The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! (v.2)

It is easy to think that the land indicates the land of the kingdom of Judah. But the word, “land” also indicates the Earth. It is the word that appears in Genesis 1:1 where it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The chapter tells us not only about the end of the Israel nation but also the end of the earth. Regarding the end times, Zechariah 14 and Zephaniah 1 explain them further. Zechariah was a prophet to those who had returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity. He talked about the Day of the Lord. His prophecies are not different from other prophets who lived before or around the time of the fall of Jerusalem. Concerning the earthquake mentioned in Zechariah 14:5, Amos saw the vision concerning Israel two years before the earthquake. The Book of Amos is a great book to understand the end times. Ezekiel is also talking about the Day of the Lord here.

I know that social justice has been discussed a lot in Christianity in recent years. And some ministers have been interpreting the OT prophecies with that in mind. God was indeed angry because of injustice happening within the kingdom of Northern Israel and that of Judah. But social injustice is not the focus. All evil deeds come from the heart of men. Since Adam and Eve corrupted themselves by believing in the devil’s words, all men are born without faith in God. Unless God gives one the Spirit, there is no regeneration.

 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. (John 3:3-15)

In this passage, Christ is not mocking Nicodemus by saying “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?”. Christ was not teaching a new thing to him. He was talking what the OT already explained. Although Nicodemus had learnt theology in their systematized institution and was a teacher, he did not understand the Scriptures. It is important to understand the OT with the understanding of the NT. The Israel nation was built as a shadow of the visible church in NT era. Therefore, ceremonial baptism is a mere replacement of circumcision done on the body. Christ links His coming to the world to making His people be born of the Spirit. Unless the Spirit comes in and changes one’s heart, he/she keeps on followings idols (more precisely believing in oneself) and keeping on doing evil.

God’ wrath is severe and final on the Day of the Lord (Romans 9:28). God does not forgive those who are not His people. They receive the full wrath of God. And when they are resurrected, they will face the second death (John 5:29). God has already blocked their ears and eyes so that they could turn back from their evil ways (Isaiah 6:9-10). It is because the world was made as a training ground for His people. By living in a mortal flesh with people who hate God, we saints learn our helpless situations, the free gift of God’s grace, the ways of God and His characters with much suffering and persecutions. Despite much suffering, the Spirit assures us that God is with us till the end.

… behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)