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Turn now if you will in your
Bibles to Luke chapter 21 on page 1120 of your pew Bibles. Luke chapter 21 beginning with
verse 20. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded
by armies then know that its desolation has come near. 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. For these are days of vengeance
to fulfill all that is written. 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. 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. And there will be signs in sun
and moon and stars and on the earth distress of nations in
perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves. People
fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken and then they
will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory. Now when these things begin to
take place straighten up and raise your heads. because your
redemption is drawing near. As we look at this passage here
today, we'll be breaking it into three parts. First of all, looking
at these days of vengeance as described by Christ in verses
20 to 22. Secondly, we will examine the
worldly response to these days of disaster in verses 23 to 26.
And lastly, There is to be anticipation for
the people of God. Anticipation for the people of
God in verses 27 to 28. As you may recall as Christ first
shocked his disciples as they left Jerusalem by noting that
this glorious temple of Herod, this wonder of the world would
not last forever. but would soon be torn stone
by stone apart, not two stones left standing. That caused a
lot of consternation in the minds of his disciples. Those who understood
that for such a thing to happen in Jerusalem was a sign that
yet another nation would sweep against Jerusalem and have victory
over it. of another humbling that was
to come yet for that city of David. And you may recall that
some of his disciples then pulled him aside after they had found
that place where they would stay on the Mount of Olives and began
to inquire of him to know when this would take place. And by
what signs might they know when this would happen? And as you
reflect upon where we have already studied in chapter 21, Jesus's
reply was not initially to answer those two questions. You may
recall that He was pointing out something to them that was of
far greater importance for them, though they know this day was
coming when the temple would be destroyed. He was seeking
to impress upon them the importance of their continuing to focus
upon the mission that he had made for them. You see, our tendency
when we ask the question of when will these things happen? As
the children of God is very much like how our children respond
when we give to them a task and they ask when do you want it
done? Because our answer of I want it done before supper this evening
means it is likely not to be undertaken until half an hour
before the appointed time, right? And when we ask the question
of when, we look at what time remains that we might use for
ourselves. And Christ is trying to impress
upon his disciples, those who love him, that this is the season
of our service of Christ. This is the time that he has
given to us that we might engage in those things for which we
have been created. not putting it off until the
last minute, not allowing those temptations to be lazy or lackadaisical
to enter in, but to faithfully serve Him. And he goes on along the way to describe
to them things that they ought to be Understanding would come
even before that day of the destruction of the temple. He alerts them
that before that day comes, you'll be persecuted. Before that day
of the destruction of Jerusalem arrives, the persecutions will
begin. And as we begin to study through
the book of Acts, we see that is the case. That before the
destruction of Jerusalem, the persecution begins. We have the
stoning of Stephen that stands as a testimony of the truthfulness
of what Christ has here given to his disciples of those things
that are to pass. He says, there are other things
that you need to be aware of. And yet he gives to them assurances
along the way of his protection. Telling those who may face persecution,
though they may suffer in body, though their life may be forfeit,
he says of them that they might know their heavenly father's
awareness and care for them. Not one hair upon your head shall
perish." Now, as we come to verses 20
to 28, After he has described these
other important matters, Christ now comes and gives to them somewhat
the answer to their initial questions of when and by what signs shall
we know them. So we look here first at his
response relative to the destruction of Jerusalem in verses 20 to
22 that he describes as days of vengeance. He tells them,
you will know when these things come to pass when you look out
and see that the armies are beginning to surround Jerusalem. Now many
of us, when we think in terms of the surrounding of Jerusalem,
we tend to think in terms of the last occasion in which that
happened. When Titus' armies came down
and surrounded Jerusalem, laid siege to it, and proceeded to
destroy it. But if you happen to know a little
bit of the history of that area you would know that three years
prior to Titus coming down another general of Rome came down and
sought to take Jerusalem. And it's interesting that three
years prior to the destruction this other army would come and
many at that time of the believers within Jerusalem and the area
remembered these words of Christ. For at that time we hear by historians
like Josephus that many Christians left Jerusalem and went to a
town called Pella and established themselves there. They were responding
to these things that Christ had described in Luke chapter 21,
where he gave instruction to his disciples what they were
to do when these threats would arise that would be the precursors
of the destruction of Jerusalem. And you see that the instructions
that he gives may seem counterintuitive. For Jerusalem was a city that
had impressive walls all around it. Typically, when armies would
approach, the response of those in the countryside and within
was to make sure they came within those walls and enjoyed the security
of them. And yet we see here that Christ's
instruction to his disciples when these days approach is to
leave the city, is to flee Jerusalem, is to block the entry to Jerusalem
from those from the countryside who would naturally have gone
in to be within the walls of Jerusalem. To flee to the mountains,
to a safe place, to escape the days of vengeance. And as Christ
is describing this coming judgment upon Jerusalem, He is here beginning
to put in the mind of his disciples the reality of that fact that
our God knows, just as Psalm 78 referred to, our God knows,
is aware of all our sins. These things do not escape his
notice. Some grow very confident in their
sin. Over time, don't they, because
they begin to be comforted thinking that perhaps their sin goes unnoticed. Perhaps God's sight has grown
dim as our sight often grows dim with age. Perhaps his warnings
are just empty threats. And these words of Christ stand
as a great warning to the people of Jerusalem, to those who had
grown lax in their religious affections, to those who had
become pursuers of their own selfish desires rather than the
things of God. that God notes these things. And the judgments that we've
recently been studying, those things that have been expressed
time and time again as warning from God, will come to pass. As we began our time in Psalm
103, we were reminded that God does not make empty promises.
