Mount of Olive- The Second Coming of the Lord
Apostasy era was when we have witnessed the Lord’s presence for the first time Who wear the flesh and blood of human to appear on earth, for all the work of Him in redeeming the world. He was born from Holy Mother Saint Mary, clothed, breath fed like a baby, grew in few and limited within a height and weight of man, walked, talked and ate as one of us, was hungered, sorrowed, mourned, suffered much for His unconditional and true love.
His words healing the soul, hands curing many maladies and the revelation of Him proved as Holy Son of the Holy Father on river Jordan upon His baptism in the hands of Saint John the Baptist and His Divinity on the high mountain locally known as “Debre Tabor” in front of the disciples. (Matthew 3:13-17, 17:1-8).
All this He did for the acknowledgement of Him as the Lord Who came down from the heavens for the salvation of human race upon those believing His holy words, miraculous of His hands and work of redemption. Yet, during His preaching the gospel, the Lord has warned about the second coming of Him for Judgement at the end of the age, through the disciples on mount of olive, accord their query. The apostle Saint Mark states it in his gospel as follows: – (Mark 13፡3-37)
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines [a]and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
The Great Tribulation
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Dear brethren! as time is of the value and we are not to know the second coming of our Lord on Judgement day, it is better to realize the warrant of Him to always be good, generous, gentile, faithful in prayer, fasting, diligence and Christian endeavors within the Orthodox Incarnation religion. We shall be alerted in living by His law and order of the Church and await His loving words to enter us in His kingdom saying “‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36).
Better to crave our destiny to heaven facing all the hardships and scarification for the soul than to be said, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ (Matthew 25: 41-43)
May God’s mercy and benevolence be with us, Amen!