Be Ready for the kings return
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Be ready for the kings return
Be ready for the kings return
joke
luke 21 vs 20
If you knew that somebody was going to
try to rob your house tonight
what would you do?
Have your parents ever went out of town
What would you do when the signs pointed that they were coming back
you would clean the house and get ready..
We dont know the hour that Jesus is coming back
but we do know the signs that will proceed His return
Today we are going to finish ch 21
We are reading a portion of scripture
where Jesus is teaching and giving prophecy
Q. What is prophecy - A divine message from God by an individual to a person or people group meant to illicit a response. often times prophecy includes a fortelling of the future events.
Jesus is prophecying events that include the near and the far.
part of His prophecy includes the destruction of the temple that will happen in 70 Ad
the far prophecy includes Jesus return and the judgment on the world.
keep in mind He as already prophesied of His death and ressurection.
He is preparing them for life after the ressurection.
Now …
Jesus has just taught his disciples about the signs that will occur before His return
and the fact that there will be persecution from the moment He ascends
after His ressurection
until the day He comes back...
Now He turns to the state of Jerusalem before His return
lets pick up in verse
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Here we see Jesus teach and warn of the more near aspect of this prophecy.
JErusalem was surrounded by the roman enemies
on all sides in 70 AD - roughly 37 years after Christs ressurection.
37 years prior Jesus gives them this warning.
Jesus says these are the days of vengance, that all things written may be fullfilled...
look what is says in
“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country.
In denying the messiah they brought destruction on their city..
1.1 million jews were killed in Judgment
97,000 jews were taken as slaves
not a single jew was left in the city....
Jesus warned them about this ...
picking up in verse 25 Jesus teaches about His second coming
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Jesus turns from describing an event that has already happened
to an event that has not yet happened,
for Jesus has not come back yet.
He warns --- BEFORE I come back
there will be cataclysmic events in the sky,
People on earth will be in great despair
This talks about the great tribulation that will occur on earth prior to Jesus coming back
Jesus tells the people once you see these things
know that I will soon be coming in the clouds
this is especially important for those who miss the rapture.
Do you guys know what the rapture is?
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
people who have a genuine faith in Christ will be taken up to be with the Lord prior to the tribulation.
If you miss it then you will have to endure the tribulation period
repent and genuinely put your faith in Christ
and as you see the whole world going through cataclysmic events
look up because Jesus is coming soon.
Jesus then uses the parable of the fig tree
as an example..
Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Jesus points out --- when a fig tree buds you know that summer is near
When you see these events take place, you know that the second coming is near
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.
Jesus closes with a warning
This is the wraning we get today.
Q. Are you ready for the last days to draw near.
How can we make sure that we are ready.
keep away from the cares of this world
keep away from the cares of this world
One way that we will be unprepared is if we focus too much on the things of this world
When we focus too much importance on the things of this world we will
start to neglect God.
this verse says we can be weighed down by drunkenness and cares of this life.
imagine having a 100 lb weight attached to your foot.
some of you are weighed down with the worries of your life.
Its not wrong to be involved in things and be striving for greatness in your life.
you should do that, but sometimes it can get to the point that it weighs you down
and takes your focus off of Jesus..
Have you ever been in a season where you are so worried with school, sports, and family life.
Worry can kill your relationship with God
and it can keep you so distracted that
you arent ready for the end…
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Lets try to take our worry and the cares of this world
and put them on Jesus this week
lets seek after Jesus with the same strength we run after the other things in our lives.
The end will come as a suprise for some
but not for you...
because we are going to hear Jesus warning in verse 36
watch and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all f these things and stand before him.
Watch and pray
Watch and pray
this points to the relationship you have with Jesus
How is your relationship with Him today...
Q. Now how will you be able to escape all of these tribulations?
Rapture..
Who gets raptured
Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus
through the Gospel.
I am preaching to the choir here.
We need to get serious about our relationship with Jesus.
Q. How can you cultivate your relationship with Jesus this week?
If your relationship with Jesus is genuine
you will be raptured and spared.
lets make sure that we know Him…
faith is not just learning about Jesus it is about knowing Him and having a relationship with Him…
Lets be ready and come to His word to hear from Him regularly.