1 Samuel 31 depicts the tragic death of King Saul, the first anointed king of Israel. Sadly, he did not follow God as his successor King David would. Ultimately, he was lost in shame and suffered the tragic end of suicide. Thankfully, our greater King, the Lord Jesus, will always remain faithful, even as He conquers sin and death and hell on our behalf and for our salvation.

Jesus prophesies and foretells the destruction of Jerusalem that would occur in AD 70. Because of His faithful shepherding, many Christians escaped the assault and destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans. That destruction was only a type and a symbol of the persecution that Christians in every generation will face. God is faithful to guard His people and keep them safe, even through death.

In these verses, Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. We know that this was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans came and burned the city to the ground. Importantly, Jesus is explaining that this would not be the end of religion. God’s people are always to take hope and to take heart because Jesus reigns from everlasting to everlasting. Wars and rumors or wars and famines and earthquakes cannot stop King Jesus. Praise His name!