STUDY THEME: AFTER THIS, THEN WHAT? 08-14-05

“I SHALL RETURN.” LUKE 21: 5-7, 8-9, 25-26, 27-28, 34-36.

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO LUKE 21.

Today’s lesson is designed to help us live an exemplary life in anticipation of Jesus’ certain return and in anticipation of standing before Him in judgment. This study, focusing on Jesus’ own teachings from Luke’s Gospel, will encourage us to live in ways that will help us stand confidently and unshaken before Him when He returns.

The setting for today’s lesson is the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem. Ancient historians such as Josephus described the Jewish temple complex.

Herod the Great was one of history’s worst villains, but he was a great builder. The temple he built in Jerusalem was actually a renovation and expansion of the temple the Jews built under Zerubbabel after they returned from the Babylonian exile---but its grandeur far excelled it.

Work began in 20-19 B.C., and final work as not completed until A.D. 64.

Herod had spent millions of dollars in his endeavor to make it as grand as the temple of Solomon before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s army. His project took over 80 years to complete.

It included a dazzling array that included the main temple as well as massive marble courtyards and colonnades and contained beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God.

This was the Temple where Jesus was dedicated as an infant, where He dialogued with the teachers at age 12, where He drove out the moneychanger, and which He predicted would be destroyed. Some Jews sparked a rebellion against Rome, which led to the Jewish-Roman War (A.D. 66-70). The radical Jews used the temple as a fortress, but the Romans overran it and destroyed it in A.D. 70.

1. PLEASE READ LUKE 21: 5-7.

Our lesson today focuses on Christ’s second coming. We sometimes sing, “The first time He came, He came for Calvary; but the next time He comes, He will be coming back for me.”

The study actually begins in ch.17: 20-37 where the Pharisees demanded of Jesus “when the kingdom of God would come.” Jesus gave the Pharisees a brief answer in Luke 17: 21b “---behold the kingdom of God is within you.”

In Luke 17: 22-37 Jesus is speaking to His disciples concerning His “second coming.” He continued teaching daily in the Temple. After observing the worshipers casting their gifts into the treasury, Jesus commended the poor widow who cast in 2 mites. A mite was the smallest of all Jewish coins. It was worth one sixteenth of a penny.

The time of the words of Luke 21: 5-36 was during Jesus last week on earth. He had made His royal entry on Sunday before His crucifixion. He then cleansed the Temple by driving out the sellers of animals and changers of money. Then He answered a series of questions that His opponents asked Him. All this took place in the large temple complex. As He and the disciples watched people giving money, Jesus called attention to a poor widow who gave more than anyone---all she had. At this point, vs. 5 occurred.

The other two synoptic gospels tell us that vs. 5 took place as they were leaving the temple. Then Luke says “some spake of the temple.” That is a very brief statement. Matt. 24: 1 says that the disciples spoke the glowing words about the Temple.

Herod’s Temple was magnificent. The Temple walls were made from blocks of stone measuring 67 feet in length by 9 feet in breadth by 7 ½ feet in height. It was said in the early morning, sunlight would reflect from these gold-plated walls with such fiery splendor that those approaching the Temple had to turn their eyes from it as he would from looking directly into the sun.

Josephus stated that the whiteness of the stones was such that from a distance, the temple appeared to be a snow-clad mountain. Some of these stones can still be seen in the lower courses of the Wailing Wall.

It was then that Jesus made a shocking prediction. He said that the Temple would be totally destroyed. In order to get His complete answer we need to read the report of this entire discourse as given in the three Synoptic Gospels: Matt. 24, Mark 13, and here in Luke 21. Luke gives an account of the circumstances, which should take place before and leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Matthew deals particularly with what was to take place afterward, leading on to the second coming of Christ.

Luke tells us something of that, but does not give us nearly as full and complete a report as Matthew does. Mark’s account is very much like that of Matthew’s, though not quite so full.

In the three-fold report of these words from the lips of our Lord, we have a remarkable prophecy of the things that will take place after His death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven.

