11262022 – Matthew 24. 36-44
Please allow me to start out with a little bit of “a refresher course.”
It is not often that we talk about “APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE,” “APOCALYPSES,” or that whole “genre of literature.”
The first “apocalyptic writings” date to around the year 200 BCE.
The word “apocalyptic” although “a big churchy word” is used a lot in more fundamentalistic churches.
It really is “nothing scary.” Especially if you are a believer and are faithful.
It simply means to “UNCOVER.”
I always think of a POT on the stove cooking away, and the only way you will ever find out what is in the POT is by UNCOVERING IT.
Taking a little LOOK SEE, if you will.
That’s what “apocalyptic literature” does, it takes a LOOK SEE into the future.
“Apocalyptic literature” sometimes speaks of SPECIAL revelations, through DREAMS, VISIONS, HEARING VOICES, or the TAKING OF JOURNEYS to places like HEAVEN and other normally inaccessible places, especially to others.
“SYMBOLISM “runs throughout apocalyptic literature, and it tends to be “DARK and FOREBODING.” “Battles rage” between GOOD and EVIL, and CHAOS usually plays a big, if not major role.
At one point it was all about “FORETELLING THE FUTURE” and what was actually going to happen. In that sense it was considered prophetic when what is spoken – is a word from God.
When things are going “WELL” -there is no need for apocalyptic literature, but when things are GLOOMY and “DOOM is on the horizon,” apocalyptic language seems to FLOURISH, and GROW in INTENSITY.
Good examples of apocalyptic literature might be found in: The book of DANIEL, the book of REVELATION, MARK chapter 13, or selected chapters in MATTHEW and LUKE, as well as in the book of GALATIANS.
Today, we are being confronted with “a form” of apocalyptic literature.
At some point in its history – apocalyptic literature moved from talking about impending coming disasters to talking about the end of all time as we know it.
Tied directly into that kind of literature, was the Second Coming of Jesus.
Just before the FINAL BENEDICTION, the Early Christian Writers end with a final closing prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
When he came the first time, he came so UNOBTRUSIVELY that except for MARY and JOSEPH and a small handful of SHEPHERDS, nobody much knew or cared.
But the scriptures also declare that he will come again. And when he does, LOOK OUT!
WHO KNOWS, HOW or WHERE or WHEN he will come?
Jesus himself said, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the ANGELS of heaven, nor the SON, but the FATHER only.”
From the moment he said that the CAT was OUT OF THE BAG.
People had a hay day with it! People who in search of a TIMETABLE try to CRACK the BOOK OF REVELATION CODE, like it was some kind of a Hollywood movie or something.
Whole sects rise up with “SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE that only THEY seem to have.”
They pick DATES and even TIMES, of which they are CERTAIN. For SURE. It is INEVITABLE. No Doubt. Until it isn’t. Wild GOOSE CHASES happen regularly! And the whole church, “takes it on the chin,” once again.
People who claim that all WHO JOIN THEIR SECT, or THEIR GROUP will be saved, and all others will be lost and are just wrong, very wrong.
The ones who WILL BE SAVED, Jesus says, are the ones who FEED the HUNGRY, welcomes the STRANGER and the ALIEN, clothes the NAKED, visits the SICK and the PRISONERS.
If you LOVE, in other words, you’re IN, if you DON’T, you’re OUT.
It doesn’t seem to matter to Jesus if you are a JEHOVAH’S WITNESS, a JESUIT PRIEST or a JEW. It is the LOVING “OTHERS” that seems to matter.
In one of the more outlandish of his “outlandish images” he says, he will come like a thief in the night. We must be ready at all times, therefore!
We can never be sure when he will break into the world (like a house) or when he will break into our lives…and into our hearts…
NO ONE can say just WHAT will happen when that day finally and ultimately comes.
In John’s gospel, Jesus talks about ABIDING, STAYING, ENDURING, REMAINING, and HOLDING OUT until the end.
And he or she who IS FAITHFUL WILL BE SAVED.
The question each one of must ask is not will I be SAVED…but will you be found FAITHFUL?
And when it comes to LOVING THOSE IN NEED…how are YOU doing?
When it comes to the rest, leave it in his hands.
THY WILL BE DONE.
Not MINE
Amen.