Living in the End

Intro

History has seen many end-of-the-world cults. Even in recent history we saw the rise of a number of prominent cults that emphasized the end of the world. Some of us can recall David Koresh and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Mr. Koresh claimed to be the messiah and wooed a number of people into his cultic control. They came to a tragic end when Koresh led his followers to resist the authorities, and during a siege their compound caught on fire and a great many were killed or took their lives.

If you are a little older, you might remember the charismatic cult leader Jim Jones and the tragedy at Jonestown. That group of people in Guyana were led to drink poison-laced Kool Aid. The sayings “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” and “That person has drunk the Kool-Aid” allude to this terrible tragedy.

Such cults thrive because there remains an instinctive fascination with the idea of the end of the world. We think not only of cult groups but the guy downtown with wild eyes and hair wearing a sandwich-board sign warning that “the end is near.”

These movements can make a person think that only crazy people and cult groups think about the end of the world, but, actually, wondering about the end is perfectly natural. We know that our lives end. We know that the lives of our loved ones will end. We see aspects of the world and society—wars and nuclear weapons—that really do have potential for ending life as we know it. So it’s natural to wonder.

If we are spiritually minded, it’s also natural to wonder what God thinks about these things. If God had a sandwich board, what would it read? If such an end is to come, how do we prepare for the end of everything as we know it?

In many respects Luke 21 focuses on the end of the world, what we should expect, and how we should prepare. The Lord Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, where he has been teaching every day in the temple. His main message has been one of salvation through faith in him. He spends these final days teaching in anticipation of his crucifixion and resurrection. Along the way he has had confrontations with religious leaders but has now finally silenced them. Now the Lord gives his remaining energy and life to teaching the truth to his disciples so they might be strengthened by the truth and endure until the end comes.

Temple Destruction (v5-7)

Jesus had just told the story of the religious hypocrisy found in the leaders of the people, and the heart of worship found in the widow as he was people watching in the temple

So as they were walking out of the temple back to the Mount of Olives where they were staying (v.37), his followers marveled at the temple and it’s greatness!

When I was in about 4th grade my parents started taking us to the Paramount in Aurora to see musicals

I distinctly remember going to downtown Aurora and walking over the Fox River from the parking garage and looking up and getting vertigo from the office buildings there

I suddenly had to stop looking because it made me dizzy and a sudden fear of heights overtook me, and this was 20 years ago!

Now imagine being a first century person going to the temple, one of the most grand structures in the ancient world, why would you not be moved!

In fact, did you know that we were not able to make anything bigger than the pyramids until the Washington Monument was completed in 1888!

The Jerusalem temple admired by those with Jesus was the project of Herod the Great, who in 20/19 B.C. began a reconstruction of the temple that essentially doubled its size and otherwise reflected his own aggrandizing character. Pilgrims pouring into the city from the rustic environs of Palestine and the wider diaspora could not help but be impressed, even overwhelmed, by its sheer size and magnificence, by the brilliance of the gold plates that covered its façade, and by the white marble that adorned its upper reaches. What is more, its splendor as an architectural feat would have been for the faithful more than matched by the awe it inspired as the abode of God and socio-religio-political center of the Jewish universe.

Not only that, but there were stone that were almost 70 feet long utilized in the construction of the foundation of this massive Temple, as well as Grape Cluster inlays as tall as the men that walked into the temple

Then Jesus instead of joining the beautiful nature of the building, changes the discussion completely and says this temple will be destroyed, where not even one stone will be let upon another!

So his disciples in Luke 21:7 “7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?””

So Jesus begins to teach into this difficult passage that has really four questions that are brought forth and dealt with

First, when would this destruction of the temple happen?

Second, what would be the signs of this second coming Jesus will elaborate on?

Third, what are the signs of the end age?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how are we to live in light of these foreshadowings?

Don’t Be Fooled or Afraid (v.8-11)

Jesus’ first word is be on the watch so you are not deceived!

Deceived of what?

Well in the verse it says

Many will come in Jesus’ name

These are false teachers using the name of Jesus

They also say the time is near!