The destruction of Jerusalem, the state of the world during all the present age, and the conditions that will prevail in the time of the end---the last unfulfilled seventieth week of Daniel in ch. 9---and the second advent in glory, are all graphically portrayed. There is nothing here about the church, the Body of Christ, or the rapture. These were truths yet to be revealed.

Jesus told the disciples that the ruin of the Temple would leave not one stone upon another. This was a way of describing total destruction. The existence of a few stones in the Wailing Wall doesn’t mean that Jesus was wrong. His description was designed to depict the utter ruin of the temple so admired by the disciples.

Josephus gave a vivid account of the siege, the fall, and the destruction of the Temple. The Jews used the temple as a fortress, for which it was well suited. When the Romans finally broke through its defenses, they vented their rage on the temple. They looted its treasures and destroyed what the battle had not already ruined. This took place in A.D. 70.

Jesus foresaw the terrible sufferings that would come on Jerusalem. When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, He said to the city sadly in Luke 19: 43-44, “The days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you and the children within you to the ground, and they will leave you not one stone on another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

When Jesus was on His way to the cross, He spoke to some women who were weeping for Him. He said in Luke 23:28-29, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the women that never bore, and the breast that never nursed.”

The disciples were stunned by what Jesus said about the temple. ‘To their credit, they didn’t argue with Jesus; but they did ask some questions.” Matt 24:3 and Mark 13:3 tell us they asked their questions after they arrived at the Mount of Olives, within sight of the temple.

They asked in Luke 7 when this would happen and what would be its sign.

According to Matt. 24: 3, they also asked, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world.” Very likely the disciples couldn’t conceive of the destruction of the temple except as part of the end of the world. George Eldon Ladd wrote, “There can be little doubt but that the disciples thought of the destruction of the temple as one of the events accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the eschatological King. But as we know, the two events did not occur at the same time.

2. PLEASE READ LUKE 21: 8-9.

These verses mark the beginning of Jesus’ answers to their questions, which continue to the end of the chapter. This is one of the more difficult passages in the N.T. There are several reasons for this. For one thing, two themes are intertwined in such a way that it is not easy to tell whether Jesus was speaking about the destruction of the temple or His future coming.

Much of His answer dealt with the destruction of the temple and events leading up to it, but portions of His answer dealt with His coming and events leading up to it. Luke’s Gospel especially emphasizes the temple’s fall to the Romans. For example, Luke 21: 20 says, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.”

A second factor in the difficulty of interpreting Jesus’ answer is that historical events, like the temple’s destruction, foreshadow events of the end time. Ladd wrote, ”The divine judgments in history are, so to speak, rehearsals of the last judgment.” Thus much of what Jesus said in Luke 21: 5-36 applies to the temple in the first century but foreshadows events yet to take place.

A third factor (and this applies more to Matt. 24 and Mark 13) is the use of apocalyptic language. This style appears especially in the Book of Revelation. It uses vivid pictures and symbols to describe spiritual realities.

Jesus’ first word on the subject was a word of caution: “Watch out that you are not deceived,” Jesus warned them to guard against false messiahs and false claims about the end. Not everything that seems to be a sign of the end of the age is really a sign. Jesus already had given them this warning in Luke 17: 23, but it bore repeating: Don’t follow them.

History tells us that there were many deceivers who rose up in Israel, making Messianic claims, during the forty years that elapsed after the cross. The true Messiah had been rejected. The greater part of Jerusalem refused to believe that Jesus was the promised One, and so they fell readily under the influence of these false prophets.

Even though these events are past history, we can still learn from them today. God is sovereign over history and we need not fear events in the world. How Jesus instructed the disciples to think and act in those times is still valid for us as we live in these uncertain times today.

It was not important to Jesus that the disciples should know when these things would happen, but that they should be free from delusions and terror. Therefore, even if there were wars and rebellions, Jesus offered this encouragement: Don’t be alarmed. What was there to be alarmed about? The Jews may have been under the rule of Rome, but for the longest period they, like all of the Roman Empire, were enjoying a great period of peace. So as out of place as the talk of wars and rebellions may have seemed to the disciples, the reality of a war, revolt, or insurrection would certainly seem like the end of it all for them who basically had known only peace. Jesus warned them, however, that such disturbances would not be the end: These things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.

