Luke 21
Today's chapter is an expanded version of Mark 13's eschatological writings. Some of this is because it was written after the siege of Jerusalem in 70CE - therefore the author can expand on Jesus' words.
We can see verses 9 & 10 happening today. However these have happened many times over the centuries - so current events just appear more apocalyptic to us. Verse 8 - "watch out you are not deceived". Jesus will return when God decides so - we have no say in it, and will get no warning.
However I am wondering what verse 24 means by "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
For the next two chapters, I will remain silent. I encourage you to go to the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at your local church instead. Like me, still do the readings - you will find these match what we are remembering. I have been doing this challenge for many years now, and each time I find these two chapters add to the day itself. I pray it does similar for you.
Feel free to leave Saturday's reading until Sunday so it matches the events celebrated on the day.
Luke 21
One thing I've heard said about prophecy, is that it is like describing a mountain-range; that the things said are all in the future, but they aren't necessarily all the same distance away, just like mountains, one behind the other, are not all the same distance away.
That, at least, is how I make sense of the "this generation will not pass away before this happens" as being referring to the Siege of Jerusalem, while other things spoken of, have not happened yet.
"Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled"... well, many of the folks at Wycliffe Bible Translators believe that it won't happen until the bible has been translated into every language, thus giving every human on earth the opportunity to hear the Gospel in their own tongue (that it not be misunderstood) and to say "yes" or "no" to it. Thus, the corrollary to that is that their mission is to hasten the Second Coming. I find that an interesting piece of speculation.
Thing is, God tends to have a different timescale than we do: "a day as is a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day". If God says that something is "soon", that could be tomorrow, or it could be a hundred years, or more. (How long were the Israelites in Egypt?)
@daveburb #LentenBibleReadingChallenge #Luke #Bible #Christian
@daveburb And thinking on timescales a bit further, I think that's one reason why there are so many parables about a master who leaves and then returns unexpectedly -- because if we can't comprehend God's timescale, then what feels to us like "it's been so long, maybe it's going to be *never*", may feel like, to God, merely the blink of an eye.
"All times are 'soon' to Aslan."
#LentenBibleReadingChallenge #Luke #Bible #Prophecy #Christian
DaveB
Kerr Avonsen (she/her)