Luke 21:1-38

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Luke 21:1-38

History has seen many end-of-the-world cults. Even in recent history we saw the rise of a number of prominent cults that emphasized the end of the world. Some of us can recall David Koresh in Waco, Texas. Mr. Koresh claimed to be the messiah and wooed a number of people into his cultic control. They came to a tragic end when Koresh led his followers to resist the authorities, and during a siege their compound caught on fire and a great many were killed or took their lives.

If you are a little older, you might remember the charismatic cult leader Jim Jones and the tragedy at Jonestown. That group of people in Guyana were led to drink poison-laced Kool Aid. The sayings “ Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” and “That person has drunk the Kool-Aid” allude to this terrible tragedy.

Such cults thrive because there remains an instinctive fascination with the idea of the end of the world. We think not only of cult groups but the guy standing on the side of the road with wild eyes and hair sign warning that “the end is near.”

These movements can make a person think that only crazy people and cult groups think about the end of the world, but, actually, wondering about the end is perfectly natural. We know that our lives end. We know that the lives of our loved ones will end. We see aspects of the world and society—wars and nuclear weaponsthat really do have potential for ending life as we know it. So it’s natural to wonder.

If we are spiritually minded, it’s also natural to wonder what God thinks about these things. If God had a billboard, what would it read? If such an end is to come, how do we prepare for the end of everything as we know it?

In many respects Luke 21 focuses on the end of the world, what we should expect, and how we should prepare. The Lord Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, where he has been teaching every day in the temple. His main message has been one of salvation through faith in him. He spends these final days teaching in anticipation of his crucifixion and resurrection. Along the way he has had confrontations with religious leaders but has now finally silenced them. Now the Lord gives his remaining energy and life to teaching the truth to his disciples so they might be strengthened by the truth and endure until the end comes.

Lessons we LEARN from LUKE 21

1. The Lesson of Everything vs.1-4

Jesus looked And Saw the Rich and the widow Giving.Truly, he sees all and knows all. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Proverbs 15:3). Nothing escapes his observation. Every act and thought of every person is written down in the book of his remembrance.

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, he with whom we have to do, sees all and knows all! To religious hypocrites, that fact is terrifying, and ought to be. To the believer, it is blessedly comforting (John 21:17).

2. The lessons about the Earthly v. 5-6

Everything on this earth is marked for destruction.

“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Luke 21:5, 6).

The temple at Jerusalem was utterly destroyed just a few years after these words were spoken. Soon, all earthly buildings and all earthly things, no matter how firm they appear to be, no matter how much they are prized and treasured by us, shall be destroyed.

Our Lord was talking about the temple of God. It was a fabulous piece of architecture. To the Jews, the thought of it being destroyed was incomprehensible. They looked upon that building with idolatrous worship. It was built according to the pattern given by God himself. David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah were the admired names associated with that building. Every devout Jew in every corner of the world prayed toward the temple daily.

But the temple was to be destroyed by the hand of God.

3. The lesson about the Evidence v. 8

“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” (Luke 21:7, 8).

But our Lord Jesus completely passes over the questions asked in verse seven, because all such questions are totally unimportant. They are questions to which no answer can be found, because God has hidden the answer. Our Master refused to indulge their vain curiosity about prophecy. We would be wise to do the same.

He told his disciples to be Aware and Alert of False Teachers And False Teaching, but to be Aggressive in Faithful Teaching and Testimonies.

We must, in these days of darkness, deception, and delusion, proclaim the Christ of God in all his saving fulness, grace, and glory. He alone is able to save (). (HCSB) 15  So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome. 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17  For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

4. The lesson about Expectation v. 9

4. The lesson about Expectation v. 9

“But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by” (Luke 21:9).

We are to watch and look for him to come at any moment. Expect him to appear, and to appear soon. Yet, we must never begin to think the time of the end is immediately at hand. We are to watch for him with anxious, hopeful expectation, on the tiptoe of faith.

