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Our sermon will be in Luke 21:5-24

We have a website: https://tahlequahworshipcenter.com/

Service coming up on Wednesday

Diaper Drive

Prayer requests

Georgey

Dorcas

Cristy’s Grandparents

Sandra

Donna

Ukraine

Joe & Family

Barbara’s Sister

I want to welcome all that are joining us online.

Thank you for being here with us.

Cristy has some songs picked out for us.

Are you ready to worship?

Let’s make a joyful noise

Songs

I’d

Signs Signs Everywhere Signs 1

The world is going crazy.

Everywhere we look, something different is going on.

War in Ukraine, unrest here in the US.

Things that were unthinkable when I was a kid are now commonplace.

Many Christians are saying the Lord will return shortly.

In our text, we see the disciples asking this question.

In fact they ask 2 questions, let’s take a look at those real quick.

This account is in three of the gospels.

I think the clearest verses for these questions are in Mark 13:1-4

Mark 13:1–4 NKJV

1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

The 2 questions are When will these things be? And, What will be the sign?

Jesus answers them and lays out what is going to happen.

The answer is both near and far.

We are going to talk about the first question today:

When will these things be?

Luke 21:5–24 NKJV

5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “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.” 7 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?” 8 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. 9 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.” 10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 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. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls. 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 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. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 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. 24 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.

Where?

There are 2 different things that Jesus is addressing in this passage.

We are only going to address the first which is the destruction of Jerusalem.

The 2nd is the end of the age.

Jesus says something that would have been very scary for those that was listening.

He says that the temple will be completely destroying.

And that’s not all.

He says that Jerusalem will be desolated and trampled by the Gentiles.

I want you to think what the temple meant to the Jews.

It was the most beautiful and grand thing that they knew of.

The doors, the parapets, the tops of the column were all gilded in gold.

Then Jesus comes in saying that not a single stone will be left in place.

It was completely destroyed.

In fact, we don’t even know for sure where it was located.

Many parts of Jerusalem were destroyed.

Many were killed and those left were carried off.

What happened is that the temple was accidently set on fire and the gold melted.

In order to get the gold, it was taken apart and destroyed.

When?

The question is: When did this happen?

The answer is a bit complicated, but in general, it happened in 70 AD.

Because Jesus is answering 2 questions, it’s easy to get them confused.

The time the temple was destroyed in 70 AD was a time of great upheaval.

Most of the apostles had been killed by them.

Jerusalem was surrounded by the Romans and was utterly destroyed.

Titus, who would later become emperor, besieged Jerusalem and destroyed much of the city.

According to Josephus, about 1.1 million people were killed during the siege.

97,000 were enslaved and thousands were forced to become gladiators.

Jews were banned from entering Jerusalem for a long time.

There was not a significant number of Jews in the area until the 20th century.

Believe it or not, but Titus did not except a wreath of victory, he said that he was merely an instrument of divine wrath.

What about all the signs in our scripture?

Who?

Well, first we need to talk about Who Jesus is addressing.

He’s talking about the Jews, but he is talking to believers and especially the disciples.

The Romans started the campaign about 2 years before this.

It says that these disciples will be brought before kings and rulers, and there will be wars and commotions.

Do you know what Josephus said?

He said that the Christians had fled before these events happened.

They left because Jesus told them this would happen.

What?

What does this mean for us?

I want to read Luke 21:24

Luke 21:24 NKJV

24 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.

That means that when the “Times of the Gentiles” is done, then the next part will come.

That’s the 2nd coming.

So, has the time of the gentiles come?

That’s a difficult question to answer.

In 1948, the new Israeli nation was founded.

In 1967, Jerusalem was reunited with the state of Israel.

Jerusalem is now controlled by the Jews, but a large portion is controlled by Palestinians.

So about the time I was born for the first time in 2000 years, the signs are saying that the coming is coming.

That’s exciting.

I don’t care how you flesh it all out, but Jesus could be coming any day.

Think about this:

We may not see death, but we may be reunited with Jesus in the air.

1 Corinthians 15:50–56 NKJV

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

Yesterday, while working, I was bitten or stung on the finger in my house.

It hurt. If fact everything hurts today.

But one day there will be no pain, That’s because we have heaven to gain!

Are you ready?

I am!