:4) "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (1 John 2:1-3)
There is a fierce battle still fighting on it over the Ten Commandments. Lucifer in heaven began the attack upon the Law of God. Once expelled from heaven, he came to earth and took on his side Adam and Eve; thus Satan became the prince of this world. (John 14:30) With His death and resurrection Christ overcame Satan, but still too many people on earth, with their free choice, are defending the principles of evil. The last message of mercy to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ is proclaiming aloud the warning for salvation: "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (see also what is coming upon whoever disbelieves God's warning, verses 8-11) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:6-12) With Christ Second Coming, Satan's power ends forever.
The Law reveals God's character, and remains as His will for the children of His eternal kingdom. As the expresion of God's will for man, God spoke with own mouth and wrote with own finger on stone the Ten Commandments. Certain earthly authorities made copies of the commandments omiting the Second Commandment in orden to allow the adoration of images. Upon whom those sins are going to fall? And on the fourth commandment they replaced the authority of God with the authority of Emperor Constantine the Great. On March 7, 321 A.D. the decree went forth: "On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops de closed..." Codex Justinianus, lib. 3, tit. 12, 3. From that day on, the power of Rome is behind Sunday until it is placed on earth highest pedestal. (Rev. 13)
The last six commandments contain the will of God toward our fellow human beings: Are they restrictions or prohibitions? No, never. They are a free gift of love from Creator God to all human beings to keep peace, harmony and a loving brotherhood among all races and nations in the world. If written in every heart, there were no wars ever.
Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16)
Answer #4.- More than a good Jew keeping all the commandments, the young man needed total devotion to God and taking care of those in need around: "and come and follow me." said Jesus.
The young man didn't recognize Jesus as his Savior and Lord; his great possessions prevailed in his mind and went away with a sorrowful heart.
The question of the rich young ruler and the question of many people today is almost the same, what I have to do to receive eternal life? Do I have to do something to earn salvation? Penances? Mortification of the body? The Bible is clear, no work from a sinful body can save the soul.
Salvation is a free gift from God. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourself: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8) We need 100% of the grace of God even if we keep the Ten Commandments the best we can; because all human beings are sinners.
Once we are saved and covered by the righteousness of Christ, where are we?
Jesus said: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) That nothing includes salvation; no one can save himself. Christ is the Savior, who paid with own blood and life. Our part is to choose whom to love. "If ye love me, keep my commadments." (John 14:15) The Law is an expression of God's character; and each follower, each one abiding in Him is in harmony with God's character showing the fruits of repentance and conversion: a new life of loving obedience in Christ.
Otherwise you know when salvation has not touched a person: he is still running his old ways, sinning against God. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (1 John 2:3)
The one deceiving himself is the person pretending he had been saved, and does not show any signs of a new life. For the saved ones, it is the Holy Spirit who writes the law in the mind: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." (Hebrews 10:16) Remember this is "the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." (Revelation 14:6) As a result the people being saved will be known for loving God and their neighbour: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27)
Yes, you have to do something: you have to accept the free gift of salvation God is giving you, and open your heart and mind to the Savior and let Him work in you.
When we pray, we talk to Jesus.
When we read the Bible, Jesus talk to us and we hear from Him.
More on the prophecies of the Bible