lift up your heads

Sunday December 3rd, Luke 21: 25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Modern reconstruction of the Apocalyptic writings in the Bible tend to focus on how terrible things will be for those who do not believe correctly (correct belief as defined by those same modern reconstructionists). It’s the old, “you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I’m tellin’ you why, Jesus Christ is coming to town----and he is pissed” theology. That theology has about as much to do with the Gospel as does Santa. The Gospel focuses on verse 28. When it seems that all hell is breaking loose, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption, Immanuel, God with us, is drawing near.