Show us a sign
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Show us a sign
Show us a sign
Our text today is jammed full of information we can overlook.
It can be confusing and it is certainly disturbing.
It could fall into a couple of categories
Prophetic
Apocolyptic
Wisdom
Narrative
We could SPEND TIME here, and a PROPHECY TEACHER probably would.
But, I get really bored with prophecy.
Scratch that, I get irritated with prophecy!
Instead, let’s look for the nuggets that are overlooked
We closed last week with this:
Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
Last week we had the corrupt teachers, leaders, and religious aristocrats who have been judged by Jesus
They steal from the widows and the poor.
There was a rich man who put in his offering and a poor widow who gave all.
And their response to this teaching is...
“But look at what we built for God!”
“God must love us and be proud of us for we build beautiful things!”
Jesus’ response is clear.
It will be destroyed.
And it does get destroyed in approx 70 CE. The Romans come in and tear it down.
1800 years later, the City of David is plowed under, it is a field. You would never know it had been there.
PICTURE THEN
PICTURE Between
PICTURE NOW
It would appear that Jesus’ words did come true. The words of the prophets came true as well.
Their response...
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
This generation, ALWAYS ASKING FOR A SIGN. There is only one sign that will be given…Sign of Jonah.
I have a different question. Why is the temple going to be destroyed?
Is Jesus going to do this? He has made statements about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days.
THEIR QUESTIONS: WHEN and WHAT SIGN?
Same as today…NOTICE THE ANSWER.
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”
ANSWER THE WHEN...
WHOA…Did you catch that?
Yes, anyone who claims to know something about the future, ignore them.
And yes, wars and rumors of wars, don’t react with concern about the end, it is still a ways away.
But, here is what I want you to notice...
“…come in my name claiming, ‘I Am’”
Two things a bible nerd might notice
Jesus is equating his name to I Am (Burning Bush)
When you hear someone proclaiming the time is now or making a date claim, they are claiming to be “I Am”
You can safely ignore all the prophetic prognosticators. None of them are Jesus!
Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
Nation against nation (ethnos, ethnic, human)
Kingdom against kingdom (divine, same word as Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven)
These are not the same thing.
Nations: earthquakes, famines, pestilences (think Egypt)
Kingdoms: terrors and great heavenly signs (think Egypt)
How is it there will be a battle in Heaven if there are no rebellious deities?
Moving on...
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
“And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
TRANSITION from WHEN to SIGNS
He is still answering the When.
When you see Jerusalem, then the time of its destruction has arrived. Jerusalem’s destruction, not the world.
We don’t like the vengeance language!
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
SIGNS...
Genesis language, sun, moon, and stars (Genesis, given as signs, the gods of the heavens)
Nations perplexed because of roaring seas and waves…(Not climate change…Sea, chaos, evil)
The POWERS of the heavens will be shaken (how does that work, again, there are other powers in the unseen realm)
And WHEN you see all of this going on…THAT IS WHEN YOU STAND AND LOOK UP!
Until these things happen…what are we to do?
All that Jesus has been teaching us.
Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
He could have just said this, but he does them the courtesy of giving them some information.
It is the last slide ****NEXT SLIDE**** where we want to concentrate.
Here is the question: HOW DOES KNOWING WHEN and the SIGNs CHANGE YOUR LIFE?