The Fall of Earthly Kingdoms and God’s Eternal Promise

Every empire, every megalomaniac, everyone that erects a building to glorify themselves will inevitably return to rubble one day. The temple in Jerusalem was no different. It, too, had been built for the purpose of tickling someone's ego. For their own personal political aggrandizing. This grand building was not put on display to glorify God, but Herod, whose position as king in Judea was shaky, at best. [00:24:00]

The Jerusalem temple was truly an impressive sight meant to convey power and dominance. But it was created by a ruler whose power was marked by instability and paranoia. Herod wanted desperately to project power, both to Rome and to those that he governed. But he was part of a system that was capricious and centered elsewhere. He experienced pressure from below and from above, as well as family relationships marked by perceived threat, betrayal, and violence. And so, he built it to project a false sense of stability. When, in fact, he felt deeply insecure. [00:24:48]

None of this was lost on Jesus. No, he saw it all. And in a bit of biting prophecy, he undercuts everything Herod was trying to do by describing the temple's imminent destruction. [00:25:42]

Jesus was, in fact, an apocalyptic prophet. He and his followers and many other Jews at that time expected the end of the world as they knew it to happen very soon. They expected God to intervene and let the Romans really have it to punish them for their tyranny and their cruelty and to restore Israel to a whole new world of self-governance with God and his law at the center of daily life. [00:26:54]

But that restored kingdom of God was not going to come about easily. There would be birth pains to that kingdom that would paradoxically involve a lot of upheaval, death, and destruction. Even the destruction of the most holy place in Jerusalem, the temple. [00:27:28]

A prophet worth his salt. Jesus also gives them hope. He said, You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance. I will give you the words and the wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be hated by a law because of my name, but not a hair on your head. [00:27:53]

Luke, using the mouthpiece of Jesus, reassured those in his community who were experiencing persecution that God would not abandon them. Instead God would be there with them, would strengthen them, would provide the words they needed to answer their oppressors. Like the fourth man in the fire in the book of Daniel, God would meet beside them the whole time and would not let any permanent harm come to them. [00:29:06]

Nero might be able to destroy their bodies, but God would resurrect them on the last day and restore them to life just as he had Jesus. [00:29:44]

While Jesus proclaims that this human building will be destroyed until not one stone remains atop another, Isaiah promises a city not built by human hands in which the destruction of the past will no longer be remembered, where the sound of weeping and distress can no longer be heard in the streets. [00:30:03]

He promises that children will no longer die before their time, that the rich would no longer exploit the labor of the poor, that even the animals will turn from their violence and lie down together in peace. They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. [00:30:26]

In light of what Trump is doing to our country right now, Jesus' words take on a whole new meaning. As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another. And true to the symbolism, so glaringly obvious right now, he's not just talking about a building. He's talking about structures of greed, tyranny, and oppression. An administration, a movement, a political party, or even a nation built on corruption cannot stand. It doesn't matter how beautiful it appears from the outside, no matter how much gold you tack up to adorn it, it will rock from within and it will fall. [00:32:49]

Listen to God's promises. If they persecute you, don't worry. I will be with you. I will give you the words to say and the wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to contradict or withstand. No permanent harm can come to you. [00:33:50]

Listen to God's promises to us. I am building a kingdom not made by human hands, a city in which joy and delight take the place of hunger and distress. No more will your children die before their time. No more will powerful men exploit your labor. [00:34:18]

Listen to God's promises to us. Before you even call, I will answer. Whenever you open your mouth, I will hear you. Animals who hunt each other now will lay down together in peace. Nowhere in my kingdom, in my city, on all this holy mountain, will there be violence or pain or destruction. Never again, says the Lord. [00:34:45]

It has been hard for every generation of Christians who answered Jesus' call to stand up to terror, to tyrants, to despots, to bigots and liars and thieves. We can do this because God has our back. We do not stand alone. And God will give us everything we need exactly when we need it. [00:35:29]

We can do this because God has given us a vision for the future, for a time when the horror and destruction of the current day will no longer have a place, where hunger and violence will be no more, when swords will be beaten into plowshares and everyone, everyone, everyone beneath their vine and fig tree shall be at peace and unafraid. [00:35:58]

Yes, the temple will fall. Trump's ego palace will fall. The city of the Lord will endure forever. [00:36:31]

Hope that the proud may build their monuments, only God's kingdom endures. Stand firm. Speak truth. Love boldly. For Christ goes with you and the Spirit gives you every word you need. Go in peace. [00:54:42]