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The
Story of Everything
An
abridged edition of The Urantia Book
Paper
176: Tuesday Evening on Mount Olivet
On Tuesday evening as the Master and his men left Jerusalem for the Gethsemane camp, Jesus declared to his apostles that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. He admonished them not to be overly concerned about being delivered to the authorities, thrown out of the synagogue, put in prison, or even put to death for the gospel's sake. He advised the apostles to remain in the city until Roman troops invaded Jerusalem, at which time they should flee into the mountains.
The apostles were bewildered by the Master's predictions. In spite of his attempts to dissuade them, many apostles assumed that the destruction of Jerusalem would coincide with Jesus' promised return.
"Have I not all this time taught you that your connection with the kingdom is spiritual and individual, wholly a matter of personal experience in the spirit by the faith‑realization that you are a son of God? What more shall I say? The downfall of nations, the crash of empires, the destruction of the unbelieving Jews, the end of an age, even the end of the world, what have these things to do with one who believes this gospel, and who has hid his life in the surety of the eternal kingdom? What does it matter to you who believe this gospel of the kingdom if nations overturn, the age ends, or all things visible crash, since you know that your life is the gift of the Son, and that it is eternally secure in the Father?"
"Every generation of believers should carry on their work, in view of the possible return of the Son of Man, exactly as each individual believer carries forward his lifework in view of inevitable and ever-impending natural death."
Jesus told a story about a man who, before embarking on a journey, divided his treasures among his servants to be cared for while he was gone. Most of the servants invested their talents to increase their master's wealth, but one servant buried the talent entrusted to him in the ground. When the master returned, he commended those servants who had invested their talents wisely, and he increased their responsibilities. But the servant who buried his talent in the ground was chastised, and his talent was taken from him. "To every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away. You cannot stand still in the affairs of the kingdom."
"Truth is living; the Spirit of Truth is ever leading the children of light into new realms of spiritual reality and divine service. You are not given truth to crystallize into settled, safe, and honored forms. Your revelation of truth must be so enhanced by passing through your personal experience that new beauty and actual spiritual gains will be disclosed to all who behold your spiritual fruits and in consequence thereof are led to glorify the Father who is in heaven."