This phrase was popularized a few years ago by the television show, Gunsmoke. Marshal Dillon regularly told misfits and troublemakers it was time to get out of Dodge!
Here Jesus warns His students that the time is coming when they will need to get out of town. He gives them a sign:
So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Christians would have understood the Roman army coming to take Jerusalem by force would be the beginning. By listening to the Teacher’s advanced warning, Christians avoided the slaughter.
Eusebius, an early Christian writer, says that not one Christian was killed in the destruction of Jerusalem. By A.D. 69, the Jerusalem church was gone entirely, having removed itself because of the Lord’s word.
And what a time of trouble it was! Jesus had warned - For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again…See, I have told you ahead of time.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, recorded the gory details of the long and terrible siege of the Roman army. You have to read his account to fully appreciate the reality of the unmatched horrors Jesus predicted.
Everyone thought the Jerusalem walls could never be breached. Jesus knew better. The unthinkable happened!
I wonder what it is today everyone thinks can never happen, but Jesus knows better…in fact, has already warned us will happen?
Denny asked: "I wonder what it is today everyone thinks can never happen, but Jesus knows better…in fact, has already warned us will happen?"
ReplyDeleteHow about this: Listen, I tell you all a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised impreishable, and we will all be changed. (1 Cor 15:51-52)
"According to the Lord's own words, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not proceed those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thes 4:15-17
Are we anticiating?
Are we ready?
Would these lyrics ever describe us?
Don't ask me why
I keep staring at the sky
I'm just lost in anticipation
Curiosity has got the best of me
Just tell me how it's gonna be
when
One day, I'll see
You coming back for me
And all together we fly away.
Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon."
(Rev 22:7a)