Luke 21, verses 5 to 38.
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings,
he said, ask for these things that you see.
The days will come and will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
And they asked him, teacher, when will these things be?
And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?
And he said, see that you are not led astray.
For many will come in my name saying, I am he.
And the time is at hand.
Do not go after them.
And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified.
For these things must first take place.
But the end will not be at once.
Then he said to them, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences.
And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you,
delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.
And you will be the same governors for my name's sake.
This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer.
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends.
And some of you they will put to death.
You will be hated by all for my name's sake.
But not a hair of your head will perish.
By your endurance you will gain your lives.
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 when they will see the Son of Man,
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.
And he told them a parable.
Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
As soon as they come out in leaf,
you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.
So also, when you see these things taking place,
you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly I say to you,
this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
But watch yourselves,
lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life.
And that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the earth.
Face of the whole earth.
But stay awake at all times,
praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place
and to stand before the Son of Man.
And every day he was teaching in the temple,
but at night he went out and lodged on a mountain called Olivet.
And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
This is God's holy and authoritative word.
Hopefully he won't cut in and out anymore.
Jesus has been up to this point teaching every day in the temple.
And ever since he entered Jerusalem at chapter 19.
And some of the people that were with him were beginning to marvel at the temple,
how beautiful it is, how magnificent it is.
It says verse 5,
They were speaking of the temple,
how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings.
And that spurs Jesus then to talk about how the temple will soon be destroyed
and how that is connected to the coming of the end times.
And so Jesus then goes on to teach more generally about the ultimate end times that is coming as well.
And his main point here for us to learn is that we should bear enduring witness to Christ,
watchfully waiting for his return and our redemption.
And usually I have two or three points, but because of the,
not all the points are very long.
So bear with me.
I'll talk about the destruction of the temple,
the persecution of believers,
fall of Jerusalem,
disruptions in heaven and earth.
These are all things that will precede the return of Christ.
And so the exhortation to us,
it finally is to be watchful.
And the people were marveling at the temple.
And this temple,
the Jewish temple that they're marveling at,
is not the first Jewish temple.
The first,
the original temple that Solomon built
was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army in 586 BC.
We see that in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52.
A second temple built was built to replace that.
It was built by the returning Jewish exiles from the Babylonian exile in 516 BC.
It was led by Ezra and Nehemiah and Zerubbabel.
But it says in Ezra chapter three,
verse 12,
that many of the priests and Levites and heads of father's houses,
old men who had seen the first house,
wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid.
Because compared to the first temple,
the second temple was so shoddy and insignificant,
they wept at the sight of it being erected.
But when Herod I became the Roman king of Judea,
ruling at the behest of the Roman emperor over the Jewish people in Judea,
in the first century BC,
he engaged in a lot of building projects to kind of showcase his greatness.
And one of those projects was a complete refurbishment of the second temple.
He overhauled it from top to bottom,
building new foundation walls and enlarging the temple area by about 200,000 square yards,
about twice the size of the original second temple,
size of 30 football fields,
to about 200,000 square yards.
And this construction took over 80 years,
and it was still ongoing,
but still a lot of it was done by the time Jesus was ministering.
It was undoubtedly an impressive structure,
and so people are marveling at how it was adorned with noble stones,
good quality stones,
and offerings,
which is a reference to ornaments of the temple dedicated to God,
including like the gold-plated gates and such.
And the first century Roman historian Tacitus described this temple as immensely opulent.
Archaeologists have found stones that are 42 feet long,
11 feet high,
and 14 feet deep,
weighing over a million pounds that were used in the construction of this temple.
These massive stones,
if the temple were still,
if the second temple were still intact,
if it were still there,
it would be more massive,
these stones that were used,
than any other ancient temple that existed.
Now, the ornaments were similarly extravagant.
First century Jewish historian Josephus writes that the gate opening into the temple
was completely overlaid with gold,
as was the whole wall around it.
It had above it golden vines from which hung grape clusters as tall as a man,
and it had golden doors 55 cubits high and 16 broad.
Before these hung a veil of equal length of Babylonian tapestry
with embroidery of blue and fine linen,
of scarlet also,
and of purple,
wrought with marvelous skill.
It had columns that rose 40 feet high,
and they were so thick that Josephus reports that it took three grown men
to try to stretch out their arms in order to get around it.
So imagine columns like the giant sequoias of the redwood forests.
