大象传媒

The Promise of His Coming
Presenter: Canon Chris Chivers

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Mark 13:3-11,24-27
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 鈥楾ell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?鈥� 听Then Jesus began to say to them, 鈥楤eware that no one leads you astray. 听Many will come in my name and say, 鈥淚 am he!鈥� and they will lead many astray. 听When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 听For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. 鈥楢s for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 听And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 听When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

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The experience of feeling overwhelmed by disaster is a common one.听 It can so often seem like one calamity after another 鈥� and every generation feels that their problems are unique and critical.听 Jesus insists that earthquakes, war and famine are not the end of the world.听 When that day comes, the Son of Man will appear to gather the righteous from every corner of the world.听 It鈥檚 picture language of a dramatic kind but at its heart lies the essential truth that our final salvation won鈥檛 depend on our intelligence, knowledge or power but on the spiritual qualities of love, forgiveness and compassion we鈥檝e seen in Jesus Christ.