Now this is not what we hold to, in that the return of Jesus is imminent as all Christians hold to

This is a matter of Jesus is coming back on July 5, 2025 type of things! Immediately discredit anyone who does that! They are a false teacher

In essence, the last days will make men particularly open to any charlatan who is offering and promising deliverance!

This is not just about religious figures, but also we see this in people putting all their eggs into politics for salvation,

and when people can’t deal with the hopelessness, they turn to hedonism or other such things, we are all seeking deliverance and purpose in this life

In the first century,

New Testament (Second Edition) 21:8–19: Imminent Sufferings

Various false messiahs and messianic-type leaders modeling themselves after Moses or Joshua arose in the first century; such figures drew significant Jewish followings in Palestine as late as Bar Kochba, whom Rabbi *Akiba hailed as the *Messiah after A.D. 130.

Second he says when you hear of wars, rebellions do not be alarmed, these things will take place first but the end is still yet to come!

When we see the world falling to pieces, and seemingly never ending cycle of wars, civil wars, and all other types of things, do not be alarmed!

Why should you and not be alarmed?

This is going to be a key theme today in this message: It is all under God’s control, and so our hearts are fastened trustworthily to him!

It is as we sing in the old hymn, “I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ name!”

Yet, things will continue to worsen

Nation will rise against Nation, Kingdom against Kingdom, Violent Earthquakes, Plagues, Famines, and signs from Heaven

But these are not the end, the other gospels in this same section say this is the beginning of birth pains

There is no point for us tracking the amount of earthquakes and wars, as if we can pinpoint the closeness of God by increasing numbers of these things

We know that creation groans as it awaits the redemption of creation at Jesus’ second coming (rom 8:22-23)

We should not be terrified, for there is nothing we can do to stop them, but we are trusting that God is behind the scenes of even great tragedy like the earthquakes we just saw in Turkey and Syria

All that this means is that as things seem to get worse, Jesus’ return is getting closer!

In the old hymn “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” we read this

Keep your lamps trimmed an burning, keep your lamps trimmed and burning, keep your lamps trimmed and burning, for the time is drawing nigh.

Children, don't grow weary, children, don't grow weary, children, don't grow weary, for the time is drawing nigh.

Darker midnight lies before us, darker midnight lies before us, darker midnight lies before us, for the time is drawing nigh

Lo, the morning soon is breaking, lo, the morning soon is breaking, lo, the morning soon is breaking, for the time is drawing nigh.

The Cost of Following Jesus (v.12-19)

There is a very important contrast here, and just like always when you see the contrasting word but in Scripture, it should wake you up and make you pay attention

So when there are wars and earthquakes and the heavens are doing crazy things, there will be a much more personal thing going on: persecution

First Jesus says they will lay hands on you: the they being the religious leaders which will soon lay their hands upon Jesus

The disciples will be brought before synagogues and prisons and kings and governors because of following Jesus!

Yet, this ‘persecution’ will not be just a loss, but it will be an opportunity to bear witness of Jesus

We see this immediately in the second volume of Luke’s writings in Acts 4! Peter and John are brought forth before the Sanhedrin

Paul is brought before Agrippa and even ministers to those soldiers who are imperial guards when he is under house arrest in Rome

In fact, our English word martyr comes from the Greek word martus which mean ‘a witness’

This persecution is not just for the disciples (as we see Paul also experiences the same troubles!)

This persecution arises because of the name of Jesus, and there is oppression, suppression, and state sanctioned backlash for identifying with Jesus

In the early church it looked like Nero burning Christians in his garden for entertainment, Christians fed to the lion in the coliseum, which are the very things promised here

How often do you think of times of persecution, mistreatment, war and such to be an opportunity to tell others about Jesus

Notice there is an encouraging and odd verse in v.14-15

Make up your minds not to prepare a defense ahead of time

For Jesus will give you words and wisdom that none will be able to contradict

Peter tells us we are to be ready and give an account for the faith and hope we possess to non-believers

This is also not saying that we should stop reading our Scriptures, praying, or meeting together

It is about when persecution comes, God will give you a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit to speak to the adversaries

Perhaps the best place to see this at work is in Acts 7 and Stephens trial and stoning

Because this is not promising you will escape, it is saying they cannot refute it, the Sanhedrin just react emotionally, not logically to Stephen so they kill him, they don’t refute what is being said

So we are to still push on the day to day activities, but trust that God will show up for us when persecution comes at our doorstep

The next few verses might be some of the most difficult verses in Scripture

You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers, relatives, friends and some will even be killed

These are not empty words by Jesus, for the next chapter, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, and killed by his people for the crime of nothing

You will be hated by everyone because of my name

This is odd is it not?