If the temple still stood today,
we would be in awe of it,
we'd take pictures of it.
But Jesus is not impressed.
He says in verse 6,
As for these things that you see,
the days will come when there will not be left here
one stone upon another
that will not be thrown down.
This is because,
as Jesus said to these people in Luke 19.46,
they had turned a house of prayer into a den of robbers,
a hideout for people who do evil things
outside of the temple in their own lives
and then come to find refuge.
Instead of a place to seek God,
it had been reduced to a den of robbers.
So Jesus,
because they rejected the messianic king that God sent,
Jesus pronounced that the temple will be destroyed.
And so he tells them here,
and as people,
I think we tend to value these kinds of visible monuments
and historical landmarks,
but Jesus is telling us,
reminding us,
they don't last forever.
Consider the Massachusetts State House,
designed by the same architect
that designed the White House
with its gilded 23-carat gold dome,
or consider the famed Faneuil Hall,
indelibly etched into American history.
Many of you are Harvard students.
Consider Harvard's Memorial Hall
with high arched ceilings,
timber roof,
decorated with these
august portraits
of important people
and lighted by stained glass windows,
or the Weiner's Library,
which,
according to a college guidebook,
is colonnaded on its front
by immense pillars
with elaborate Corinthian capitals,
all of which stand at the head
of a flight of stairs
that would not disgrace
the capital in Washington.
Or consider MIT's
McLaurin Building,
which forms a U
around the grassy Killian Court,
facing the beautiful Charles River,
with an impressive colonnade facade,
and topped by 100 feet wide
great dome
modeled after the great Parthenon of Rome.
Consider all these things,
their buildings,
their illustrated history,
their revered traditions,
their unparalleled reputations,
and yet God is not impressed.
We think these things will last.
But they don't last forever.
The people who were with us
are not impressed
by the external grandeur
of the Jewish temple,
but Jesus tells them
not to be impressed
because it will not last.
Remember what God said
in Isaiah chapter 66,
verses 1 to 2,
Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What is the house
that you would build for me?
And what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
but this is the one to whom I will look,
he who is humble,
and contrite in spirit,
and trembles at my word.
That's what God ultimately cares about,
about us.
He doesn't need us to do anything for him.
There's nothing we can do
to make him more glorious
than he already is.
There's nothing we can give to him
that he doesn't already own.
If we really understand this truth,
it will set us free
from being captive to this world.
All worldly fame and recognition,
what school you went to,
where you work,
what your position is,
how much you earn,
all worldly riches,
the car you drive,
the house you live in,
the clothes you wear,
all worldly accomplishments,
the degrees you hold,
the patents you earn,
the laws you pass,
the problems you solve,
and the buildings you design,
these things do not endure forever.
What God cares about
is that you are of humble
and contrite spirit,
and that you tremble at his word.
What God cares about
is that you do all your work,
all these things,
not out for your own glory,
not out of love for yourself,
but out of love for him,
that you study,
write,
code,
build,
and work for him
in faith and obedience.
That's what gets God's attention.
A person who is inwardly humble,
submitted to him,
not things that are outwardly grandiose.
And the people are so startled
by Jesus' prophecy
because the temple
was the center of their worship.
And so they ask him in verse 7,
Teacher,
when will these things be?
And what will be the sign
when these things
are about to take place?
The destruction of the temple
would be the end of life
as they know it,
and it would portend for them
the beginning of the end times
and the coming
of the kingdom of God.
And so Jesus answers
their question
not only by speaking
of the signs
that lead up to
the destruction of the temple
and the fall of Jerusalem,
but also more generally
about the ultimate end,
about his second coming.
But before he talks
about these signs,
Jesus tells them about
what are not signs,
things that will happen
before the fall of Jerusalem,
but are not necessarily indicators
that the end is about to come.
He says in verses 8 to 9,
See that you are not led astray,
for many will come in my name,
saying,
I am he,
and the time is at hand.
Do not go after them,
and when you hear of wars
and tumults,
do not be terrified,
for these things
must first take place,
but the end
will not be at once.
There will be people
that come claiming
to be the Messiah,
saying,
I am he.
There will be timetables given,
saying that it is now the time,
the end time has come.
There will be false rumors
about Messiahs.
Likewise,
there will also be rumors
of war and tumults.
He says,
You will hear of wars
and tumults.
There will be rumblings of war
all throughout the world,
but we should not be terrified,
for these things
must first take place,
but the end
will not be at once.
