"It is by fear that the Powers keep us docile. 'I tell you, my friends,'
urges Jesus, 'do not be controlled by your fear of those who kill the 
body, and after that can do nothing more' (Luke 12:4; cf. Matt. 10:28). 
We cannot, of course, overcome fear as an emotion. It is unavoidable and 
natural. But instead of letting it stand before us, blocking our way, we 
can put it behind us. Then we can walk the way that God opens to us, 
unable to escape fear, perhaps, but not letting it control us either. It 
may be that it will even diminish for a period, or actually disappear. 
If so, that will be a special gift of the Holy Spirit, and not the 
result of repression." - Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers, p. 160-161

The “Little Apocalypse” is based on eschatological imagery found in 
various Hebrew Scripture prophecies:
For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give 
their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not 
shed its light. -- Isaiah 13:10
When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens, and make their stars 
dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its 
light. -- Ezekiel 32:7
The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon 
are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. -- Joel 2:10
The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the 
great and terrible day of the LORD comes. -- Joel 2:31
As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming 
with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was 
presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, 
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion 
is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is 
one that shall never be destroyed. -- Daniel 7:13-14

A theme in the text is the confrontation with the powers:
"...the powers in the heavens will be shaken." [v. 25b] Then they will 
see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. [v. 26]

In medieval angelology, there are nine orders of spiritual beings. From 
the highest to the lowest in rank, they are: seraphim, cherubim, 
thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, 
archangels, and angels.

People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the 
world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
-- Luke 21:26

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against 
the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this 
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly 
places. -- Ephesians 6:12

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for 
in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible 
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all 
things have been created through him and for him. -- Colossians 1:15-16

And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you--not as a removal of 
dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and 
is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made 
subject to him. -- 1 Peter 3:21-22

Questions for Reflection:

1. Some of the powers that people have identified in our world include:
The Media (which dictates our view of reality)
The Military-Industrial Complex (which commands billions of dollars,
even when the only real enemy is the demise of that Complex itself)
The Culture of Crime (which legitimates lawbreaking at all levels of
society, and then generates an obsessive fear of lower-class crime)
Exploitive Sexualism (which distorts sexuality into a tool to be used
to stimulate selected consumer behaviors, and produces as a
concommitant a world of sexual exploitation, harassment, abuse and
violence)
The Drug Industry (which induces dependency among vast numbers of our
citizens, and demands that all of us pay the consequences--remember
that the drugs include alcohol, nicotine, and prescription drugs,
as well as the illegal drugs)
Do you agree that these ARE powers that control our lives by their 
structures and strictures? Are there other powers at work in our world?

2. Can you remember having, or wishing you had, an older brother/sister who
could step in and help you deal with a problem situation with your peers?

3. Apocalyptic only makes sense and comes as good news to people who are
living under oppression. When they feel powerless to cope with a situation,
then they are ready to turn to God and ask for help. Can you read the 
vision
in Mark 13 as offering help and hope to you in your situation?

4. What powers do contend with, personally?

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While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, "It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!" They replied, "We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, 'He may come today.'"

Author Unknown