*** w94 2/15 pp. 19-20 pars. 17-21 “Tell Us, When Will These Things Be?” *** 17 Chapters 17 to 19 of Revelation fit and verify this adjusted understanding of Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, and Luke 21:25-28. In what way? The Gospels show that this tribulation will not start and end at one fell swoop. After it begins, some of disobedient mankind will still be alive to see “the sign of the Son of man” and to react—to lament and, as stated at Luke 21:26, to “become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” That overwhelming fear will be due to their seeing “the sign” that betokens their imminent destruction. 18 The account in Revelation shows that the future great tribulation will begin when the militarized “horns” of the international “wild beast” turn on “the great harlot,” Babylon the Great. (Revelation 17:1, 10-16) But many people will remain, for kings, merchants, ship captains, and others mourn the end of false religion. Doubtless many will realize that their judgment will be next.—Revelation 18:9-19. What Is to Come? 19 The Gospel passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke combine with Revelation chapters 17-19 to shed considerable light on what will soon occur. At God’s fixed time, the great tribulation will begin with an attack against the world empire of false religion (Babylon the Great). This will be particularly intense against Christendom, which corresponds to unfaithful Jerusalem. “Immediately after” this phase of the tribulation, “there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth [unprecedented] anguish of nations.”—Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25. 20 In what sense will ‘the sun be darkened, the moon not give its light, the stars fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens be shaken’? Doubtless, in the early part of the great tribulation, many luminaries—prominent clergymen of the religious world—will have been exposed and eliminated by “the ten horns” mentioned at Revelation 17:16. No doubt political powers too will have been shaken up. Could there also be frightening events in the physical heavens? Quite likely, and far more awe-inspiring than those described by Josephus as occurring near the end of the Jewish system. We know that in the ancient past, God displayed his power to cause such cataclysmic effects, and he can do so again.—Exodus 10:21-23; Joshua 10:12-14; Judges 5:20; Luke 23:44, 45. 21 At this point all three Gospel writers use to′te (then) to introduce the next development. “Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven.” (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27) Since World War I, Jesus’ true disciples have discerned the composite sign of his invisible presence, while most people have not recognized it. But Matthew 24:30 points forward to a further “sign” appearing in the future, that of “the Son of man,” and all nations will be compelled to take note. When Jesus comes with clouds of invisibility, opposing humans worldwide will have to recognize that “coming” (Greek, er·kho′me·non) because of a supernatural demonstration of his kingly power.—Revelation 1:7.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:09:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015