These rumors
of the Messiah,
rumors of wars
and revolutions
are par for the course
after the time
of Jesus' death
and resurrection
and ascension.
They're not unusual events.
They will characterize
life after Jesus' ascension.
These are not necessarily
indicators
that Christ's coming
is imminent.
We know of
at least two
Messianic pretenders
that existed
right after Jesus' time
before the destruction
of the temple
in 70 AD.
Those are recorded
in Acts 5.36
and Acts 21.38
as well.
So this really did happen.
It was fulfilled.
But until Christ returns,
we need not be terrified
because we are not living
in the dark.
We expect these things.
And then Jesus gives us
a summary statement
in verses 10-11
of the signs
that will precede the end
that there will be wars
among nations
and natural disasters
and unusual phenomena
in the sky and land.
And then Jesus
elaborates on these
in the following passages.
It kind of serves
as a thesis statement
for verses 20-26,
verse 10 and verse 11 does.
But before all of these
designs will take place,
Jesus says further
in verse 12
that there will be
persecution of believers.
That's my second point.
They will lay their hands
on you
and persecute you,
delivering you up
to the synagogues
and prisons.
And you will be
the things
and governors
for my name's sake.
Persecution,
according to Jesus,
is not a sign
that the end
is imminent.
Persecution,
and here,
followers of Christ,
he says,
will be delivered up
to the synagogues
and prisons,
which suggests
religious authorities.
And also,
we will be brought
before kings
and governors,
which suggests
civil authorities,
political authorities.
And all of this
persecution will be,
Jesus says,
for my name's sake.
This phrase
is repeated twice
in this passage,
here in verse 12
and later in verse 17.
Already in Luke,
John the Baptist
has been imprisoned
for bearing witness
to Jesus.
And other followers
of Jesus
are imprisoned
in Luke's sequel
in the book of Acts
up to 16 times.
And then,
they testify
before civil authorities
on many occasions.
And all of that happens
because of Jesus,
for the sake
of Jesus' name.
That phrase
is repeated 17 times
in the book of Acts.
It shows the centrality
of a Christian's
allegiance to Jesus.
That's what our lives
are to be about.
About the name of Jesus,
advancing his name,
we live for his sake
and not our own.
So if I were to ask you,
is it obvious
to those around you
that you are living
for Jesus' name's sake?
Or are they more likely
to conclude
when they observe
your life from the outside
that you are living
for your own sake?
This is a question
that we all need
to ask ourselves
because often
the absence of persecution
is a sign
not of how principled
and moral
our society is,
but of how impoverished
our witness to Christ is.
persecution is not
out of the ordinary
for the Christian.
It's normal.
It's to be expected
in the life
following Jesus' ascension.
And Jesus says
in verse 13,
this will be
your opportunity
to bear witness.
We will be persecuted
for bearing witness
to Jesus,
but the persecution
itself will provide
further opportunities,
a platform
for bearing witness
to Jesus
because when people
mock us for our faith,
when people persecute us
for our faith,
when people bring us
to public courts,
we're being brought
for the hearing
of many.
Our faith
is becoming
made an issue
and gives us
an opportunity
to bear witness
to Jesus
and tell them
about our faith
and about the hope
that we have
in Jesus.
And so it's
an opportunity
for witness.
This is kind of
really a radical way
to think about it
and look at it
because if preserving
ourselves
or promoting
ourselves
is the primary
goal of our lives,
then persecution,
of course,
is undesirable.
It's a setback.
It's a disappointment.
But if
proclamation
of Jesus,
if promoting
Christ
is our ultimate
goal in life,
then persecution
is not a setback
or a disappointment.
it's an opportunity,
a golden chance
to bear witness
to Jesus
and how precious
he is to us.
And he says
we need not worry
about persecution
because it's not
a threat to us.
It's an opportunity
and Jesus
will teach us
by his spirit
what to say.
He says in verses
14 to 15,
settle it therefore
in your minds
not to meditate
beforehand
how to answer
for I will give you
a mouth and wisdom
which none of your
adversaries will be able
to withstand
or contradict.
Jesus said something
very similar earlier
in Luke 12
verses 11 to 12
when he said
that when we're
brought for trial
to the religious
authorities
that we don't need
to worry about
defending ourselves
or worry about
what to say
because he said
therefore
the Holy Spirit
will teach you
in that very hour
what you ought to say.
That's what Jesus
is promising here.