The Exalting Jesus in Luke Commentary points out the oddity of this:

Exalting Jesus in Luke Jesus’s Disciples and the Personal Signs (21:8–12, 16–17)

Christian disciples must face a general hatred. It may feel weird to know a name so beautiful, loving, and generous while at the same time be hated for that very name. Here the Lord entertains no notion that Christians will ever be popular—not at the end, not in the meantime.

Our society is at a point when church has lost much of its allure, and those that were ‘Christian’ have stopped going because the culture has stopped giving them benefits of being Christian

It is not uncommon to have people call Christians unloving, and bigoted for their stance on LGBT, Abortion, even perceived support of certain political leaders

For us in America, this feels like persecution, because we have always had the cultural majority and cultural narrative really since this country was founded

We will be marked as deviants by our behavior, find ourselves detestable and shunned by those who uphold the accepted social morality of the time

So is it persecution? Yes, but it is like 1 on a scale of 10, nothing like what the church faces in much of the rest of the world

Not a hair will be lost, but by endurance gain your lives

It is by persevering through persecution, and even death that we gain our lives, eternally

We must rely on Jesus’ help to do so! This is persecution to give up your faith in Christ

Exalting Jesus in Luke Jesus’s Disciples and the Personal Signs (21:8–12, 16–17)

The coming of the end will be marked by the breaking of natural affection, of familial bonds, and of friendship. It all happens because of his name. Those who love his name will be given over to those who do not. Those who do not love his name will jail, beat, and kill those who do. Isn’t it true that all of Jesus’s disciples who heard him on this day died in one of these ways? All but one was martyred.

So imagine persecution where your family turns you in for being a follower of Jesus to the state police, choosing country over family

Your closest friends who you consider brothers might turn you in for following Christ

This will be difficult!

It is a pretty common story in the Islamic world with honor killings and people being chased out of their homes by their families

At the very least, the families will act as if the Christian in their family is dead and no longer exists!

This is a call for us to redraw our family lines with those who hear the word of God and do it

This is why I have more in common with Pastor Joseph who I have only met recently than my unsaved cousins

Yet, when we look at the context, even when everyone abandons us, God never will, he is our Emmanuel, he will never leave nor forsake us!

It is for his sake that we endure, all the way to eternal life!

Jerusalem Destroyed (v. 20-24)

The persecution will come before the wars and earthquakes and also before Jerusalem’s destruction

Jerusalem was sacked by Titus in 70AD, and it was a terrible seige

This was part of the divine judgment against Israel for straying away from God and refusing to accept the Messiah

It was a repeat of what happened once already in 586BC when Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem and similar tragic events happened, and it will happen once more in the final end times!

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 4. The Destruction of Jerusalem (21:20–24)

Josephus tells us that 97,000 were taken prisoner throughout the war and 1,100,000 were killed in the siege

The Second Coming (v.25-33)

Jerusalem is not the end, but just another sign of the end coming closer

There will be more signs by the celestial bodies, and people will faint from fear and expectation of what is happening

Then Jesus will return on the clouds with all his power and glory to be shown to the whole world

This is a direct allusion to Daniel 7:13 “13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.”

Yet Christians are not to be faint or wary, but lift our heads because our redemption is near!

We are not afraid because we know it is for our good that Jesus is coming back in glory!

