Wisdom about the End of Times

Many Faces of Wisdom Faith and Wisdom in James Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Two Kinds of Wisdom New Revised Standard Version Signs of the End of the Age 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’[a], and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines[b] and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Persecutions Foretold 9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news[d] of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come. For Reflection I am sure that in the 1930s, when my uncle stood on the street corners in Pittsburgh, PA, lifting the Bible high above his head, he shouted, "Repent, the end of the world is near!" We have all read about those who tried in vain to predict the exact time of the Earth's destruction. Some say that these passages predict the fall of the temple while others think they refer to the day of judgment. There might be a third option. In widespread use in Rabbinic schools, the "end of the age" referred to the time up to the arrival of the Messiah. So, in modern times, Christians believe that they live in the age of the world to come, sometimes called "the last days." Such thought does not always include a fiery apocalyptic disaster. Instead, it heralds an understanding of the evolving nature of God's kingdom. Jesus comforts the disciples and us by revealing that the natural progression to realize the Kingdom is a complex interaction of confronting the world's vagaries with confidence and trust in God. The hope of salvation is embedded in believers who accept the task of ministering to all people and thrive in the chaotic patterns of suffering and joy.  The power of God, proclaimed by believers, the gospel preached and practiced openly, ushers in divine redemption until no enemy or deceiver will prevail. Pray Pray and accept the responsibility of God's call to be a witness of Grace and Justice so that God's will for all to be reconciled will, in the end, be achieved. Forward to a friend