I will give you
a mouth and wisdom
and that phrase
mouth and wisdom
recalls
Exodus chapter 4
verses 10 to 12
when God calls Moses
to go to Egypt
to deliver Israel
from their captivity
and this is
Moses' excuse.
He says
O my Lord
I am not eloquent
either in the past
or since
you have spoken
to your servant
but I am slow
of speech
and of tongue
but the Lord
said to him
who has made
man's mouth
who makes him
mute
or deaf
or seeing
or blind
is it not I
the Lord
now therefore
go
and I will be
with your mouth
and teach you
what you shall
speak.
God who created
the human mouth
God who is the
embodiment of all
wisdom
will himself
help you
when you are
being interrogated
persecuted
for the sake
of Jesus' name.
So you need not
worry.
God will teach you
what to say
and help you
to say it.
How many times
have you
given that excuse
the same excuse
that Moses has given
for not bearing
witness to Jesus?
I'm not eloquent.
I'm slow
of speech.
I don't have
all the answers.
When God
gives you
an opportunity
to witness
in that context
you don't need
to worry
about being
ridiculed
persecuted
mocked
for your beliefs.
When that happens
when the opportunity
comes
Jesus himself
the Lord God
himself
will give you
a wisdom
and a mouth
to speak.
And we see
this fulfilled
throughout the book
of Acts.
Jesus continues
in verses 16
and 17
you'll be delivered
up even by parents
and brothers
and relatives
and friends
and some of you
they will put
to death.
You'll be hated
by all for my
namesake.
In some cases
followers of Jesus
will even be
betrayed
by their parents
brothers
relatives
and friends.
some of them
will be put
to death.
This shows
what Luke
has been saying
over and over
again throughout
the gospel
that our
allegiance to
Jesus
must trump
even our
allegiance
to our
family members.
We will be
hated
by many
for his
namesake.
All I think
here is
hyperbolic
all kinds
of people
will hate
us
because of
our
allegiance
to Christ.
But
Jesus promises
in verses
18 to 19
not a
hair
of your
head
will
perish.
By your
endurance
you will
gain
your
lives.
A
single
strand
of
hair
is
really
the most
insignificant
part of
our
bodies.
We lose
about
hundred
strands
of
hair
per
day.
I
know
that's
hard
to
believe
but
that's
what
they
estimate.
So
saying
not a
hair
of your
head
will
perish
is
metaphorical.
Jesus
is
saying
here
no
harm
will
come
upon
you.
Now
if you're
paying
attention
that should
raise
the
question
how
can
that
be
possibly
the
case?
Didn't
Jesus
just
say
literally
some
of
you
they
will
put
to
death?
That
sounds
like
a little
more
than
a
hair
to
me.
The
context
suggests
here
that
Jesus
is
not
speaking
of
temporal
well-being
but
of
our
eternal
well-being.
It's
similar
to what
Jesus
says
in
Matthew
10
28
do
not
fear
those
who
kill
the
body
but
cannot
kill
the
soul
whether
fear
him
who
can
destroy
both
soul
and
body
in
hell.
Your
soul
God
is
saying
which
you
have
entrusted
to
me
is
in
my
sovereign
hands
and
no
one
can
touch
you.
Even
your
body
they
might
kill
but
I
will
raise
you
up
in
a
new
glorious
resurrection
body
in
the
end.
So
don't
you
fear
them.
Not
a
hair
of
your
head
will
perish.
By
your
endurance
even
through
death
you
will
gain
your
lives.
The
word
life
there
lives
there
is
often
translated
soul.
It's
the
same
more
that
Jesus
used
in
Luke
9
23
25
That's
the
saving
of
life
that
Jesus
is
talking
about.
Yes
you
might
die
for
his
name
sake
but
your
soul
will
be
well
you
will
be
preserved
to
the
end.
If
you
endure
through
persecution
not a
hair
of
your
head
will
perish.
Endurance
is a
Christian
virtue
that is
praised
often
throughout
the
New
Testament.
It
assumes
difficulty.
You
don't
endure
something
that's
easy.
Bearing
witness
to
Jesus
living
as a
Christian
will
not
come
easily.
It
requires
endurance,
perseverance.
It
will
come
with
its
own
share
of
suffering
and
persecution.
But
Jesus
teaching
us
here
that
it's
worth
it.
We
must
endure.
And
then in
verses
20 to
24
Jesus
returns
to the
topic
of
the
destruction
of
the
temple
and
the
fall
of
Jerusalem.
