For this purpose Christ was revealed:
We have the archangel Michael - the heavyweight champion of the end of the world comes to deliver (this is the word to use) the living faithful - and the dead they are resurrected and judged.
So many films on the shelf where the world, as we know it, has come to an end: 'I am Legend'; 'Lord of the Flies'; 'Mad Max(es)' and 'Hunger Games' being just a few!
This morning, after watching some aftershave advert about the end of the world, I heard how some are betting on 2012 being the end of the world as the Mayan appear to predict. Just as they did, electronically, with Y2K and Cuba and so many other times in my life!
Well the Jews were just as interested in the end of the world then as we are now - Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) ruling for Judaism was dealt with by law and the Temple had been desecrated. Religious leaders were puppets and getting to hear God's word and finding a way through it as a believer was pretty tough (if not impossible). Was this the end of the world - were they to start packing and watch the dolphins (as in Doug Adam's books)
Daniel brings perspective using language that the people understood in the form of apocalyptic literature. The symbolism is obvious, hard (and bloody) but it brings with it deliverance for the living and resurrection for (some of) the dead (although of course there is also judgement too! This partial resurrection (for it says 'some) causes some real problem for some who explain it as being about 'those who have died in conflict' - a great thought as we bring remembrancetide to a close.
It also promises that those who are 'saved' (AKA 'the wise') will shine a brightly as the stars in the darkness (Hallelujah or what?).
And the end?
Well, it's a new beginning isn't it! The end is never 'The End'; it is merely the beginning of the new bit.
That's where the promise of resurrection comes in; where the image of a dead Jesus, the Christ, and the end begetting the new beginning that is resurrection Sunday (which is more for us that Him as He never really went; was, is, and always will be is a hint here).
And so we move on to Hebrews and have to ask the question:
"How many bits of the Bible tell us to 'go to church'?
The answer's contained in the Hebrews passage!
"But all I need is my Bible," some cry. But, if we are the Body of Christ how can we countenance Christ being 'dismembered'?
You don't need to go to church to be a Christian - NO, but you need to go to be be CHURCH because church is what we have when Jesus is re-membered and the body is made complete! We are Church and corporately we minister to God and make Church real; giving it its shape and making its earthly ministry real too..
And Hebrews continues by telling us that Jesus is the ultimate (in every sense - best and final) High Priest.
He is different in how He acts - for the other priests stand whilst He sits (at the right hand of the Father)
They make sacrifices that do a bit of good whilst he makes a sacrifice of himself!
They cleanse the body - Jesus cleanses body, soul and mind! Erases the hard disk so that the laws and commandments can be re-written.
His death restores sinlessness and yet we, although this is done, it is like a new operating system has been installed but many of the programmes that relate to how we operate (ie. live, think and act) are still being modified to 'new live 2.0'! A conundrum that becomes coherence only when we are gathered as Church and share in the body and blood, the teaching and the unity.
And, of course, resurrection and judgement are with us yet again (just like Daniel)!
So we look to our Gospel to bring some clarity:
The 'end times'. That 'beware - the end is night' moment.
Ever seen those people with the sandwich boards?
Are they prophets or 'nutters' (a definition assigned by a former colleague to the man with such a board who walked Oxford Street every day!)?
Mark rounds it all off, sums it all up and is for us, that 'nutter'!
The disciples point to the temple and the stones - the construction and immensity and yet Jesus isn't impressed at all! Jesus speaks about destruction and reconstruction of something far cleverer than mere inanimate stones - people. Yep, He's on a resurrection thing! He points out that, just like when Antiochus IV was kicking around - things are going to be bad.
False teaching, war, natural disasters earthquakes, floods and famine - and this is just the start of it all.
Yes indeed folks - Jesus has gone apocalyptic on us! He has picked up the thread and is running around town with it seeking to see who will trip over it.
He's using the situations of the day and contextualising using a genre of writing to forewarn and prepare them then and us now!
It's a 'watch out' and be aware and be united. a call to live as the body of Christ and to keep meeting and to keep watching and to keep praying and to keep. . .
to keep on keeping on.
It isn't about 'endings' but about 'beginnings' - a wonderful rounding off of remembrance and an even more wonderful indication of eschatology - 'the future hope' rather than the 'present end'
Pax
2B4 Advent:
Psalm 16
OT - Daniel 12.1-3
NT - Hebrews 10.11-25
Gospel - Mark 13.1-8
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