But that those warnings that he gives, those promises that
he makes, his plans will continue and be fulfilled, unthwarted
by the efforts of man. That we might better understand
that those things that we might define as a slow response stand
in reality as expressions of God's long suffering with us
as sinners. that he has chosen and has dealt
patiently with us though we have sinned, though we have failed
to hear his warning time and time and time again, generation
after generation after generation. And yet as Christ is describing
the fall of Jerusalem he is showing and reiterating to his disciples
lest they think that there will be no judgment until Christ comes
again in power and glory. Some of God's judgments he is
pleased to meet out today. Some of these things he brings
about before that last day. Sometimes he has in his mind
that these things stand as disciplining acts of a loving heavenly father
for his children that they might abandon the folly of their course
and return to him just as he had done when he saw them scattered
and sent into captivity in Babylon. So here he describes this as
an event, the days of vengeance where God's wrath will burn against
those who will forsake his chosen Redeemer and those who will lay
a hand to his destruction to fulfill all that has been written. He finishes that section by reminding
his disciples where these things may be found, impressing upon
them their need to continue to be students of the word of God. That these things are not new,
these things are not contrary, but rather stand as a testimony
to the truthfulness of all of God's prophecies to this point.
And so he sends them back to the book. Look and see these
things he has already spoken of in his and by his prophets. These days of vengeance will
be hard. And yet here as he describes
these things and the things that are about to happen to Jerusalem,
we need to understand this was a particular discipline that
was carried out. This wasn't the final judgment
to be carried out but it does stand as a type of or an example
of that we might realize the true seriousness of sin. That if he would so deal with
Jerusalem at this point will he not with even greater vigor
deal with all those who stand opposed to him at the end when
Christ comes finally to put an end to the rebellion of man,
to deal with in its entirety sin. He describes these things
because he is soon to describe a stark contrast from that which
will befall those who continue on in their rebellion with those
who are his. So how is it that the world will
respond to these difficulties, to this disaster that is soon
to befall Jerusalem? In terror. How is it that they
will be treated through these things? Verse 24, they will fall
by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations. And that great city of Jerusalem
will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. We see here what
might be likened to a great humbling of that city. The removal of
that pride that had grown up within the hearts of that rebellious
group within. And that they would be once again
put under the foot of the Gentiles. That God here is giving some
expression of how it is he will carry out his purposes. And after
a season in which his beloved people will find themselves under
the foot of these other nations. He will choose to utilize the
Gentiles as his agents for the establishment of the kingdom
of Jesus Christ, for the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. Now even as he
describes this, this humbling of the people of Israel, He still
leaves this last little phrase, until the time of the Gentiles
is fulfilled, that we might again be reminded, as we were in Psalm
103, that God's promises are never abandoned. He will fulfill
what he has promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. He will
complete those things that he promised to Moses. And yet he
will not do so at the expense of his justice but he will do
it through the gospel of Jesus Christ, that life-giving word,
that redeemer of Israel. He will be glorified. Now as
he comes to this disaster he talks about their being disciplined,
this domination by Gentiles. And yet as he is describing these
things to his disciples who could have so easily become disheartened
as they saw the nation of Israel again brought under the domination
of other powers and people carried away, they could have thrown
up their hands in despair and given up. And yet Christ is telling
them these things that they might realize these are all part of
that great plan of God that must be carried out. And that the
mission or the ministry which Christ has given them to do is
the means by which he is pleased to work despite this destruction
of Jerusalem. And he has given them these instructions
to flee the city, another expression of our good shepherd's care for
his precious sheep, that they would not be caught unaware but
that they would be in safety kept by him to accomplish that
purpose that he had set before them. Now he comes to the third part. He says, there will be signs
in sun and moon and stars and on the earth, distress of nations
in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and of waves. He says, there are going to be
things, difficulties that will arise and you will see amongst
those of the world fear and dread, consternation. As they see these
things happening, as they are shaken to the core. And along
the way in this age of the church, there have been events that have
occurred that have been and served as reminders of these truths. The world does not know how to
handle it when terra firma begins to shake. That which they assume
will always be secure. And thus you see the looks of
fear and dread upon the faces of those who have recently endured
such things as earthquakes. When things that are to remain
steadfast are shaken, things that they had put their hope
and their trust in this life and in the world are shaken.
