One of the Most Important Chapters in the Bible

Luke chapter 21 is worth studying!

 

Why? These are the personal words of Jesus Christ himself about His predictions of the present and future.

 

Summary:

•       Verses 1-4 – The widow’s two mites.

•       Verses 5-6 – Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple.

•       Verses 7-19 – The signs of the times in which we live and the future end of the age.

•       Verses 20-24 – The destruction of the Temple and why this is so important to us today.

•       Verses 25-28 – The second coming of Jesus Christ.

•       Verses 29-33 – The parable of the fig tree and how this applies to us today.

•       Verses 34-38 – What should our attitude be until the return of Jesus Christ? This is really important to understand because we want to be with            Him for his Third Coming.

 

The second time Christ is coming for His saints.

The third time He comes with His saints.

 

After this teaching, Jesus celebrated the Passover (Luke 22:1-2). We celebrate until He comes with Communion (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

 

 

Luke 21

Verses 1-4

The Temple had thirteen metal containers in which to receive offerings. The larger the coin, the more noise it would make. The widow’s mite was the smallest of coins (2 Corinthians 6:10). The rich gave out of their abundance (2 Corinthians 8:12-15).

 

Verses 5-6

Jesus said that the Temple would be destroyed. Remember, Solomon’s Temple took seven years to build and cost about 300 million dollars. It was 11 stories high and could house about 10,000 people (the world’s first mega church).

 

Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. It is said that the blood of thousands of people who were killed flowed down the stairs of the Temple.

 

Verses 7-11 – The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

1.    The appearing of false prophets: Jesus warned us to be aware in Mathew 7:15-20. Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:6 and 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

2.    We will hear of wars and rumors of wars. There are more than 40 wars taking place today in 2020.

3.    Earthquakes: In 2019 there were 1,617 earthquakes with a magnitude of five points or more on the Richter scale. There were thousands more                   smaller earthquakes.

 

The largest earthquake the world has ever seen has not taken place as yet. The last two plagues to come are explained in Revelations 16:17-21 where we are told two things:

•       Hailstones will come, a hundred pounds or more.
 

•       An earthquake will destroy islands and mountains (Isaiah 54:10).

 

4.    Famines: “Today the world stands on the brink of unprecedented famine” – Oxfam International

5.    Pestilence (plague or pandemic/deadly infection). The Bible speaks of a pestilence 127 times and God uses many of them to bring people and           nations to repentance (Joel Rosenberg, page 17).

6.    We are told there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

 

The Bible does not indicate what the fearful sights could be, however, today as we see all the recent fires, floods, storms, terror, and violence, consider this: Paul tells us that in the End Times perilous (stressful/dangerous/ threatening) times will come. Paul lists 18 signs, and all are very prevalent today (2 Timothy 3:1-5). “Love of Self Is A Basic Sin from Which All Others Flow” – William Barkley.

 

In Mathew 24:5-8, Jesus tells us that all these things are the beginning of sorrows (birth pains). But then Jesus says, “The end is not yet,” and in Luke 21:9 we are told not to be terrified (not to be frightened).

 

Verse 12

Times of Persecution Will Come. Not only are they coming, but they are here today. People today are being slaughtered by the tens of thousands for their faith according to Open Borders. Johnny Moore recently visited Nigeria, which is the richest county in Africa with about 200 million people and millions of natural resources, especially gas and oil. He reports from a personal visit with unimaginable stories that out of every ten Christians murdered today, seven are in Nigeria.

 

Persecution (which means to suffer) does not necessarily mean death (Acts 22:7-8: Paul persecuted Jesus, 2 Timothy 3:10-12: All will suffer persecution).

 

Verse 13

But these persecutions will give great opportunity to testify. Paul’s afflictions promoted the gospel (Philippians 1:12-18).

 

Verses 14-15

Do not meditate (premeditate) on what you will say when persecuted because the Holy Spirit will give you words and wisdom on what to say (Acts 6:10 and Luke 12:11-12).

 

Verses 16-19

Jesus warned the disciples that they would be hated and betrayed, even by families, for their faith. The only disciple not murdered was the Apostle John.

 

God’s Vision to Daniel about End Times is Very Fascinating:

 

The time of the end (Daniel 12:1-4):  The Holy Spirit tells Daniel to shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the end of time; many shall run two and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Travel today: we have gone from walking to horseback-riding to horse and buggy to trains to automobiles to planes and, finally, outer space. Knowledge over the years used to double maybe every hundred years or so, then every fifty years, then every 25 years. Today, research shows that knowledge is doubling every 12 months and is on its way to doubling every month and, eventually, every 12 hours because of the internet.

