015A. Jesus Foretells Events both Frightful and Hopeful

Peter

I’m Peter. Jesus is taking us disciples up on the Mount of Olives
where we admire the beauty of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Look, Lord! See how enormous and glorious the great temple is!

Prompter & Echoes

Magnificent!

Peter

Look at those immense walls! 
No enemy will ever get past them!

Voice

Wrong, Peter. 
The day is coming when there’ll not be left one stone upon another.

Peter

What? How could that be? 
Rabbi, when will such destruction happen? 
What will be the sign when these things are about to take place, and when will you establish your eternal Kingdom?

Voice

Let no one mislead you; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He.’ When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. These things must take place first; the end does not follow immediately. Nation will rise against nation; there will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be great earthquakes, plagues and famines, also terrors and great signs from heaven.

Prompter & Echoes

Dear God, spare us!

Voice

Your enemies will arrest and persecute you. 
They’ll imprison you and take you before governors because of Me. 
This will give you opportunity to testify on my behalf. 
Do not prepare a defense beforehand; I’ll give you answers
and wisdom that your opponents cannot refute.

Peter

It sounds so dire! 
Surely, Lord, you’ll establish your rule on earth first, to avoid that.

Voice

Not now. You’ll be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends. They’ll kill some of you, and you’ll be hated by all because of My name. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish.

Peter

I can’t imagine such a huge temple being totally destroyed.  When will it happen?

Voice

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then her destruction is near.  Those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and of those in the city must leave.

Prompter & Echoes

How terrifying!

Voice

Woe to those who are pregnant or are nursing babies in those days; there’ll be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people.  They’ll fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations; Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by Gentiles until their time is fulfilled.
The Holy City that we are looking at now is doomed!

Prompter & Echoes

Doomed!

Peter

And then? Will you return to rule over all the earth?

Voice

Not yet. There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay, perplexity at the roaring of the sea and waves, men fainting from fear, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Prompter & Echoes

Power and glory!

Voice

When you see these things begin to take place, take courage.  Your redemption is drawing near.

Prompter & Echoes

Lord, give us courage