Luke 21:5-7
What’s the World Coming To?
Every day this world shocks us more and more with its evil. I will
mention only one area, violence.
Last week, for the third time in the last few weeks, we had a random
shooting on I59 in Birmingham. One man was hit causing a wreck on the
interstate, but I believe everyone will be all right.
While that is serious, sad, and somewhat shocking to us—that such
crime would be going on the in the deep south—we are way ahead of a
city like Chicago, where this past weekend they had "at least 60
shot with 8 killed."
At the same time, Ted Cruz introduced legislation to "harden" schools
against gun violence by adding more metal detectors, closing extra
exits, installing cameras, bullet-resistant doors and windows, and
putting in alarms that would automatically notify police when a gun
is being fired.
\\#5-7\\ Setting:
For those of you who have been studying with us, you will remember
that Jesus enter Jerusalem in Luke 19. We are now in the last few
days of Jesus’ earthly life. On one of those days, as Jesus is
leaving the temple, the disciples comment how beautiful the temple
was. To which, Jesus made a prophecy. \\#6\\ One day, not one stone
would be left upon another.
From the setting notice the first point:
I. This passage is NOT talking about Jesus coming to get the church.
A. There are three comings of Jesus to the earth. In each one,
Jesus is portrayed differently.
1. In the first coming, Jesus was portrayed as a Lamb for He
would be the sacrifice for our sins.
2. In the second coming, Jesus is portrayed as a Thief for He
shall slip in, take the church, and slip away.
3. At the third coming, Jesus will be portrayed as the King
for He will establish His earthly kingdom and rule for
1,000 years.
B. Jesus was talking about His third coming here not His second.
1. \\#5\\ Jesus and the disciples were at the temple.
2. The topic of their conversation was the temple.
3. \\#6\\ The prophecy that Jesus gave was about the temple.
4. \\#7\\ The question the disciples asked was about the
temple.
C. The temple has to do with the Jews and their kingdom not the
church and the rapture. In fact the temple was destroyed
almost 2000 years ago and hasn’t’ been around for most of the
church age and likely will not be until after the church age.
D. So does this Scripture have anything to do with the church?
1. Only indirectly.
2. The second coming of Jesus for the church happens before
the third coming to set up a kingdom so if these are the
signs for Jesus’ third coming, it’s likely that we would
be seeing some of the changes before we are taken out at
His second coming.
3. If the world is starting to show signs of Jesus’ third
coming, how much more should we be expecting His second
coming?
E. What is the world going to look like? Jesus gave us several
different categories:
1. \\#8-12\\ Common Signs
2. \\#12-19\\ Persecution Signs
3. \\#20-24\\ Israeli Signs
4. \\#25-26\\ Heavenly Signs
II. \\#8-11\\ Common Signs
A. I call these common signs because they are and have been
common to all generations. They are not unusual. They are
common. You have probably experienced a fulfillment of these
signs to one degree or another.
B. Someone will ask, "Then what makes them a sign?" My answer
is twofold:
1. I believe they will get worse as time progresses.
2. Jesus gradually moved out of the common to the uncommon.
C. The signs:
1. \\#8\\ Some will claim to be Christ.
2. \\#9\\ We will hear of wars and commotions.
a. Notice that Jesus told us that the end—although
getting nearer—was not upon us yet.
b. He further told us that not let these events frighten
us.
3. \\#10\\ Nation will fight nation and kingdom will fight
kingdom.
4. \\#11\\ Great earthquakes along with famines and
pestilences.
a. This is one that I believe we will see getting worse
and worse. I believe we will see more and more of
these occurring as we get close to Jesus’ coming.
b. Not only so, but I also believe we will see the effect
of them getting worse and worse.
(1) The world has been blessed to have a few
countries who were gifted enough—not to stop
earthquakes, famines, and pestilences—but to
reduce the effect of them by their quick and
effect aid.
(2) As evil continues to overtake those countries,
they will lose their prosperity and their
ability to help others.
c. America is a good example.
(1) America can either have sin or God but not both.
