Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Introduction: Jesus has already predicted the coming destruction of Jerusalem in .

In the passage of Scripture before us He continues to discuss this coming destruction, hints to His return at the end of the age and leaves His followers with some clear instructions regarding how to handle the perilous times that are to come.

If we could summarize what Jesus said to His followers, as well as to us we could sum it up in one word . . .

“WATCH.”

They were to “keep watch” and I believe in the day and time in which we live and in the society in which we live we would do well to follow His admonition for us as well.

I want to begin by reading as Jesus discusses the coming tragedy upon Jersusalem as well as the coming judgement upon the earth.

Notice a few things with me:

Jerusalem Will be Surrounded and Overrun by the Gentiles (note 21:20-24)

This literally happened in AD 70.

Christianity Today reports:

In AD 66 Roman Procurator, Gessius Florus, invaded the temple in Jerusalem and took some of the silver.

There was an uproar by the Jews and as a result he massacared 3,600 Jewish people.

This led to the first Jewish revolt and the attack of Masada, a Roman fortress.

The Roman governor at the time, Cestus Callus, sent 20,000 soldiers from Syria to beseige Jersualem for 6 months (remember Jesus predicted they would be surrounded), but this effort failed.

6,000 Roman soldiers died as a result.

Finally, the emperor Nero, decided to intervene and he sent a decorated general, Vespasian, to take care of the job.

Vespasian squashed the revolt, and he also surrounded Jerusalem.

Nero, died, Vespasian became emporer, and left his son Titus to finish the job he had started.

Those in Jerusalem were cut off from the rest of their people and they began to die of starvation.

History books tell us that the High Priests’ wife, who once lived in luxury, was searching in the streets from crumbs to eat just to stay alive.

The Romans finally broke through the walls of the city, won the victory, destroyed the temple just as Jesus predicted and the burned the rubble.

Jesus Will One Day Return (note 21:25-28)

Prophecy in Scripture will often jump from things that was predicted to happen relatively soon, to a parrallel event that would happen in the future.

It seems that beginning in verse 25 Jesus is referencing events that will happen in the future.

I believe Scripture teaches there will be a time when the church is removed from this world, before a time of Great Tribulation comes on this earth and Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom!

In the passage before us Jesus references signs in the sun, moon, stars and on earth.

We know for instance Scripture speaks of these similar signs elsewhere:

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Jesus also references “distress of nations” (verse 25) as a result of disturbances in the seas and waves (could this be a reference to hurricanes—IDK), people fainting with fear over what is to come.

He talks about the “powers of the heavens being shaken” (verse 26) and finally the return of Christ coming in the clouds with power and great glory!

He goes on to say (v.

28) that when these things are seen believers are to “lift up their heads” because their redemption is close!

Jesus then proceeds to tell a brief parable about a fig tree and how a fig tree gives signs that the fruit is coming, just like their will be signs that will precede the return of Christ.

There is quite a difference of opinion on when and how all these things that Jesus talked about will take place.

We could spend our time on trying to figure out the details on all of these things, however, that is not the intention of my message this morning.

I will leave that to the experts.

What I want to focus our time on this morning is what Jesus told us to DO as a result of this warning!

MY CONCERN IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE GET SO WRAPPED UP IN END TIME PROGNOSTICATING, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL OF THE DETAILS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN, THAT WE FORGET WHAT HE TOLD US TO DO WHILE WE ARE WAITING.

There are all kinds of arguments and blogs and books and novels that be are very, very passionate about, but is that what He told us to focus on?

Absolutely not!

So let’s focus on what He told us to focus on.

First of all He said to

Watch

Explanation

The first thing He told us to do is to “watch” (note verse 34) and stay awake (v.

36).

This word carries with it the idea of “paying careful attention to.”

It is a present active verb, which means we are to “watch and continue to watch.”

We are to pay careful attention to what is going on so we are not suddenly surprised and be ready to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ at His return.

It is in the “imperative” mood, which means that it is a command.

We are commanded by Christ Himself to pay careful attention to what is going on so we will be prepared for what is to come!

Illustration

The Apostle Paul warned us of the very same thing in

Application

You need to be on guard.

You need to be watching for the return of Christ.

You need to be aware of the signs of the times.

Jesus did not tell you to make predictions, He did not tell you to set dates, He did not tell you to quit your job and move to a mountain and wait for His return . . .

but He did tell you to stay spiritually awake, watching and on guard!

However, another thing He told us is there would be some . . .

Distractions to Watching

Explanation

The first distraction Jesus mentions to watching is the “distraction of dissipation.”

What in the world is dissipation and why did Jesus tell them to be on guard against it?

According to one Bible dictionary dissipation refers to:

…a lifestyle without discipline resulting in the dizzy hangovers of drunkenness.

It goes on to indicate that this type of lifestyle often comes from . . .

…deception caused by riches and sin.

refers to it this way:

Notice it refers to your “old self” and your “former manner of life” that is corrupt through “DECEITFUL DESIRES.”

This type of lifestyle is the lifestyle of the “prodigal son.”

It is a SELF-DESTRUCTIVE lifestyle.

It is often associated with drinking and results in a life that is disorderly and wasteful.

Dissipation

DISSIPATION Deceptive desires leading to a lifestyle without discipline resulting in the dizzy hangovers of drunkenness.

The Greek word apate means “deception” caused by riches (Matt.

13:22) and sin (Heb.

3:13).

This is founded in the deceptive lusts of the unredeemed human heart (Eph.

4:22).

People following such a way of life will suffer “the penalty for doing wrong” as they continue “reveling in their dissipation” (2 Pet.

2:13 NRSV).

Asotia means to be hopelessly sick and refers to a lifestyle by which one destroys oneself.

It is the prodigal son’s “wild living” (Luke 15:13 NIV).

It is the life of “dissipation” resulting from drinking wine (Eph.

5:18 NASB; cp.

Titus 1:6; 1 Pet.

4:3–4).

The Bible speaks against a disorderly life, whereas the Greeks used the term to mean a wasteful or luxurious life.

The Bible teaches believers to avoid both lifestyles.

Simply put, they are told to stay away from lifestyles that are associated with the deception caused by riches and alcohol.

Rich people and intoxicated people are often deceived into thinking they are more powerful than they are, they are somehow above the law, that somehow certain consequences will never catch up with them or doesn’t apply to them.

However God’s Word warns us not to be DECEIVED:

The second distractions that Jesus mentions is the “distraction of drunkenness.”

Drunkenness

Once again let’s turn to the Holman Bible Dictionary for some insight into this:

DRUNKENNESS Result of consuming a quantity of alcohol; the outcome being the impairment of faculties.

This impairment may be mild (deep sleep) to severe (dizziness, vomiting, hallucination, and death).

The physical symptoms mentioned in Scripture are: staggering (Job 12:25; Ps. 107:27); wounds and beatings (Prov.

20:1; 23:29–35; Lam.

2:12); vomiting (Isa.

19:14; Jer.

25:27; 48:26); and hallucinations (Isa.

28:1–8; Prov.

23:33).

The mental effects of alcohol mentioned in Scripture are a false sense of one’s abilities and strengths (Isa.