 

Verses 20-24

The destruction of the Temple was foretold by Jesus and occurred during the Jewish-Roman war of 70 AD. The siege of the city began on April 14, 70 AD, which was three days before the beginning of Passover. The siege lasted for about five months and ended in August 70 AD. Josephus claimed that approximately 1.1 million Jewish people were slaughtered with much blood flowing down the steps of the Temple. He also claimed that about 97,000 Jewish people were put into slavery.

 

Israel was then trampled by the Gentiles until May 14, 1948, when, in one day, it was reestablished as the Jewish homeland (Isaiah 66:8).

 

Verses 25-28 The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Jesus said there will be signs in the sun/moon/stars/ with seas waiting.

 

Consider today that all of these are occurring worldwide.

 

What Should Our Attitude Be?

 

Look up/Lift our heads because Jesus is coming soon.

•       Matthew 24:27-31

•       2 Peter 3:10-12

•       1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

•       1 Corinthians 15:51-54

 

Verses 29-33 The Parable of the Fig Tree

Why would Jesus speak of this parable?

 

The first tree mentioned in the Bible was the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). God gave man a choice.

 

The second tree mentioned: The Fig Tree which Adam and Eve used to cover their nakedness (Genesis 3:7). The fig tree takes three years to bear fruit. Jesus taught for three years and look at the fruit He bore! The story of the sycamore tree is absolutely phenomenal.

 

Jesus goes on to say that a generation will by no means pass away till all things are fulfilled. I believe this refers to the generation when we see all these biblical prophecies being fulfilled, which is certainly today.

 

Verses 34-38

We are Warned to Watch for His Coming

 

Verse 34

Do not live your life surfeiting (to pack with baggage, with wild living). Because the Lord wants us to be aware of His soon coming.

 

Verse 35

The result of not watching for the Lord’s return is that it is like a snare (a noose). The word snare is used to mean “of the devil” in 2 Timothy 2:26 and 1 Timothy 3:7.

 

Verse 36 Preparation for His Coming

To watch (to be sleepless/but to be intent on what will happen)—used in Ephesians 16 and Hebrews 13:17.

 

In fact, Luke tells us in Luke 19:13 to occupy (which means to do business or trade) till I come.

 

Verses 37-38

This is very interesting and meaningful for us today. Jesus taught in the Temple in Solomon’s Porch (John 10:23) as did Peter and John (Acts 3:11). Jesus then went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

Importance of the Mount of Olives

•       Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:6-12).

•       As the angel said, Jesus Christ will return a second time and we know this as the Rapture (which means to be caught up) (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

•       The angel said that He would return to the Mount of Olives but this time the Mount will split in two (Zachariah 14:1-4). They have discovered a fault line today running right through the Mount of Olives.

•       The first time He returns it is for His saints. The second time at the end of the Tribulation period He comes with His saints.

•       After this teaching, Jesus celebrated the Passover and we are given the same opportunity to celebrate the work of Jesus and His coming with Communion (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

Conclusion



Are We Living in the End Times? Ninety Percent of Pastors Say We Are

What should be our action and attitude today? To develop a Biblical Worldview which should be based on the inspired Word of God. We live in a world of increasing globalization with many world views to consider.

Research indicates that only between 6 to 10% of Christians have a Biblical Worldview.

– The Cultural Research Center.

Why should you consider a Biblical world view? The Bible is by far the world’s bestseller with sales well over 4 billion and approximately 100 million every year. Today, Bible sales are exploding. There must be a reason for this!

There are two ways to read the Bible:

1.    The Greek word is Logas, which means “the written word.”

2.    Rhema, which means revealed to you personally.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Verse 16: All scripture (not some of it) is given by the inspiration of God. The Holy Spirit used 40 authors who were all Jewish except for Doctor Luke who wrote Luke and Acts. The Word of God is profitable (helpful and serviceable) for:

•       Doctrine which means teaching/information/ learning.

•       Reproof which means conviction/evidence/ proving.

•       Correction which means reformation/ restoration/improvement of life and character.

•       Instruction/education.

Why?

•       That the man or woman of God may be made perfect, which means complete.

•       That you may be thoroughly equipped to do every good work.

There are about 1000 prophecies in the Bible:

•       Remember the Bible is approximately 30% prophetic.

•       About 500 prophecies have been fulfilled.

•       Of the 500, about 300 concern the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

“There are no prophecies yet to be fulfilled before the return of Jesus Christ.”

– Dr. Ed Hinson, Author of the book Target Israel and End Times prophecy scholar.