We live already forgiven by the cross of Christ, but we will experience the fullness of that reality at his second coming

So the second coming of Christ is yet to happen, there are signs scattered throughout the time that has been since Jesus ascended to heaven, but Jesus’ return is always imminent

The point of this fig tree parable is rather straightforward

When spring comes and the trees bud, you know Summer is approaching, in the same way these signs show that the day of Christ return is getting closer

This Generation will not pass away:

The Gospel of Luke 6.2. The Coming of the End: Devastation, Redemption, Readiness (21:5-38)

“This generation” refers in Luke’s narrative not to a set number of decades or to people living at such-and-such a time, but to people who stubbornly turn their backs on the divine purpose. Jesus’ followers can expect hostility and calamity until the very End, Jesus teaches, for the old world, “this generation,” does not easily give way to the new

Like most prophecy there is the immediate fulfillment of the destruction of Jerusalem and that generation, but there is always a generation that is against God and his purposes

Heaven and Earth vs. The Word of Jesus

This earth will be remade at the end, but the word of God is far more stout than this earth

This is why we rely on God’s word, to that we can know how to live and what to do in the end times

It is by this word and the ethic is gives us that we can move to being people that are watchful

Exalting Jesus in Luke Trust God’s Word! (21:22)

We hold in our hands the sure, standing, enduring, never-failing, never-erring Word of God. If we would be ready for the end then we should stake our lives on the Word of God. Hide it in your heart that you might not sin against God. Stand on it as the one sure foundation. Hold it above your head as the exercise of Christ’s lordship in your life. Hold it out front as your guide; it will be a lamp for your feet and a light on your path. If you would live well until Christ comes, then live by this book.

Watchfulness (v.34-38)

If the guidepost of the signs are given, and we have the words of Jesus to guide us, then what else must we do to be prepared for that coming of Jesus in all his authoritative glory?

We are told to be wary of a few things

We do not want our minds dulled from carousing- that is a drinking in excess, to the point of getting a hangover

Drunkenness- the lifestyle of being perpetually drunk

Worries of life- These can cause us to put our lives built up around the wrong thing, it translates as the day to day things that we don’t need to care about as God will take care of us

We don’t want to be caught unexpectedly like falling into a trap!

Theses things are certainly out of character for the Christian, but we need to be ready and waiting so we don’t fall into sin like getting drunk

This will happen to all on the earth

So instead of being drunk, worrying about things that do not have eternal significance, we should be doing these things

Praying for strength

Strength to escape the coming wrath, and standing before Jesus

We want strength to have character that would honor God!

We need God’s strength to resist the temptations of this world

If we are so concerned with this world, we will be of no heavenly good, there is merit to living in this world, waiting for Jesus to return at anytime

Jesus finalizes this teaching and he would continue to teach in the Temple the good news while going to the Mount of Olives to spend the night probably at Martha and Mary’s home

People were still clamoring to hear Jesus speak, although he would soon be killed, he still used the time to teach the crowds

Application

Signs only help us if we heed them!

If you blow through a stop sign and cause a t-bone crash, that stop sign did nothing for the accident

If you don’t heed signs about rip tide and are pulled out to sea, that sign does not help you

In this case, Jesus is giving us signs to simply be aware of, not to waste our lives, and to live them to the fullest!

So if you are not a Christian:

Exalting Jesus in Luke Conclusion

If you are not yet a Christian, this chapter applies to you. Right now, you are not ready for the end of the world because you are still in your sins. So you must give it all to Christ. Surrender to him. Confess your sins. Acknowledge the righteousness of God’s judgment against you. Then consider that your sins were atoned for on the cross and your righteousness secured in the resurrection. Put your trust in Christ and follow him in the obedience that comes from faith. Then, no matter what happens in your life and in the world, you may be certain that you are Christ’s and he is yours. Believe in Christ and the end will simply be the beginning of eternity for you.

If you are a Christian this is the point:

Persevere until the end

You must make sure your relationship is built on the reality and person of the resurrected Christ, nothing else is worth it

You will experience being abandoned, having injustice done to you, people hating you because they hate Jesus

When the world is against you, and you only have Jesus, will you still choose him?

Can you still love those same people the are coming to potentially kill you?

As has been said before, the blood of the martyrs are the seed of the church

You need to count the cost, is Jesus worth losing everything?

Is Jesus worth it over your friends?

Is Jesus worth it over your children?

Is Jesus worth it over your spouse?

Only you can answer that question, but he certainly is to me and millions of others who have worshipped God through the last 2k years

Benediction

Matthew 28:18-20 “18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””