Job 19:23-27a
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Psalm 17:1-9
Luke 20:27-38
Sadducees did not believe in resurrection of the dead. Jesus does,
but He says in “the age to come” that things will be very different, in this
example there is no more marriage, because we will be the children of God. This
life is only a preparation for something which is more angelic. Yet, is it not
true even of this life, that there are stages and “ages” of development? In each
new age, the world is turned upside down through a process of dying and rising.
“The age to come” is an apocalyptic term. It is a symbol which ‘unveils’
or ‘reveals’ reality. Apocalyptic reveals the “Grand Finale” of creation, but
it also reminds us how each act will close out as well. Think of time as a
cyclical wagon wheel. Like the seasons of the year—Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter.
Each time it rolls around there is birth-life-death, and a new cycle emerges to
continue the repeated pattern. Yet time is also linear, moving from the big
bang of creation to the end of all things. That is because the wagon wheel only
goes around and round, but as it does so it also carries us forward to the
finish. Another apocalyptic term is the Greek word Parousia—presence, or
coming, which was a technical term for the arrival of a Ruler or Judge. He
came to execute justice, and his presence initiated a new age. Christians applied
this secular political term to Jesus. They said Jesus is Lord (not Caesar) and
the “Parousia/Coming & Presence” of Jesus begins the New Age.
This tension—Jesus has already come, Jesus is ruling among us but yet
He is not here and is not ruling—can be confusing. Apparently, the
Thessalonians were concerned that Jesus had returned but they were left out.
Paul tells them that Jesus will not return until the Lawless One appears and
sets himself up as God. At the end of time there will be a great apostacy led by
antichrist, but on the wagon wheel of cyclical time the Lawless One takes many
shapes and forms.
In 1 John 2:18-23 we read, “Children, it is the last hour! As you
have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have
come.” He goes on to say, “The one who denies the Son is the liar; antichrist
denies both Father and Son,” and that “sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 4:2-3
concludes that “the spirit of the antichrist…is already in the world.”
Every cycle of history is an age. In each there is a battle
between the rule of the Christ and the apostacy of the antichrist. The lawless
one stands ready to mislead people, or to persecute them. The most important revelation
of apocalyptic literature is the call to be holy, to be brave and faithful. It
is a reminder of what we hope and an exhortation to stand firm.
The Anticrhrist comes in many forms, more famously as Stalin,
Hitler, or Mao—but equally so in our own political, educational and
entertainment institutions, and most importantly within the church. The Lawless
Ones, who reject Christ for some other good. The Lawless One is at work with
our own minds and hearts. Apocalyptic is as big as the whole universe and as
small as each one’s soul. Within each of us, Jesus battles with Satan for our
heart.
Jesus has come, Jesus comes among us in the church, world and
sacraments. In each case Satan and his worldly minions battle against Him. They
are defeated, and that will be clear on the Last Day, in the beginning of the
Ultimate New Age. Until then, be faithful. Be very brave. And pray with the early
church: Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment