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"Divine Reversal"
Passtor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 6:17-26
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Passtor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 6:17-26
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Jesus instructs His apostles of the blessedness they will have, even in the midst of the loss, sorrow and rejection they may experience at the hands of the world, as they remain in Him and carry out His work. But He warns them that if they will use their Office to seek fame, fortune and acclaim from this world, the woe to them. So, we see a paradox, a Divine Reversal. And it's true for all Christians. Our blessedness comes not from the acqusition of the things of this world that are temporary, but in possessing Christ and His Gifts. For we know that whatever we lack in this life will be more than made up for in eternity. But if our god is that which is only of this world, even if we acquire it all and have lives of ease and pleasure, we are truly woeful, for it will all be taken away one day and our eternity will be one of utter deprivation and sorrow. So, wealthy or poor, comfortable or afflicted, if we have Christ, we are rich beyond all measure, for we have forgiveness, life and salvation as the dear children of God through Christ.
"Life at the Crossroads"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:11-17
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:11-17
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At life's crossroads, you often find tragedy and triumph bumping into each other. One grieves while another rejoices. Yet, in both instances, Jesus is there with His help, mercy, forgiveness and strength. When Jesus raised the widow of Nain's son, He showed His power over even death itself, and gave a foretaste of the final resurrection of His people who will never face death or sorrow or crying or pain anymore. But while we are in this world, when tragedy strikes, that is not evidence of Jesus' absence; it is simply a reminder to look for His presence to be "our very present help in time of trouble."
"The Answer Is ..." 3rd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:18-23
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:18-23
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John the Baptist's question for Jesus: "Are you the one, or should we look for another?" is the question many of us ask in times of adversity. "Is God truly loving?" "Is Jesus really our Savior?" "Do other religions have it right?" Rather than simply saying He is the One, Jesus pointed John to the miracles that the Scriptures prophecied that the Messiah would do, and that Jesus was fulfilling in the sight of all. So we too look to what the Scriptures say about Jesus, and see the things that He did, including His own bodily resurrection. We can be comforted in the reality that Jesus is the One who was to come, and the One who is coming again to make all things new. In all adversities, we can, together with St. Paul in his prison cell, "Rejoice in the Lord Always." Why? Because God's answer to the question "Is Jesus the One" is YES!
"See For Yourself" 3rd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:18-23
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 7:18-23
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John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus, not only as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, but also as the coming judge. He understood that this would happen in his lifetime but, when he sat in a dungeon cell, he wasn't seeing Jesus bringing the Judgment Day and the downfall of Israel's enemies. Thus, he wondered if Jesus was really The One or not. Jesus demonstrated to John's disciples through His miracles that He was fulfilling the Scriptures about Messiah - that He first comes as a Redeemer of sinners before He comes back as the Judge of the living and the dead. Thus, even in the darkness, John could rejoice that Jesus has come. So we, even in the darkness of this life, can rejoice because Jesus has come as OUR Redeemer and at the End, when He makes all things new, by faith we will be with Him always. Rejoice!
"The Privilege of Seeing" Transfiguration
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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The glory that Christ has as True God was shown briefly through His humanity on that mountain top as he was "transfigured" before the eyes of Peter, James and John. But the real glory would be in accomplishing the salvation of mankind by going to the cross. His true glory was hdden from human eyes as he went through affliction, suffering and death. But his glory is hidden no more. The glory we have in Christ is presently hidden as well. But Jesus' transfiguration was a foretaste of that which we, as God's Christians, will one day share with Christ in his eternal kingdom.
"Awakening From Sleep" Transfiguration Day
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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Our Lord's Transfiguration was a brief look at the glory He possessed as true God that was normally hidden by His nature as true Man. This event was to prepare His disciples for the fact that His suffering for sins by crucifixion must take place before He is ultimately revealed in all His glory. It is a reminder to us that while we may want to skip our own cross and go straight to that which is glorious, while we are in this world we follow Jesus by faith and listen to His Word by denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Him. The glory of Jesus' presence with us is hidden under ordinary means: bread, wine, water, preaching, gathering together in church and so forth. The glory of Jesus is shown to us in the cross; in the forgiveness of sins; in the hearing of His Word - all gifts to strengthen us as we now suffer with Him that we may, at the resurrection of the dead, be glorified with Him.
"Arrivals and Departures" Transfiguration Day
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:28-36
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Through birth and death, people move through this life all the time. But because of Christ's arrival in His birth as true Man, and His departure on the cross assuring our forgiveness and reconciliation with God, that changes everything. As He set His face to to to Jerusalem and the cross, the disciples got a glimpse into the glory that was always His as true God. When we travel through the dark places of this world, we see His glory on Mt. Calvary where He died for us, and rose again three days later. We understand that we won't always have spiritual "highs," nor should we always seek them. But even as we carry our crosses in this life, we trust in Christ, and look for Him to bring us, by grace, into His glories one day.
"Looking Back"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:51-62
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Luke 9:51-62
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To be a disciple of Jesus is more than just following Him in the easy times. It also means to follow Him, even when the devil, the world and our sinful flesh pressure us to do otherwise. To look back and long for our old life of sin or, worse yet, to return to it leads to death. Yet, Christ came to redeem all. He resolutely went to the cross for us who all to often are irresolute. He calls us to repentance, and to faith in His saving work. Rather than looking back to the world's sinful pleasures, keep looking forward to the "Promised Land" we will share with Him who has loved us with His own life - Jesus.
"Returns Accepted" 2nd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7
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When people cry out for God's justice, they really don't want to meet the God of Justice themselves; they just want God to pound someone else. If we were to face the God of Justice, none of us could stand because of our sin. But God is promising to send His messengers; one to prepare the way for the other messenger, who is the Lord coming to His temple to establish a New Covenant in His blood and to make us His holy Priesthood. Though Malachi speaks a harsh word of Law to the people, there is Gospel as well. To the repentant, God will turn to them and forgive them and make them His own dear people again. And what was true in Malachi's day is true for us today. To the wayward and erring whom God calls to repentance and faith, All returns are accepted because of Christ.
"Who Can Endure?" 2nd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7
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As in Malachi's day, so in ours. People want God to leave them alone until they get in a jam. Then they cry out for help and are offended if that help doesn't come when and how they want it. They accuse God of injustice and wonder where He is. Well, God did promise He would act and bring about full justice. But when that Day of His appearing occurs, who can possibly stand before Him? Left to ourselves, none of us can. But because of Christ's first appearing in humility to bear the sins of the world, those who trust in Him will be able to stand and endure at His coming again, because we stand, not on ourselves, but on Christ.
"Good News; Bad News; Good News" 2nd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7b
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Malachi 3:1-7b
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"Repent"
Pastor Leo Thoms
Mark 1:14-15
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The first command Jesus gave in Mark Chapter One was not"Love one another," or "Forgive each other." It was "Repent." Jesus called people to turn away from their sins and evil actions and to turn toward Him. And the second command He gave was to "Believe." The people were to turn from their sins to Him who would redeem them with His own life. They were to believe in His redemption of them and to live lives reflecting the forgiveness Jesus gives to them.
"It's Time" 3rd Sun. After the Epiphany
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:14-20
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:14-20
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As Jesus began to preach, it clearly was time for the people to repent of their sins and believe in the forgiveness that Jesus came to bring to the world. It is in repentance and faith that we escape the coming judgment. But repentance should be an ongoing thing, for we sin daily. But it is trust in the Gospel that gives us power to be God's Christians in this world even as we look forward to "the life of the world to come." It's time now for the Church (God's Christians, each of us) to be serious about our faith, the hearing of God's Word and the living out of the faith in our discipleship with Jesus.
"Pushing Back the Darkness With Christ"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:29-39
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:29-39
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When Christ came, He pushed back the darkness of sin and Satan. He healed diseases and cast out demons and spread the light of the Gospel. But when that light is rejected, darkness returns. As God's Christians today, we are surrounded by a world given over to the devil's influence. But we have Christ, who is greater than the devil. Armed with His Word and Spirit, we are to push back the darkness so that others may be set free by Christ and share with us the blessings of forgiveness and life.
"Bringing Order Out of Chaos"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:4-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:4-11
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At the beginning, through Water, Word and Spirit, God made a new creation. Through Water, Word and Spirit, Jesus's Baptism shows that He is the Son of God who, through His atoning death on the cross for sinners, would make us New Creations. And in our own Baptisms, through Water, Word and Spirit, we now are children of God by faith, and dearly loved. Baptism is not our work for God, but His work for us, and in us. By clinging to His Word and promise in Holy Baptism, we have this objective assurance that we are His dear children because of Christ, no matter what the world throws at us.
"If God Loves Me, Then Why...?" 1st Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:9-15
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 1:9-15
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The recent school shooting in Florida is a powerful reminder of the evil at work in men's hearts. People question God's goodness and love when these tragedies occur, and there is no satisfactory answer to the "Why." Yet, rather than losing heart, we look to our Savior whose heavenly Father declared His love for at His baptism, and through His victory over the devil's temptations in the wilderness. God's love for His Son did not exempt Him from suffering, persecution and even death. That was what Jesus came to do to redeem us. But the love and Word of God empowered Jesus to endure and prevail. So with us. The proof of God's love for us, no matter what tragedies come to us, is His Word and Promise in Christ. Even if the devil deprives us of bodily life, Christ will raise our bodies again and we will be with Him in our true Home. That's a reason to endure in joyful faith whatever this world throws at us.
"One Thing Lacking - One Thing Needful"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:17-22
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:17-22
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"Original Intent"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:2-12
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:2-12
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When dealing with situations we presently face, we look to the Scriptures to understand what God originally intended and whether or not we are following that intent or being driven to make choices out of our sinful hearts and desires. Divorce is one example. God's original intent for man and woman is that they, through marriage, become a "one flesh union" that is not to be separated by anyone, and can bring forth new life through our children. But because of sin, concessions were made to protect people whose marriages are desintigrating. Divorce is the final step of a series of sins and failures that cause the death of this relationship that God meant should be permanent, and a reflection of His relationship to His Bride, the Church. Yet, forgiveness and healing can still be found in Christ, who calls us once more to follow Him as male or female, and to respect His original intent for the sexes, and for His institution of the "one flesh" union only in marriage.
"It's a Family Tradition"
Pastor Joseph Liss
Mark 10:2-16
Pastor Joseph Liss
Mark 10:2-16
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God created marriage and the family. He has the last word on it. Yet, in our fallen, sinful world, culture has corrupted marriage by redefining it, or by breaking it up through divorce. Family is whatever you want to define it. In essence, we want to have the last word, and then wonder how things have become so messed up in our relationships. Yet God did not give up on us. Instead, He gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us and forgive us and make us His own. However we have messed up our lives and relationships, God continues to reach out to us and heal our relationship with Him and with each other.
"Counter-Intuitive"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-27
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-27
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The Bible has many things that are "counter-intuitive" to the way fallen human being think, not the least of which is regarding salvation, or who deserves to be saved. The idea that our good works do not save us or, at least, contribute toward our salvation is counter-intuitive. Yet, entering the kingdom of heaven by our efforts is an impossibility. We cannot save ourselves. Yet, what is impossible for man to accomplish, Christ accomplished for us. Through His life, death and resurrection, now even "the chief of sinners" can be saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus. Even those who are wracked with guilt for their sin and think that it's impossible for God to forgive them need to hear the Gospel for themselves - that God did the impossible and has forgiven them in Christ. It may be counter-intuitive to our hearts, but it is absolutely the truth.
"In 'George' We Trust?"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-31
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-31
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Our money says "In God We Trust" but, for many, they trust in "George," i.e. George Washington on the dollar bill. The rich seek more riches and the poor covet riches. But Jesus reminds us that to trust in riches makes it impossible enter heaven because we are trusting in that which cannot save. Yet, God is the One who does the saving, by sending Christ into the world to bear our sins on Himself. The one who trust in Christ will not easily be led to trust in George.
"Camels and Needles"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-31
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:23-31
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To trust in the riches of this world makes it impossible to enter God's Kingdom. Why? Because we have made those riches our god. Because we are all prone to desiring, and relying upon the wealth and things of this world, sinfully making all kind of things our idols, it is impossible for all mankind, by its own works, efforts and reason, to be saved. But what is impossible for us is not impossible for God. Christ's death for our sins has reconciled us to God, and the Holy Spirit, working through the Means of Grace changes our hearts, replacing the gods of this world with faith in the true God and, thus, bringing us into the Kingdom of God. This is all by God's grace. Though we still will struggle against the temptation to rely on this world's riches, by staying connected to God's Word in repentance and faith in Christ, He will give us the proper perspective regarding earthly treasures and heavenly treasures so that our faith in Christ will remain sure.