He
says
But
when you
see
Jerusalem
surrounded
by
armies
that
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
you
will
fall
by
the
edge
of
the
sword
and
be
led
captive
among
all
nations
the
siege
of
Jerusalem
will
bring
its
desolation
and
this
will
be
so
severe
Jesus
predicts
that
those
who
live
in
the
wider
region
around
the
city
should
depart
they
should
flee
into
the
mountains
those
who
are
inside
the
city
should
depart
and
leave
the
city
and
those
who
are
just
outside
the
city
in
the
country
should
not
enter
it
everyone
should
avoid
Jerusalem
because
that's
how
severe
the
judgment
will
be
because
and
this
was
fulfilled
in
70
AD
in
66
AD
the
Jewish
people
in
Jerusalem
they
rebelled
against
the
Roman
per
Vespasian
besieged
Jerusalem
and
eventually
destroyed
both
the
Jewish
temple
and
the
city
in
70
AD
so
it
will
be
Jerusalem
will
be
trampled
underfoot
by the
Gentiles
until
the
times
of
the
Gentiles
are
fulfilled
this
remark
in
verse
24
shows
the
Gentile
predominance
in
the
age
that
continues
after
Jesus
ascension
and
that
will
be
the
case
until
the
times
of
the
Gentiles
are
fulfilled
that's
likely
related
to
the
idea
in
Genesis
48
verse
19
where
Jacob
also
named
Israel
places
his hands
on his
grandson
Ephraim
and he
blesses
him
and he
says
this
as he's
blessing
him
his
seed
would
become
the
fullness
of
the
nations
fullness
of
the
Gentiles
which
in
turn
is
related
to
God's
promise
to
Abraham
that
all
nations
all
peoples
will
be
blessed
and so
salvation
is from
the Jews
because it
comes
through
a
Jewish
Messiah
Jesus
Christ
many
of the
Jews
however
rejected
the
Messiah
and
their
hearts
were
hardened
leading to
Jerusalem's
destruction
but
Jesus
prophesies
here
that
a
time
is
coming
when
the
times
of
the
Gentiles
are
fulfilled
this
remark
seems
to
hold
out
hope
that
there
will
be
a
future
restoration
of
Israel
there
will
be
people
there
will
be
an
influx
of
Jews
that
come
to
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
Paul
is
likely
referring
to
this
as
well
in
Romans
chapter
11
verse
25
when
he
addresses
Gentile
believers
this
way
lest
you
be
wise
in
your
own
sight
I
do
not
want
you
to
be
unaware
of
this
mystery
brothers
a
partial
hardening
has
come
upon
Israel
until
the
fullness
of
the
Gentiles
has
come
in
it's
not
a
full
hardening
of
the
Jews
there's
a
partial
hardening
so
that
many
of
the
Jews
reject
Jesus
some
of
them
still
come
to
receive
Jesus
but
a
time
is
coming
when
that
hardening
will be
lifted
and
that
will
be
after
the
time
of
the
Gentiles
are
fulfilled
that's
the age
we're
living
in
now
when
I
was
a
student
at
seminary
I
worked
part
time
at
the
center
for
the
study
of
global
Christianity
and
in
their
publication
called
the
Atlas
of
Global
Christianity
it
chronicles
the
shifts
in
the
gravitational
center
of
global
Christianity
starting
from
30
AD
to
present
day
and
the
center
of
gravity
for
the
early
church
was
predictably
Jerusalem
in
30
AD
and
then
it
gradually
shifted
north
and
west
so
that
its
gravitational
center
was
Constantinople
what's
now
Istanbul
in
Turkey
around
1000
AD
and
by
1500
AD
the
gravitational
center
of
Christianity
has
shifted
further
north
into
what
is
now
Budapest
Hungary
and
Vienna
Austria
and
by
1900
AD
it
had
shifted
further
west
due
in
large
part
to
the
rise
of
the
US
and
the
gravitational
center
was
in
Madrid
Spain
and
since
then
the
gravitational
center
of
Christianity
has
been
shifting
southeast
rather
than
northwest
so that
it's
now
in
Niger
Africa
it's
expected
to
continue
this
shift
into
southeast
into
Nigeria
over the
next
50
years
it
actually
seems
to have
been
going
around
full
circle
back
to
the
Middle
East
toward
Jerusalem
just
hundred
years
ago
the
countries
with
the
largest
population
of
Christians
were
US
Russia
Germany
France
Britain
in that
order
got
America
China
Russia
China
and
Mexico
in
other
words
Christianity
has
flourished
in
the
Middle
East
in
Eastern
Europe
in
Western
Europe
the
United
States
in
South
America
and now
in
Africa
and
Asia
as
well
it's the times of the Gentiles
is being fulfilled.
