We'recontinuing in Luke chapter 21, looking at verses 8-19. Jesus has been asked byhis disciples, as they're sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking thebeautiful city of Jerusalem and the great temple that Herod built. They askedbecause Jesus just said, "There will not be one stone left upon another ofthis temple that shall not be thrown down." In verse 7, they said,"Wow, when is that going to happen? When will these things begin to happenthat you're talking about, and what will be the end of the age?"
Ineed to remind you, as we look at this passage of Scripture, Jesus is speakingto a Jewish group of people, His disciples, prophesying about the Jewishnation's future. We need to understand that Scripture has only oneinterpretation but many applications. There are things in this passage thatyou and I can apply to the church age. I was sharing yesterday with myson-in-law, Chris, in Roanoke, Virginia, and as you can see in the video chat,we're back in Sneads Ferry. I have a makeshift studio because we have companyhere with our grandchildren—about six or seven grandchildren with us for a fewdays. It's a makeshift studio here in my dining room, and I hope you can adjustto it as I'm trying to.
Aswe said yesterday to our son-in-law, there are three agendas that God seems tohave in Scripture for three different groups of people. First, there's theJewish nation, and God has a specific agenda for them, their purpose, and theirfuture. Then there are the Gentile nations, which include you and me—anybodythat's not a Jew—and these are the nations that make up the different peoplegroups of the world. Then, of course, in this age, beginning at Pentecost, wehave the Church, the body of Jesus Christ. God has an agenda for the church.
It'sreally important, as you look at Scripture, that you make the proper interpretationand applications concerning each of these groups. The Church is made up of bothJews and Gentiles, and we become a part of that group, even though, at the sametime, God's agenda for the Jewish nation will be fulfilled.
Webelieve the next thing on God's agenda is the rapture, the catching up of thechurch, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians chapter 15:50-58,and other passages of Scripture. We are caught up to heaven before thetribulation begins. Shortly after the rapture, when the Antichrist signs apeace treaty with Israel, the seven-year tribulation begins to take place.That's the seven years prophesied in Daniel's 70th week. We see that justaround the corner too.
Whenthe Bible speaks of the second coming of Christ, it's speaking of His coming atthe end of the tribulation in great power and glory, bringing us, His church,his bride, His saints, with Him. He throws the devil into the abyss for athousand years and the Antichrist and the false prophet into the fiery pit, thelake of fire, as the Bible says. Then we rule and reign with Christ for athousand years on the earth (Revelation 19-20).
That'sGod's agenda for both the Jewish nation and the tribulation period, preparingthem for the end of that period when they will see Him whom they have piercedand receive him, as prophesied in Zechariah 12:10 and Revelation 1:7. Jesus isspeaking here in this passage of Luke 21, particularly about the tribulationperiod, the agenda for the Jews, the time of Jacob's trouble, as we see in OldTestament and New Testament scripture.
Asyou read this passage, remember one interpretation, mainly for the Jewishnation, but many applications for us because, before Jesus comes again at Hissecond coming, seven years earlier, He comes for His church.
Myfriend, we need to be looking up because these things are beginning to happen.Jesus is coming again. He said, "If I go away, I will come again" (John14:3). And Jesus always keeps Hispromises.
