Shortly before His arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus Christ prophesied
of a worldwide period of upheaval and unrest unparalleled in human history.
This time would be characterized by religious deception, warfare, earthquakes,
famines and disease epidemics, along with other great catastrophic events
(Luke 21:7-28). In this discourse, Christ made it plain that the Kingdom
of God was not here yet.
He told His disciples that, after these events, people "will see the Son
of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory ... When you see these
things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near" (verses 27,31).
Christ clearly said that the Kingdom of God will not be established on
earth until after His triumphant return in power and great glory. Christ
also made this plain on other occasions. How many of us have recited the
Lord's Prayer without recognizing the plain meaning of the words as we
said them? These familiar words were given by Jesus Christ in response
to the disciples' request of Him to teach them how to pray. "In this manner,
therefore, pray," Jesus Christ told them. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be Your name. Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:9,10). The most common prayer
in Christendom acknowledges that God's Kingdom is not here yet and that
Christians are to fervently pray for its arrival!
