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ND when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let notthem that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22. For those be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24)
The Gospel for this past Sunday, the Second in Advent, tells the signs of the end of all time, space, and matter as we know it – of how the very elements will be melted with fervent heat. This will occur at the Second Coming of our Lord. But the preceding five verses contrast that final end of all things worldly of our Sunday lesson with the end of the old Temple governance of Jerusalem. Our Lord castigated the Chief Priests and Jewish elders of the Jewish people with the certain prophecy – Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43)
Our leading text from Luke 21:20-24 tells of the soon destruction of Jerusalem and the plight of its inhabitants who had not believed the words of our Lord. Those who did, fled to the eastern frontiers across Jordan at the sight of Roman armies beginning to surround Jerusalem in 70 AD. Those who remained were eating rats by the close of the Roman siege. They were ravenously hungry ere the walls of the city were penetrated, and their males of combat age were killed in the streets of Jerusalem while the women and children were taken as slaves and exiled over all the known world.
This calamity occurred after the first coming of Christ. This was a sorely deserved judgment. On His second coming, there will be far greater ruin to those who have not believed the Word of God.
Remember Adam was the first man by whom all born of woman are descended. He is the head of the human race insofar as the flesh is concerned. By him came death and sin upon all his progeny. But by the Second Man, Jesus Christ, came life eternal. Christ is the spiritual head of all who believe.
Our Lord first came as a little child of very modest physical provisions at His birth in a stable of Bethlehem. Just as there was no room for Him in the inns of the city in that day, so it is true today that He is more often found in the hearts of the poor than those of the powerful and wealthy.
Advent is about two different, but equally important, events – His first coming as a child, and as the Word of God Incarnate; and His Second Coming in great power and glory to judge the world.
Just as many doubted Noah in the days before the Deluge, so do many prefer to doubt His second coming; but it is as certain as history written that He will come. We celebrate with great joy His first coming; and we observe with hope and faith the time of His second coming as our redemption draweth nigh.
