Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Reading)
The Biblical Case for the Second Coming as Accomplished Fact
(Book Installment 51)
Part Three – The Nature of the Second Coming
Chapter 8 – How the Old Testament Prophets Set the Stage
The Language of the Prophets (continued)
Focusing on just one of these prophets, we see Isaiah using the expression (about the sun, moon, and stars failing) in Isaiah 13:10 to describe the fall of Babylon. Now Babylon had fallen long before Jesus ever lived. If the expression is meant to be taken physically then we have a problem because the physical sun, moon, and stars were still in operation during the time of Jesus as they are today. But if we take the words spiritually – that is, understand them to be a figure of speech, then we have no problem, for history confirms that the mighty Babylon fell just as Isaiah said it would.
The expression of sun, moon, and stars falling or failing is a figure of speech indicating that the powers that be, or the status quo, or the existing power structure, or prevailing order – however you want to put it – is going to fall or fail. In the Genesis creation account, on the fourth day, these lights were established to rule or govern. They came, therefore, to symbolize ruling or governing powers. This is why when Joseph tells the dream of the sun, moon, and stars bowing down to him in Genesis 37, his family had no problem understanding that it referred to the existing family authority structure yielding to the much younger Joseph. That is, though Joseph was next to the youngest and possessing hardly any authority in their family, the entire family would be subjected to him. That they understood the metaphor and what it meant is why they got so upset with him. They did not think he was predicting radical alterations in solar and lunar movements that would astound the scientific community.
We use similar expressions today when we say, “it was a dark period for their country,” or “that’s the night that the lights went out in Georgia,” or “the sun is not going to shine for them.” Such figures of speech indicate that the existing order will give way to a new one and that the authorities that people have been relying upon will fail. This is what Jesus was warning would be true for the nation of Israel. People would no longer be able to look to Jerusalem, and the temple, and the priests to give them guidance, for that time of Israel’s existence was now coming to an end. The only salvation was to accept what Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of God because Israel was going to fall and be overrun by enemies. The prophets had warned of
judgment on Israel before, but never with this sort of finality. But the finality was appropriate because “a new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) was being enacted which would have no physical reference points – only spiritual ones. Do you see – can you appreciate – just how practical this advice was for those Jews? Had the whole nation listened to Him they could have walked away
from Jerusalem and started a new life trusting in the promises of God just as their forefather Abraham had done over 2,000 years before. While many of them did believe Jesus, many did not and instead stood by the high priest, the Council that condemned Him, the temple, and the old order. When the Romans crushed Jerusalem in 70 A.D., those unbelieving Jews were crushed with it. It was tragic. It is always tragic when we ignore God’s warnings to turn from our sins, but this was worst moment ever in the life of ancient Israel, and it marked the end of the nation as God’s primary vehicle for revealing Himself to the world.
(This section of the chapter to be continued tomorrow)
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