Jesus was trying to help them see that ever war or rebellion did not mean that the end of the world was at hand. Vs. 10-11 mention not only wars but also natural disasters, such as earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. The parallels to Matt. 24:6 and Mark 13:7 reads, “But the end is not yet.” These two Gospels in Matt. 24: 8; and Mark 13: 8 refer to wars and natural disasters not as signs of the end but as “the beginning of birth pains.” These events would not be the birth of the new age but its first labor pains.

Vs. 20 says, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

When at last the armies of Titus entered the city—although he, himself, gave the command that the temple was not to be destroyed—we are told by Josephus that a drunken soldier flung a lighted torch into the temple area and within a little while the temple burst into flames, and it was destroyed completely. Today where that temple once stood there is a mosque; where the smoke of sacrifice once ascended to Jehovah, Mohammedans meet to join in the praise of their false prophet. Those of the Jews who were not destroyed were led away captives into all nations.

Jesus continued in Luke 21: 10-24 giving more specifics of the events that would lead to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

How did these things play out? Within four decades, political turmoil developed and rebellion and war did come. Rome itself went through four emperors in one year, and the rebellions may have been a reference to the Jewish revolt that occurred in A.D. 68-70.

When the Jews revolted, the Romans laid siege to the city of Jerusalem, it was a desperate situation in which those remaining within the walls of the city were reduced to cannibalism. The city literally was taken stone by stone.

The Jewish historian Josephus recorded hat over 1 million people died in that siege, and when the city was captured, 97,000 people were taken into captivity. As a nation and political entity, Israel ceased to exist. And Jesus’ words about the temple came true—the temple was burned and destroyed.

3. PLEASE READ LUKE 21: 25-26.

Since Luke 21: 27 clearly refers to Christ’s coming, it is reasonable to assume that the signs of vs. 25-26 are end-time signs rather than just the ongoing woes experienced before the temple’s destruction and throughout human history. Questions arise about vs. 25-26. What kinds of events do they describe? How do these differ from similar earlier troubles? How many people will recognize these as signs of the Lord’s coming?

We are not told what will be the signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. Whatever they are, they will signify that the end is near. They will be on a cosmic scale. The signs of the earth will involve people and nature. There will be distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.

Translations relate the perplexity to the sea. The response will be fear---men’s hearts failing them for fear. “There will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves.” Notice the words that describe human reactions: distress…perplexity…fear. The reason is because of those things which are coming on the earth and that the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Perhaps it is hard for us to imagine these things literally happening. Until this prophetic panorama becomes past history, we will not know for certain how much of it is literal and how much of it is figurative. One thing is for sure: If Christ said it will happen, it will happen. We may not know the particulars and the details, but we can rest assured that the celestial powers will be shaken.

Throughout history there have been wars, natural catastrophes, and persecution. But just before the Lord’s coming these things will be worse and more widespread. Jesus predictions about human history, and the signs of the end, run counter to the naïve view that human progress can create a brave new world without God.

A century ago some people were predicting an era of peace and progress. World War 1 sowed the flaw in that view and introduced probably the most violent century of recorded history. Think of the events of the last century that caused distress, perplexity and fear: World Wars 1 and II and other wars and conflicts (wars that killed civilians as well as military troops; wars designed to wipe out entire ethnic groups), all kinds of natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, famines, tornados, hurricanes), and persecution of believers (more Christian martyrs died in that century than in all previous centuries combined). These events shattered for most people the illusion of human progress with out God. Not surprisingly, many saw these events as signs of the end.