All nations all over the ends
of the ends of the earth
are coming to faith in Jesus Christ
and now contrast that
with Islam.
The center of gravity for Islam
is now in the Middle East.
It has always been in the Middle East.
Hinduism's center of gravity,
Buddhism's center of gravity
have both always been in Asia
now and at its inception.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, however,
is for all nations.
He has always been,
has always had an outward orientation.
It was God's intention
that through Israel,
through the coming of the Jewish Messiah,
Jesus Christ,
that salvation would come
to all peoples.
and this is why we as a church
is part of the great mission of God
to evangelize the nations.
That's why we pray for the nations
and the people groups.
Because God intends for His good news
to be heard among all the nations.
We're still living in fulfillment
of this prophecy
of what Jesus said in Acts 1.8.
But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you
and you will be in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria
and to the end of the earth.
That's why we should bear
enduring witness to Christ,
watchfully waiting for His return
and our redemption.
So having answered the question
about the destruction of the temple
and the fall of Jerusalem
and about the signs
that precede those events,
Jesus now turns His attention
in verse 25
to the signs of the ultimate end.
And this is because,
as I said before,
the destruction of Jerusalem
and the destruction of the temple
is connected
to the Jewish perception
of the end times.
It signals
the view of the end.
That means the end is imminent.
Not in the sense that,
you know,
it's going to be next week
or next year,
but in the sense that
the hourglass has been turned over,
the clock is ticking.
It's impending.
The end and Christ's return
is impending
in the same way that
yours and my death
is impending.
Not that we're going to die
next week.
We might.
We don't know that.
But that it's looming
and coming inevitably.
Time is ticking.
Our days are numbered.
The finish line is visible.
The end is in sight.
And the destruction of the temple
and the fall of Jerusalem
has marked that.
And this final end
will be preceded
by the following signs
in verses 25 to 26.
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.
The nations
that were reigning
over the Jews
and over the world
will now experience distress
because of the roaring
of the sea and the waves.
This is probably connected
to the great earthquakes
that were mentioned
earlier in verse 11.
And there will be signs
in sun, moon, and stars.
The powers of the heavens
will be shaken.
This is connected
to the terrors
and great signs
from heaven
mentioned also
in verse 11.
We don't know
what these signs
entail exactly.
The details
are not known to us.
But we know
that they will be
cosmic in scope
and we know
that they will be terrifying
according to what
Jesus is describing here.
It will make people
faint with fear
and with foreboding
of what is coming
on the world.
It will make
normal people
not, you know,
very superstitious
and speculative people
that are always
kind of a little bit
worried and
but it will make
normal people
fearful,
full of foreboding
for what is coming
to the world.
And only after
these signs
will Christ return.
It says in verses
27 to 28,
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.
Jesus is here
making a direct allusion
to Daniel chapter 7
verses 13 to 14
where Daniel prophesied
that a man like,
someone like a Son of Man
will come to God
to the Ancient of Days
and you will be given
dominion, glory
and a kingdom
and that all peoples
and nations
and language
should serve him.
And so,
I think when
this presence of God
coming in a cloud,
I think when most people
think about it,
we imagine the
Renaissance pictures
that we've seen
of Jesus kind of
riding a cloud
like you're riding
on a longboard
or a skateboard.
You know,
it's like,
but that's not what Luke
is talking about here.
It says that
He comes in a cloud.
Right?
This is the same language
that was used
in Luke 9,
34-35.
When a cloud came
and overshadowed
Jesus and His disciples
and a voice came
out of the cloud
saying,
This is my Son,
my Chosen One.
Listen to Him.
So the cloud
is not just a vehicle
for Jesus.
It's actually
a representation
of God's presence,
of Jesus'
divine presence.
Just like the
pillar of cloud
that represents Jesus
at the Exodus,
in Exodus 13,
a cloud here
signifies the presence
of God,
the revelation
of deity.
So Jesus then
is saying this,
right now He is
veiled in His glory.
He's the Son of Man,
the Messianic King.
But at His second coming
He will come
in His full
divine glory
and power
as the Son of God.