(2) The more we pull away from God, the less of His
blessings we will have.
5. \\#12\\ "fearful and "great" signs in the heavens.
a. Here we start to move out of the common and usual
to more rare signs.
b. Something is going to happen in the heavens that will
be a sure and frightening sign that we are at the
end of the world.
III. \\#12-19\\ Persecution Signs
A. Like the Common Signs, the Persecution Signs have always been
around but they will likewise get worse and worse.
1. The Perception Signs are the unjust attacks against the
believers of Jesus Christ.
2. This persecution has four elements.
(a) \\#12\\ Persecution of God’s people
Mark 8:12 But before all these, they shall lay
their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering
you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being
brought before kings and rulers for my name’s
sake.
(b) \\#16\\ Betrayal of God’s people
Mark 8:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by
parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and
friends; and some of you shall they cause to be
put to death.
(c) \\#16\\ Death of God’s people
(d) \\#17\\ Hatred by all of God’s people
Mark 8:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for
my name’s sake.
B. Some pretend that there is no persecution against Christians
today but the evidence shows there is. I copied the
following from Opening Doors USA’s website.
Christians remain one of the most persecuted religious groups in the
world. While Christian persecution takes many forms, it is defined as
any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Christ.
Christians throughout the world continue to risk imprisonment, loss
of home and assets, torture, beheadings, rape and even death as a
result of their faith.
Trends show that countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are
intensifying persecution against Christians, and perhaps the most
vulnerable are Christian women, who often face double persecution for
faith and gender.
Every day we receive new reports of Christians who face threats,
unjust imprisonment, harassment, beatings and even loss of family
because of their faith in Jesus.
Every month:
255 Christians are killed
104 are abducted
180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into
marriage
66 churches are attacked
160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned
According to our research:
215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution in
the countries on the World Watch List. This represents 1 in 12
Christians worldwide. North Korea is ranked #1 for the 17th
consecutive year as the most dangerous country for Christians.
During the World Watch List 2018 reporting period: 3,066
Christians were killed; 1,252 were abducted; 1,020 were raped or
sexually harassed; and 793 churches were attacked. Islamic
oppression fuels Christian persecution in 8 of the top 10
countries.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
C. Despite the obvious negatives of persecution, God gives us
four positives.
1. \\#13\\ This will be a TESTIMONY to us. Our testimony
will impact people for Jesus.
Mark 8:13 And it shall turn to you for a
testimony.
2. \\#14-15\\ God will give us the words to say to our
adversaries.
Mark 8:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts,
not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which
all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay
nor resist.
3. \\#18\\ Not a hair of our eternal head will perish.
Mark 8:18 But there shall not an hair of your
head perish.
4. \\#19\\ Be patient - There will be an end and a reward.
Mark 8:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
IV. \\#20-24\\ Israeli Sign
A. \\#20\\ Of all the signs Jesus gives, this is the most
specific and it is to the Jews.
Mark 8:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the
desolation thereof is nigh.
1. Jerusalem will be surrounded by enemy armies. The object
will be Israel’s conquest.
2. This has happened several times before and could happen
several more times before the final fulfillment.
3. In fact, it would happen within 40 years and be fulfilled
just like Jesus was saying in this text.
4. However, there will be yet another seige and conquest
conducted by the anti-Christ. (It would take too long
for me to try to prove that to you, but for the time
being, please take my word for it.)
B. \\#21-24\\ Jesus was saying that when this happens (either the
last one or the next one), FLEE!
Mark 8:21 Then let them which are in Judaea
flee to the mountains….
V. \\#25-26\\ The Heavenly Signs - Mark did not record specific
signs but he did indicate that the effect would be world and
universe wide.
Mark 8:25 And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the
earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the
sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for
looking after those things which are coming on
the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be
shaken.
THEN \\#27-28\\ tell us that Jesus will show up.
Mark 8:27 And then shall they see the Son of man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Remember, I started by asking the question, "What in the world is
going on… NOW?" The answer is that this world is getting closer to
the return of Jesus Christ. Are you ready?
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