Stand firm in God’s Word and you will win life.
This Holy Scripture Passage begins with the Disciples admiring the beauty of the Temple of God, and then we are quickly taken away to a grim future of calamities listed by Jesus. He warns of false prophets, wars, earthquakes, hunger, deadly pandemic disease, Christian persecution, betrayal from those close to us and signs from heaven of the End Times. Jesus warns us of all of these things and tells us these will occur before the End Times. He does not reveal the exact date and no one will know the day or hour of the End. Jesus tells us we are not to worry nor fear as He will provide us the tools to thrive on this blessed journey of life. Jesus tells His disciples just as He is telling us his sons and daughters that God’s Word, prayer and wisdom will shield us from emotional pain and distress due to the perils of this world. Wisdom can be attained by reading, studying, and living the Word of God, the Sacred Scripture. It is also derived from our relationship with God, and our experiences in life as we learn to follow and obey His will. Knowledge of the Word of God coupled with life experiences and age equals wisdom. Praise God for the gift of Wisdom so we can defend ourselves against deception and hatred from others. God bless us all and may we all acquire God’s gift of Wisdom in our lives!
Luke 21:5-19 New International Version (NIV)
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19