And He will
ascertain
the nations.
So when these things,
the signs that Jesus
has spoken of,
begin to take place,
He instructs us
and His disciples,
straighten up,
raise your head,
because your redemption
is drawing near.
While the nations
and the kingdoms
are cowering
with fear
and foreboding
about what is coming
on the world,
we are to straighten up
and raise our heads
confidently
because we know
exactly
what is coming
in the end.
We are not a people
who fear the end times.
We do not fear
doomsday.
We are people
who watchfully
wait for the end
because our redemption
is drawing near.
This is referring
not to our redemption
from sin,
which Jesus accomplished
through His life,
death,
and resurrection,
but to our redemption
from our sinful,
broken world
and the redemption
of our bodies.
Paul speaks of this
in Romans 8,
for the creation
waits with eager longing
for the revealing
of the sons of God.
For the creation
was subjected
to futility,
not willingly,
but because of Him
who subjected it,
in hope that the creation
itself will be set free
from its bondage
to corruption
and obtain the freedom
of the glory
of the children of God.
For we know
that the whole creation
has been groaning together
in the pains of childbirth
until now.
And not only the creation,
but we ourselves,
who have the first fruits
of the Spirit,
groan inwardly
as we wait eagerly
for adoption as sons,
the redemption
of our bodies.
That's what all creation
longs for
because our creation
is fallen.
The brokenness
that we see
in the created order
is a result
of the fall.
It's been subjected
to futility
and will be redeemed
just like our sinful flesh
is a result
of the fall.
And that too
will be redeemed.
Our bodies
will be redeemed.
And so we are
to be confident
and wait expectantly
for Jesus' return.
And that brings me
to my final point
which is the main
exhortation
of this passage.
Be watchful.
Jesus first tells
a parable
in verses 29 to 31.
Look at the fig tree
and all the trees.
As soon as they
come out and leave
you see for yourselves
and know that the summer
is already near.
So also when you see
these things take place
you know that the kingdom
of God is near.
Fig trees were very common
trees in Palestine
and they are completely
bare in the winter.
So in the spring
when the leaves
begin to shoot out
the change
is quite dramatic
and obvious.
and so that's
the imagery
that Jesus is using
just like
the shooting
buds
in the leaves
in the spring
signals
the summer.
Jesus tells us
that we can discern
the nearness
of the kingdom of God
by observing the signs
that he has just
told us about.
But look at what
Jesus says
so emphatically
in verses 32 to 33.
Truly I say to you
this generation
will not pass away
until all has taken place.
Heaven and earth
will pass away
but my words
will not pass away.
Three times
Jesus uses the word
pass away here
to emphasize
the certainty
of his teaching.
This generation
will not pass away
until these things
have taken place.
Heaven and earth
will pass away
but my words
will not pass away.
Even the thing
that seems so certain
to us
like heaven and earth
will pass away.
Seems so permanent
to us
but my words
Jesus' words
are more permanent
than that
more enduring
than that.
I don't think
Jesus means here
that he will return
in the lifetime
of his hearers
if that's what he means
he didn't keep his promise.
Rather I think
he's referring to
these things
that he mentions
in the preceding verse
in verse 31
in the lesson
of the fig tree.
And the phrase
these things
is repeated four times
in verses 5 to 9
and it refers there
consistently
to the destruction
of the temple
and the fall
of Jerusalem.
So Jesus is here
referring to the signs
that mark
the beginning
of the end
and not to the end
itself.
That's why he still says
the kingdom is near
when these signs come
not that the kingdom
is fully here.
Now verse 28
when these things
begin to take place
straighten up
and raise your head
because your redemption
is drawing near.
These things
will begin
to take place.
They will be fulfilled
in the lifetime
of Jesus' hearers
and that's exactly
what happened
in 70 AD.
And because
that was fulfilled
the return
of Christ
and the redemption
of our bodies
also will certainly
happen.
In fact
it's more certain
than the seeming
permanence
of the heavens
and the earth.
Jesus is teaching
us here
to make sure
we understand
and are aware
and expecting
the return of Christ
and living in light
of that reality.
And that prepares
his exhortation
in verses 34-35
but watch yourselves
lest your hearts
be weighed down
with dissipation
and drunkenness
and cares of this life
and that day
come upon you
suddenly like a trap
for it will come
upon all who dwell
on the face
of the whole earth
but stay awake
at all times
praying that you
may have strength
to escape all these
things that are
going to take place
and to stand
before the Son of Man.