"The Cup and the Font"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:32-45
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:32-45
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James and John are not different from most of us. They ignored what Jesus told them about His pending suffering and death. They only had glorification in their minds, and wanted Jesus to seat them at His right and left hands in His glory. But as He would suffer the cup of God's wrath upon all sin, and be baptized into blood and death to bring about our atonement, so all His followers will share, in one way or another in His cup and baptism. Part of that sharing is in our vocations. Rather than pushing ourselves to the front of the line to be served by others, we instead serve others as Christ Himself came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for all.
"A New Vocation" 5th Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:32-45
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 10:32-45
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As Jesus came to serve fallen mankind by giving His life for our redemption, so He gives His Christians a new calling - a new vocation: to serve our neighbor rather than trying to gain power and control over them. Whether or not we hold power and authority in this world, it is to be exercised for the good of others, not just for ourselves. People are not benefitted, and the world is not improved through selfisness, but by service. As Christians, both individually and corporately as the Church, we live under the cross, and are informed by the cross. Forgiven and set free by Jesus, we then are free to look outside of ourselves to the needs and betterment of others.
"Jesus, Son of David, Have Mercy on Me"
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 10:46-52
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Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 10:46-52
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The simple prayer of blind Bartemaeus, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me," is a prayer of faith. It is the prayer of one who is utterly dependent on another to help. It is the prayer that Jesus hears and responds to. For the Christian, even when all other prayers are forgotten, this simple prayer can still be said, and the Lord, in His love, will respond and come to our aid, for His mercy was shown to us and to the world at the cross.
"Palm Sunday in Advent?" 1st Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 11:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 11:1-11
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Advent means "Coming" or "Arrival." During Advent, we prepare not only for the arrival of our Lord Jesus in the flesh at Christmas, but also in His glory at the Last Day. The Palm Sunday reading of Jesus' "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem is fitting for this Sunday as Jesus was incarnated to save His people from their sins. His arrival in Jerusalem that Palm Sunday would culminate in His death and resurrection, thus achieving our salvation and preparing us for when He comes again in Glory.
"Foolishly Insignificant?"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 12:38-44
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 12:38-44
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God is not impressed with our wealth, power or fame. While people tend to be in awe of these things, God often chooses to work through that which the world regards as insignificant and foolish. The "widow's mite" may have appeared worthless in comparison to the large gifts others were giving, but to Jesus, her's was the greater gift, not because of what it cost her, but because of faith. Through the forgiveness of our sins, and faith in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, even our smallest works and gifts are precious in God's sight, and not insignificant at all, not matter what the world thinks.
"Confident in the One Who Endured to the End"
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 13:1-13
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Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 13:1-13
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"The Enduring Church of Jesus"
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 13:1-13
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Pastor Lee Wenskay
Mark 13:1-13
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Each generation wonders if the End of All Things is near. Sometimes people are driven to hysteria by various End Times predictions. Yet Jesus doesn't give us specific prophecies of those things to occur right before the End, but gives us generalized signs that each generation will experience to one degree or another. This is so that God's people remain faithful and devout in their watchfulness. We do know though, that to be faithful to Christ and His Word will bring conflict to us from the world. Jesus says "All men will hate you on account of Me, but he who endures to the end will be saved" - saved by the blood of Jesus shed for sinners; saved by the word and promise of God in Jesus; and saved by continuing to trust in Him unto the end. Jesus does not abandon us in the midst of all the conflict and turmoil of this world, but He comes to sustain our faith in Him through the pure preaching of the Gospel and the faithful administration of the Sacraments. It is in these Means that Jesus comes to us to comfort our hearts, strengthen our faith and give us endurance until that Day when He comes again for us to be with Him forever.
"Much History Before the End"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 13:1-13
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Mark 13:1-13
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People are always fascinated by those who claim to know the date of Christ's return, or the signs that will occur just prior to His return. But Jesus doesn't give us an "End Times Timeline." Rather, He gives us the general signs that will occur throughout history that show the judgments of God upon sin, and as a call to repentance. Each day we are to "watch and pray," for we don't know when The End will come. The fall of Jerusalem serves as a picture or type of the End. But we have His promise that for those who are in Christ, "He who endures to the end will be saved."