4. PLEASE READ DANIEL 7: 13-14.

5. PLEASE READ LUKE 21: 27-28.

What is the sign of Christ’s return? It is Jesus Himself! He is His own sign. In Rev. 1: 7 we read, “Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall behold Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” In 1 Thess. 4: 16-17 we read “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

That Jesus is His own sign is especially shown in Matt: 24:30. People will see the Son of Man in a bodily form, not in some mystical or allegorical way. The same Jesus who ascended bodily and visibly will descend bodily and visibly according to Acts 1: 11.

Jesus described His coming in a cloud. Luke described Jesus’ transfiguration in terms of His being wrapped in a cloud of glory, showing the very presence of God. Without doubt Jesus was thinking of His coming as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 7: 13: “One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus’ return will emphasize His power over all celestial and earthly forces. His return will demonstrate that He is more powerful than any natural or supernatural beings. The Devil and all his evil hosts, human and demonic, cannot stand up for a moment against the unstoppable power of the Lord Jesus at His return.

Jesus’ return will also reveal His great glory, which was largely veiled throughout the time of His first coming. What is His glory? His greatness and goodness as the Son of God are His inherently, whether hidden or not.

When these attributes shine out from Jesus (as the sun’s rays shine out after being concealed by a rain cloud), His glory is displayed. This happened briefly at Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus’ glory will continue on display without ceasing at His return. Believers glorify Christ whenever they acknowledge and praise and delight in His greatness and goodness (just as the moon reflects back to the sun the sun’s own light).

In vs. 28 Jesus referred to one way believers alive at His return are to glorify Him.

The phrase these things refer to the heavenly and earthly phenomena that cause anguish and fear among those who do not know Christ. Believers are not to be bowed down with fright but instead are to stand up and lift up their heads.

When things are as bad as they can be, Christians are to take heart. In general, Christians throughout the ages have been called on to remember that Jesus is always with them. The Apostle Peter later wrote to persecuted believers in 2 Peter 5: 7, to cast all their care upon Him because He cared for them.

Here Jesus pronounced a special blessing on believers living during the bewildering times just before His return. Confidence and hope are to be theirs, not doubt and discouragement. Someone sang last week, “The God of the mountain is the God of the valley; The God of the good time is the God of the bad time, the God of the day is the God of the night; and the God of well time is the God of the ill time.” To me this was a new song with much truth in it.

Why should believers take heart when things look the darkest? “Because your redemption is near.” So we can sing, “One day the trumpet will sound for His coming. One day the skies with His glories will shine: Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing: Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine.”

6. PLEASE READ LUKE 21: 34-36.

Because none of us knows either the time of our death or of the Lord’s coming, ach of us should be ready at all times. “Take heed, Be on your guard” was a warning about what should not be happening in their hearts when the Lord comes. He did not want their hearts to be weighted down or dulled. He told the to avoid carousing and the drunkenness that usually goes with it.

Hopefully, most believers avoid these obvious sins, but notice that Jesus added a sin of which many believers are guilty---being weighted down with the anxieties and worries of this life. In other words, anxiety and worry are the opposites of faith, hope and love that should dominate believers’ lives.

That day refers to the day of Christ’s coming. He did not want the time of His return to come upon believers unawares or unexpectedly like a trap. Vs. 35 shows that Jesus’ appearing will be to all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Vs. 36 states what they should do. After Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples continued to look upward. An angel told them that looking skyward is not how to be ready for Jesus’ return.

Vs. 34-36 serve as a solemn warning against spiritual lethargy. One is to be alert spiritually lest his heart be replete with debauchery, drunkenness, worldliness, and anxiety, and thereby fail to recognize the approach of the end of the age. This would affect not only the Jewish nation, but also the whole world, therefore the people are to watch, and be alert for every sign fulfilling Jesus warning.

His disciples were not to spend their time speculating: instead, according to Acts 1: 6-11 they were to be His witnesses to the entire world; This is the meaning of watch and pray. The goal, according to 1 John 2:28 would be that they could stand before the Son of man unashamed at the day of His coming. This is God’s message to all believers today.

THE QUESTION IN NEXT SUNDAY’S LESSON IS, “SINCE I’M GOING TO DIE ANY WAY, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE HOW I LIVE?” A.V. DAUGHERTY