The End of the World
The kingdom of God and the message of the book of Revelations is written in figurative language. Jerusalem, figuratively known as Babylon, was destroyed, followed by the persecution of the new body of believers. The book of Revelations culminates with the victory of the church, and finally the glory of the resurrected body of believers in Christ, known as 'the church' which formed the New Jerusalem. The long awaited Kingdom of God was now here on earth. At Pentecost, the knowledge and power of Christ within was revealed. The body of believers became one mind with one single faith. This was John's revelation and beginning of a 'new creation', a new heaven and earth, with a New Jerusalem, along with the members that formed the 'body of Christ' who were soon to be fiercely persecuted for their faith, but would finally win the victory.
A king coming to town riding on a donkey was the beginning of many humbling lessons and stumbling blocks for his followers. The nature of the Kingdom of god being a spiritual faith rather than a physical church was a bitter disappointment to many. Once the significance of death and resurrection was revealed, it was likened to lightning flashing from east to west.
Jesus spoke about the end of the world in context of the old world with its religious pomp and ceremony and false worship coming to a dramatic end. This event was likened as a time of trouble such as never was or ever will be. The city of Jerusalem was about to be destroyed by Titus, the Roman general and his legions, with everything that Jerusalem stood for; including their place of worship. In its place there would rise from the ashes, hearts and minds that would begin to worship in spirit and in truth.
The New Jerusalem was to be a spiritual body, the church of Christ, one body, one mind, a single faith. Knowledge and faith was the power that gave birth to this embryo-a new beginning-a resurrection from the old to a new body of believers. The logos; the enigmatic, creative power of the universe, has finished its work and given us the body of Christ, a spiritual living church made up of those who believe in the Christ, and are willing to love one another as one body in Christ.
But herein lies a paradox. We should see Christ in unbelievers. It is difficult for Christians to see that all who serve humanity selflessly belong to a universal body. What lies within each of us is the ability to be subject to the law of love and goodness, but there is another law that fights against the spirit; the flesh, but its power is weakened when knowledge of the Christ is revealed. This quantum "law of love" will overcome evil when Christ is revealed - not through Christianity, rather, through ones own awakening.
The destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD was an event that caused the most significant turning point in the history of the world. It gave rise to institutionalized Christianity by Emperor Constantine and since the 4th century has become the greatest stumbling block to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has, like Jerusalem of old, become a place for everything that is unclean. It is a stronghold for fraudsters, criminals, liars, adulterers, the sexually immoral, murderers, and thieves. All in the name of Christ. People of influence, politicians, world leaders, those from all walks of life are in awe of her and look to her for moral values in a desperate world. But to those whom Jesus addressed on the Mount of Olives, knew that when their world ended, they would see the new Jerusalem, not as a physical city descending from heaven, but rather, a spiritual city.
A new heaven and new earth
As it is written, eye has not seen, nor heard, or entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him. (1Cor 2:9)
The Sermon on the Mount is a timeless message for all walks of life but discarded because it is difficult to love one’s enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us or are unkind towards us. Christians and Moslems, nations and people from all walks of life, will continue to fight and kill each other unless we realise the only way to lasting peace is to have no enemies at all. It’s really not that difficult. It’s about knowledge and understanding of how and why the world was conceived and brought into existence in the first place.
And I heard a voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Rev 22: 3)
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