Have you noticed how many “political saviors” seem to be emerging? When a country is in a period of unrest, people look for some kind of “messiah” to step up to the plate and solve all problems. Listening to the “political saviors,” we hear of their grandiose plans that will bring peace and prosperity to the people of the land. Contemporary Christian writers suggest that such times as these are ripe for the rise of the “anti-Christ” who is prophesied in Scripture.
Jesus talked about such times and how to deal with them (Luke 21:5-11).
“While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left one stone upon another stone…”
What a dire prediction! People found their security in gazing upon the magnificence of the Jerusalem temple—Israel would last forever! And yet, Jesus warns against false security. The temple would be destroyed.
“Then they asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this happen?’ He answered, ‘See that you may not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and the time has come.’ Do not follow them!”
Note the exclamation point. Jesus was not interested in predictions about when the temple would be destroyed. He was concerned that his disciples stay grounded in him during days in which “fake messiahs” would try to take advantage of people’s insecurity. “Many” would rise up claiming that they were the “new Jesus” who would solve their problems and establish a new kingdom. They would proclaim with conviction, that the time has come.”
The fact is, “the time came,” when Jesus was upon earth and laid the foundations for the Kingdom of God. The fact is the time is already here. The Kingdom of God is manifest in his Body upon this earth. Those who surrender to him and receive the inner life of the Kingdom, are already in the coming time.
Those people who focused on the Jerusalem temple as the manifestation of the God’s kingdom, missed the Messiah who was standing in their midst. Looking upon past manifestations of God’s work in Israel, they missed the current work—the presence of his only Son.
In today’s first reading (Daniel 2:31-45), we read about the interpretation of a vision that King Nebuchadnezzar had. Daniel explained to the king the meaning of his vision. A huge statue was seen.
“The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms silver, its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly tile.”
God was giving Nebuchadnezzar a look into the future. He was the “gold head,” and succeeding kingdoms would little by little grow weaker until they became a mix of iron and clay. And while the king was focusing on the great statue, a stone hewn from a mountain came and destroyed every part of the statue.
“The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once, fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer…”
Daniel explained that this stone was one sent by God to destroy all temporary kingdoms and establish his own Kingdom on earth. Jesus is that rock, and the Kingdom has already been established. We live in the fulfillment of this prophecy.
During days of apocalyptic events and signs, we are reminded that we have been called into a Kingdom that outlasts those of gold, silver, bronze and iron—an everlasting Kingdom. We proclaim daily that Jesus Christ is the “King of kings, and Lord of lords” and God’s kingdom continues to “come.” His will continues to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”
“Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
