End times pt 1 luke 21

End Times Part 1 Luke 21

joke -

Are you guys ready to talk about the end times...

did you know that Jesus is going to come back

and when He does He is going to judge the world

He is being patient and waiting for more people to be saved

but eventually

that time is going to be up..

I want you to be ready for His return

It very well may happen in your life time....

we pick up in luke 21: in verse 5

last week we talked about how the widow gave everything she had

even though it was very little

yet God was pleased because she gave with faith…

now Jesus comments on the destiny of that temple that they were giving to

Luke 21:5–7 NKJV

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

Jesus has just left the temple mount

mount of olives

describe temple mount---1 mile around

some start talking about how beautiful the temple is

there was precious stones and a great deal of money in donations used.

Jesus is triggered by the boasting of the glory of the temple

because it was built with the faithless

and prideful donations

of people far from God

leads Him to warning the people

This temple will be destroyed

not one stone will be left on top of another

Gods judgment will come on Israel....

concerened by this, the people ask

2 questions...

when will this be

and what signs will there be to show that the destruction is coming

Jesus continues to teach about the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem

that will take place in 70 ad

this is roughly 37 years after Jesus rose from the dead

Jesus uses this prophecy and event

as a type and pattern

that points to the ultimate and final destruction of the world

at Jesus second coming....

remember Jesus has come to forgive us and save us

from His final judgment against sin.

so 1. when will this happen

2. what are the signs

Luke 21:8–9 NKJV

And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

Jesus warns us of our first point

identify false messiahs

He warns us

dont be tricked

many people will come in my name

claiming the speak for God …

and claiming that they are the messiah…the chosen one of God

They will try to convince you they are chosen by God to teach you

but Jesus says dont listen to them

Q. How do we identify false messiahs

***compare the claims to the bible

we have all that we need in Jesus Christ

false messiahs will always claim additions to the finished work of Christ

islam-muslims-muhammed ---founded Islam 600 years after Jesus

claimed he was from God and also claimed that Jesus was a great prophet

they are waiting for the coming of Jesus as well

but they have a different message of salvation through works

and totally twists the person and message of Jesus

muhammed is the biggest false messiah

there is also jehovas witness----charles taze russel

1870 proclaimed that Jesus wasnt God and created his own version of christianity.

there is mormons-

joseph smith in 1823

found golden plates of the book of mormon

added it to bible and claimed He was chosen by God

introduced false religion

there are many more along the line.....

these are who Jesus is warning us about

the only way to identify them is by comparing their work and message with the gospel

fundemental essentials

Jesus is diety

John 1:1 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

triune God

Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sin

he rose from the grave 3 days later

by faith in Jesus that leads to repentance you will be saved

look what paul writes in

Galatians 1:8 NKJV

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Story---- kid comes up to teach me about jehovas witness

they have a false messiaha and a false gospel

Jesus continues to warn

there will be wars and crazy things going on in the world

but be patient

because the end is not coming immediately…

these things need to happen.

Dont be afraid of the end

dont be afraid

and do not follow after false messiahs

dont be decieved

by identifying who they are.

Jesus continues on about the signs of the coming judgment

Luke 21:10–11 NKJV

Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

these are common things that must happen

to usher in

both the destruction of Jerusalem

and the end of the world..

Q. How many of you heard that Jesus was coming back because of the eclipse.

or a hurricane hits and everybody is like …thats it He s coming back..

these are all common things that point to the fact that

the world is under the curse of sin

and it is eager for the messiah to come back and make

all things new

Matthew 24:7–8 ESV

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Matthew records Jesus saying they are just birth pains

Jessica can tell you about birth pains

pain in child bearing is a part of the curse

what Jesus is saying is

all these disasters are signs of the fall of Israel and

the final judgment of the world

Dont be afraid of the signs

as they continue to get worse

dont be afraid

Israel is at war with hamas and Iran

Dont be afraid

this is just a sign

If America falls

dont be afraid

this is just a sign

If covid 2.0 Hits dont be afraid

my mom died from covid

shes with the Lord

We will keep preaching the gospel

trusting in Jesus

until we are blessed to die and go be with Him

or until He comes back to rapture us....

Jesus now gives another more personal warning..

Luke 21:12–13 NKJV

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

before These things is the more direct destruction of jerusalem

before this happens, Jesus tells the people there

you will be beaten and attacked for your faith.

they will bring you to court in the synogouges and then put you in prison

some believers even were brought before roman rule and were crucified and

lit on fire as a roman candle

pause----- defense of the faith

all 12 apostles were brutally murdered and tortured for their faith.

with exception to John —boiled oil fail....

If they were making this up would they have gone to the crosses and stakes?

Jesus warned them if you follow me this may be your fate...

Q. Would you still follow Jesus if you walked into your school

and there were christians tied to the flag pole

burned to a crisp?

and the only reason they were there was because of their faith in Jesus

do you know that in places in africa they will machete you to death for being a christian.

This is what they were up against

prison sentences and death....

But look what Jesus says

Luke 21:13 NKJV

But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

This is the wonderful truth

This world is coming to an end

Jerusalem was coming to destruction

and the same thing will come at the end of the world

as that day draws near

christians will be persecuted

and God wants us to use our suffering as a testimony

Use your suffering and persecution as a testimony

testimony is a verbal account

When you are brought before the judge on trial

or even when someone in your life mocks Jesus or puts you on trial

we get the wonderful opportunity to testify for Jesus..

Luke 21:14–17 NKJV

Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.

Jesus says

when you get put on trial

dont worry about what your going to say

but rely on the holy spirit.

Jesus says I will give you a mouth of wisdom

to put your adversary to shame.

verse 16 warns us

you will be betrayed by relatives and parents and brothers

meaning to follow Jesus meant that many

were ostrasized by their famalies

this happens in a lot of families that dont worship God

when someone gets saved they get made fun of by the rest of the family.

if the whole family is muslim

and their son turns to Jesus

the whole family will look down on them

in some cases the person will get disowned

and in worse cases you will be murdered.

Jesus warns that to follow Him

you will be hated

and it is true to this day

even for us

do you know there are many people out there that hate you just because your christian.

there will be a time in the near future where you will be persecuted

for following Jesus

When our culture turns

and it is criminal to be a bible believing Christian

Q. Will you use that as an opportunity to proclaim His name

or will you hide away in fear of persecution.

now if all of this sounds scary

make sure to rest in the last words of this verse

Luke 21:18–19 NKJV

But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.

in patience

meaning endurance

continue on in the faith

and no matter what persecution you face here on earth

your soul will be secure with Jesus for eternity

If you are living for this world, these things are terrifying

but were not living for this world

were living for eternity with Jesus.

Pray..