5. The lesson on Escalating v. 10-12

Until Christ returns, troubles are sure and will only increase, troubles in the world and persecutions against the gospel and all who worship and faithfully serve the Lord Jesus.

“Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:10-12).

6. The Lesson of Evangelism v. 12-15

Times of great trouble are times of great opportunity to confess Christ.

“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist” (Luke 21:12-15).

All these things, our Saviour says, “shall turn to you for a testimony”. They supply us with great opportunity to confess him before men, to proclaim to this wicked and perverse generation the glorious gospel of God’s free, saving grace in Christ.

7. The Lesson About Escape v. 16-18

16-18 ESCAPE

There will be preservation (21:18-19). "But there shall not a hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls" (21:18-19). The hairs of our head are numbered (). The Lord's promise here is obviously not a guarantee that His faithful witnesses will escape martyrdom. It is a pledge, however, of their eternal security and that, like Stephen, they will enter into their reward unscathed (). (HCSB) 15  So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome. 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17  For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

8. The lesson on Endurance v. 19-24

8. The lesson on Edurance v. 19-24

V. 19 Endurance

19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,

22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. - Luke 21:19-24

In the midst of troublesome times, “ Our endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. ” Child of God, enjoy yourself, and enjoy your God and Saviour. Let nothing disturb or distress you. You possess that peace and joy in your souls which the world cannot take away (). (HCSB) 3  And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4  endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5  This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

William Cowper wrote these encouraging and comforting words:

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up his bright designs

And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan his work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

9. The lesson about End-Time Events v. 25-27

(HCSB) 25  “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves. 26  People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken. 27  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

His words apply to believers in trying situations down through the centuries, as well as to those living at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem or just before His second coming. Jesus is showing His followers how to hold on not only to their sanity, but also to their faith, when the world around them is chaotic and seemingly out of control. When the whole world goes crazy, God’s people can remain sane by knowing that all things are under God’s righteous, sovereign control.

Jesus’ purpose was not to satisfy curiosity about the end times. Rather, He was trying to instill assurance and faith in His disciples so that they would not fall away under intense persecution or world chaos.

10. The lesson about Encouragement v. 28

(HCSB) 28  But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!” One of the biggest lies that Satan has promoted is that believing in Christ as Savior will bring a trouble-free life. The pitch goes, “Do you have problems? If you trust in Jesus, He will get you out of them.” So the person trusts in Christ and his problems get worse, not better. The enemy comes to him and says, “See where trusting in Christ got you? You were better off before you became a Christian!” The Bible does promise believers peace and joy, but it does not promise the absence of trials, freedom from persecution, or even protection from violent death. It promises peace and joy in the midst of such trials as we rely on the Lord and His promises.

One of the biggest lies that Satan has promoted is that believing in Christ as Savior will bring a trouble-free life. The pitch goes, “Do you have problems? If you trust in Jesus, He will get you out of them.” So the person trusts in Christ and his problems get worse, not better. The enemy comes to him and says, “See where trusting in Christ got you? You were better off before you became a Christian!” The Bible does promise believers peace and joy, but it does not promise the absence of trials, freedom from persecution, or even protection from violent death. It promises peace and joy in the midst of such trials as we rely on the Lord and His promises.

11. The lesson on Entanglement v. 29-36

The danger before His coming: To be weighed down with current worries.

Worry is a sin because it is opposed to faith in the living God. The absence of worry does not mean shrugging our shoulders and doing nothing about problems. There is a proper sense of concern that should move us to responsible action. But when we get stressed out, we need to take the time to get alone with the Lord, to claim the promises of His Word, and to pour out our troubles to Him in prayer. Then He may direct us as to a course of action.

12. The lesson on Early Enlightenment v. 37-38

12. The lesson on Early Enlightenment v. 37-38

Since Christ is certainly returning, we need to be alert and ready, not dull and surprised by His coming.If we live daily in dependence on Him, the frightening events of the end times will not snap shut on us like a trap. We will be ready and rejoicing because we have the habit of daily trust in God, in contrast to the stressful ways of the world.

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