Observation: Again Jesus is asked about the end-times, and again he gives answers about all the 'normal, standard' disasters that will come, and about which so many people will think they represent the end-times, but they don't. He even goes so far as to tell the disciples not to worry about it, because they'll be arrested and killed for their faith long before that.
However, he then does address the subject that began the conversation ... the destruction of Jerusalem. He tells the disciples they will see it, and the language he uses really couldn't be clearer that Rome will in fact destroy Jerusalem and scatter all the Jews away and into the empire. And then - THEN - Jesus will be greatly and gloriously welcomed!!
This is not the second coming of Christ. Rather, this is the moment when the Kingdom of God, and the promise of salvation through faith in Messiah, will well and truly be made known to all people. The disciples themselves are to up on their way, making this pronouncement, because the barriers will have been torn down, as the destruction of Judah means Jews can - in fact, must - travel freely through the empire. Disciples are to be ready for this. What at first sounds terrible - the total destruction of the temple and Rome's fury poured out on Judah - will instead become the very catalyst to proclaim Jesus to the entire world, as it will free the disciples to distribute themselves throughout all of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, effectively giving them the travel authority of Ceasar to move about and declare Jesus as the Messiah.
Yes, it won't be quite that easy, as there will still be a Roman religion and Ceasar-worship laws to overcome, but overcome them "Christians" will. And this will begin because the temple falls.
Application: I sit here wondering if we are seeing the signs of the end-times (while knowing no 'signs' were truly given), praying for the second-coming to happen (while knowing there are still billions of souls to save). In both contexts, my greatest worry is that the society I live in will completely collapse in my lifetime, likely caused by the decay of our entire moral center and the casting aside of Jesus and the Lord's teachings. Yet here is the lesson today ... perhaps the collapse of the "Christian United States" would be the greatest catalyst for the salvation of billions through Jesus Christ that human history has ever seen!
There is a very logical way that occurs, as the ~200 million Christian Americans would be forced to flee to all corners of the world. We saw the power of the gospel when only a couple thousand missionaries were sent to the 'new world' 400 years ago. We saw the power of the gospel when only a few hundred eye-witnesses of Jesus were thrust into the Roman empire 2,000 years ago.
We would all perceive the implosion of America as the greatest socio-political disaster in the history of mankind. There is a great chance that the Lord would view it as the greatest redemptive opportunity in the history of mankind. Which of those do I truly care about?
Prayer: Lord, yes, I pray for thy kingdom come. When I say that, I always mean that I hope Jesus will return. However, the true nature of those words is supposed to be the desire to see your will done here on earth, as the kingdom of heaven comes here. Well, if your kingdom on heaven can be accomplished without the United States, or is even improved and accelerated by the removal of our nation, well then please be with me, my family, and the faithful in our land. Thy kingdom come. Amen.
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