March 19, 2023
Arnie Guin, Lead Pastor
Luke: Good News for Everyone
Luke 21:5-24
“And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” –Luke 21:5-24
The Power of Prophecy
• “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet - I can count all my bones - they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” –Psalm 22:16-18
Jesus Tells of the Destruction of the Temple (vv. 5-9)
1. The warning to not place too much
• “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” –Luke 21:6
2. The warning to not be
• “And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them” –Luke 21:8
• Great Fire of London
• The Prophet Hen of Leeds
• 2012 Maya Apocalypse
3. The warning to not
• Luke 21:9 – “And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Tells of Calamities and Persecutions (vv. 10-19)
Three Realities
1.
• “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” –Luke 21:11
• “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” –Mark 13:24-25
2.
• “Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” –Luke 21:10
• “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 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 24:6-8
3.
• “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake” –Luke 21:12
• You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:16-17
Three Opportunities
1. The opportunity to
• Luke 21:13 – “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”
2. The opportunity to
• Luke 21:14-15 – “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”
3. The opportunity to
• Luke 21:18-19 – “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
• Jesus Tells of the Destruction of Jerusalem (vv. 20-24)