Jesus brings
our attention
here
not to
millennialism
Zionism
Armageddon
rebuilding
the third temple
he doesn't give us
these details
he's not concerned
with them
what he's concerned
about here
is that these signs
that not so that
they would make us
always devoting ourselves
to pouring ourselves
over newspapers
and staring out
at observatories
in order to accurately
prognosticate the end
that's not his goal
his goal
in telling us
about these signs
is that we live
watchfully
and faithfully
that we bear
enduring witness
to Jesus
watchfully waiting
for his return
and for our redemption
so the word
dissipation
refers to
kind of a
drunken headache
a hangover
the result of
the intoxication
that he speaks of
here
drunkenness
Jesus warns us
not to let our hearts
be weighed down
with dissipation
and drunkenness
and cares
of this life
too many people
in this world
live with a
spiritual hangover
because they are
drunk with the cares
of this life
with worldly concerns
it's such an
appropriate image
because a drunk
person
is unprepared
and unaware
and oblivious
incapable
of what it means
spiritually
to be weighed down
with dissipation
and drunkenness
and cares
of this life
maybe your life
is characterized
by a constant
pursuit of pleasure
you live for the
next drink
for the next
sexual conquest
for the next
high
and it doesn't
have to be
these
vices
your life
could also be
characterized more
by the ordinary
cares of this life
you're weighed down
with dissipation
by your next
exam
next project
your next
paycheck
your next job
your next
tv show
your next
sports game
your next
vacation
the ordinary
cares of this
life
can so
weigh us
down
with dissipation
intoxicate us
these things
are dangerous
because they
are intoxicating
they seem so
ordinary
and so normal
and so harmless
but if they
steal us
from being
sensitive to
christ
and his
priorities
and purposes
in our lives
it's the same
effect as being
drunk on them
they're intoxicating
but what's the
point
i want to ask
you
dear brothers
and sisters
in the church
what's the
point of
enduring all
the suffering
in this life
fighting all
the battles
against sin
coming faithfully
ministering to
each other
speaking the
truth and
loving
what's the
point
of doing
all this
and enduring
this life
if we're not
waiting for
our bridegroom
we're not
prostitutes
used and
discarded
our bridegroom
is coming
he's preparing
us right now
for that
glorious day
of his
return
we are not
orphans
without father
we are not
citizens
without a
king
our king
is coming
back
that's why
we work
that's why
we pray
that's why
we persevere
that's why
we fight
the battle
of faith
every day
because we
wait for
him to
come back
to redeem
us
if that
doesn't
motivate your
brothers and
sisters
we're not
living as
we ought
to
it's going
to be
difficult
because we
live in a
world full
of distractions
and cares
it will be
difficult
because the
world is
full of
suffering and
turmoil
is ravaged
by war
and natural
disasters
this will be
difficult
bearing witness
to Jesus
and be
faithful to
him
will be
many false
messiahs and
false religions
that seek to
lead us astray
it will be
difficult because
we will be
persecuted by
religious authorities
civil authorities
some of us
will even be
betrayed by
our own
friends and
family
we could
never endure
these things
for the sake
of anyone else
in the world
or for the sake
of anyone else
in human history
but we can do it
for Jesus'
sake
because he
was the man
of sorrows
who suffered
and died
in our place
on the cross
because he
was the true
messiah
that came
and laid
down his
life to
save us
and make
us born
again
because Jesus
was persecuted
by the religious
authorities
and the civil
authorities
for our
sake
because he
was mocked
by his
friends and
family
because he
died
and was
raised from
the dead
so that we
might enjoy
eternal
resurrection
life
and so
what we
would never
do for
anyone else
we do
for his
namesake
as it
says in
Hebrews 12
we read this
for our
assurance of
pardon today
therefore since
we are
surrounded by
so great
a cloud
of witnesses
let us
also lay
aside
every weight
and sin
which clings
so closely
and let us
run with
endurance
the race
that is set
before us
looking to
Jesus
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith
who for the
joy that was
set before
him
endured the
cross
despising the
shame
and is seated
at the right
hand of the
throne of
God
we can
endure because
Jesus endured
for us
because for the
joy set before
him of our
redemption
Jesus endured
the cross for
us
so let us
now for his
sake
bear enduring
witness to
Jesus
and be
watchful and
expectant for
his return
and
second
of
falling
to
guys
to
come on
and
just
do