And yet God is pleased in those great events to use those things
in order to draw men and women to himself as the gospel is proclaimed
and a foundation that is far more sure is put forth. One that
cannot be shaken, cannot be destroyed. One that they might effectively
hang all their hopes, the Lord Jesus Christ. He says there are
going to be these signs and people look to the heavens. We talked
last week of those who would look to the heavens and seek
to discern from them indications that Christ is at hand. And we
have seen the destruction that has been wrought on the lives
of many as cult leaders have looked to the heavens and sought
to discern for themselves the time and the hour, a time and
hour that is not known to us. and have led to the destruction
of many people who are moved out of their fear and dread to
great acts, even laying down their life. As we were studying
that book of Revelation, we were reminded of the great fear that
takes hold of the world, that even the thought of seeing the
wrath of the Lamb, such that they would cry out to the mountains
to fall upon us. He says these will be the signs,
these will be the indication of the drawing near of the time
of Christ's return. And you might think to yourself
as you watch this, that and the other political ad, as you read
your papers and read the various news agencies online that these
things seem to be beginning to take place all around us. That
we live within an age that is filled with fear that seeks to
try to overcome every possible threatening by human means and
strength and wisdom. And all of these technological
advances that we have been blessed to enjoy have done nothing to
remove the fear of the worldly. But rather some new fear is waiting
in the wings to undermine their confidence in themselves. Brothers
and sisters, we know it isn't going to be by our technology
that we're saved. We understand that these things
aren't in and of themselves salvific. There's only one way that men,
women and children can be saved and it is through faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ alone. And it is for this reason that
we see the stark contrast between the response of the world to
those growing expressions of the frustrations caused by sin
within the world. The world fears, dreads, faints
out of apprehension of these things and yet all will see the coming
of Christ. All will see the Son of Man as
He returns in power and glory, just as He went to be with the
Father. Here we see that Luke harkens
back to Daniel chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, that we might again
have impressed upon us, these things have been described for
you before. God's story, God's plan hasn't
changed at all. Rather, through progressive revelation,
he has been increasingly making it clear that we might know these
things and enjoy the confidence he desires for all those who
are his. He says, all, even those who
would rise up against him, will see the coming of Christ in glory. Their response will be one of
dread. And yet, brothers and sisters,
he gives to us here a word of encouragement. He shares with
his disciples that they ought not to be ruled by fear, though
persecutions and even martyrdom may be in their future. They
should not be filled with dread, though things as glorious as
the Temple of Herod may be torn down block by block. For he is
reminding them what he told that woman by the well in John chapter
4. A time is coming when you will
not worship upon this mountain or in Jerusalem, but you will
worship in spirit and in truth. He's giving to them insights
of these things that they might know the great lengths that God
has gone to protect those who are most precious to him such
that as the day of arrives approaches that if our hope is in Christ
we are not overcome by fear. We do not dread his coming. Rather, those whose hope is in
the Lord Jesus Christ cry out, come quickly, Lord Jesus. He says to his disciples who
maybe were showing forth those signs of the heavy burden of
this news that he has shared of the coming destruction of
Jerusalem and reminding them of the ultimate coming of the
day of judgment. He says, but you, you who believe,
You who hope in Christ do not be downcast, rather straighten
up and hold up your heads for the approach of Christ is an
expression of our being one day closer to being with him for
all eternity. You see here what serves as the
fuel of the servants of Christ as we go throughout this life.
And those who are older can testify that each day as we grow older
seems a little more difficult than the preceding day. And yet
here is Christ saying, but with every day that he supplies you,
he affords you yet another opportunity to serve him. Another expression
of his safekeeping of you for yet another day. And you have
grown yet one day closer to Christ's return." He says, these things
ought to lift your spirits. These things ought to send you
forth as his ambassadors with enthusiasm to speak of that one
whom you love and whom you know so loves you. Jesus wants his disciples, though
they hear these heavy matters, to realize who it is that is
sovereign, who it is that rules, how it all ends, that they might
go forth with confidence. You know, we have hearkened back
to that widow who gave her last two mites in the offering box
there in the temple. And I think Jesus even has her
in mind as he is teaching these things, as he is seeking to apply
those lessons which they had beheld with him within the temple
that they might again be reminded of what their true treasure is
that would cause one like that widow to with confidence put
her last two mites within that offering box, confident because
she knows she is safely within his hands and he will provide
for her what she needs. Brothers and sisters, that is
the confidence Christ wants us to have in him. That is the means
by which God has been pleased through us as instruments to
build his church that we with that confidence go forth bearing
a message of life to those who are perishing for the glory of
his name. Let's pray.
"Signs of the Times"
Series Luke
| Sermon ID | 10292420711310 |
| Duration | 31:10 |
| Date | |
| Category | Sunday Service |
| Bible Text | Luke 21:20-28 |
| Language | English |
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