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Spirit of the Flame - 70 days following the Olympic Torch
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DAY 11

Watching the torch relay is rather addictive. Amazing to see so many people lining the streets, trying to get their photo taken as the torch bearer comes past. Cheers, flags, kids running and riding bikes keeping up with the entourage. ((view live at www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay ))

The Olympic flame has arrived in Chester. Back in England, but tomorrow weaving its way along the border of Wales and England. Interestingly, the Chester football club stadium straddles the border, with the pitch in Wales, and the offices and main gate in England. 

Another detail about Chester is that it was built by the Romans in the AD 70s. In about AD 32 Jesus foretold the fall of Jerusalem. About 40 years later the Romans destroyed Jerusalem (AD 70). The Romans tore down Jerusalem and built Chester at about the same time in history.

The Olympic torch came into Chester today with cheers and crowds lining the streets; Jesus entered Jerusalem with cheers and crowds lining the streets (Matthew 21:1-10). The funny thing is, both then and now, the Roman soldiers mingled with the crowds. This time actors have lined the street in Chester in commemoration. 

After Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He lamented over the city. The citizens had constantly turned against God. For centuries God had longed for the people of Jerusalem to return to Him. Now, with the Son of God in their presence, they wanted only to kill him (see yesterday's reflections for a similar story). 

Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem within one generation (Matthew 23:36). Not one stone would be left on another (Matthew 24:2). Josephus, a Jewish historian alive at that time, wrote, "it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited."*

As the Olympic torch entered the city of Chester today, I couldn't help but think of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. He prophesied that Jerusalem would be destroyed within one generation. It came true. When Jesus left the earth another prophecy was made, this time by some angels. Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Paul wrote to the people in Thessaloniki about dead believers being raised to life when Jesus returns:
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) "16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. 
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."


Jesus came, and we have a promise He will come again. As you seek the presence of God in your life now, I encourage you to look forward to the fulfillment of this promise, that by your faithfulness to God, you will be caught up with other believers, and live a life, a new and eternal life, in the presence of God, even face to face. I encourage you with these words!

-Pr Nathan Stickland


*Flavius Josephus. The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem. BOOK VI. Containing The Interval Of About One Month. From The Great Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced To The Taking Of Jerusalem By Titus.. Book VI. Chapter 1.1

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