A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
P.O. Box 1447, Claypool, Az. 85532
520-425-8345 or 520-402-9134
Email: pastorjohn@gila.net
Date: 4-11-99
Sermon Number: 137
Text: Luke 20:8-19
Things to Come
Follow with me as I read our text for today. (Luke 21:6-19 NASB) "As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down." (The disciples were looking at the temple.) {7} And they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" And He said, "See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is at hand'; do not go after them. {9} "And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." {10} Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, {11} and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. {12} "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. {13} "IT WILL LEAD TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY." {14} "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; {15} for I will give you UTTERANCE AND WISDOM which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. {16} "But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, {17} and you will be hated by all on account of My name. {18} "Yet not a hair of your head will perish. {19} "By your endurance you will gain your lives."
The last time we looked at this chapter we were concerned with verses one through four. There Jesus, taking note of the activity in the temple, witnesses a poor widow putting all the money she had in the offering. He took that opportunity to teach a lesson on giving. Our text today begins by drawing our attention to the temple itself. This magnificent structure was unforgettable for at least three reasons. The first was its size, the second was its beauty, and the third was its purpose.
Its hard, if not impossible, to find accurate information on the size of the structure. Holman’s Bible Dictionary contains some helpful information. Here is a portion of one article. "Herod’s grandiose building projects included the construction of an entirely new, gold-covered temple on an enormous platform covering 169,000 square yards. The scale and style of the Temple, as of the other buildings of Herodian conception, were meant to make a visual statement to Rome about the importance of the Jewish kingdom." John Calvin in his commentary on the Gospel of Luke said this. "It is no wonder that the spectacle of the temple held the disciples of Christ in astonishment. The greatness, expense and size of the building is revealed by the fact that Herod kept ten-thousand men employed in its construction for eight years." Josephus tells us that the stones of which the temple was made measured an astonishing twenty-two feet long, eighteen feet high, and twelve feet thick. The estimated weight of such a stone is one-hundred eighty tons. Could such a building ever be thrown down? Jesus declared it could and would be reduced to rubble.
An eye witness description by Josephus will help flesh out our vision of the structure. Listen as he describes its impressive beauty. "The exterior of the building lacked nothing that could astonish either the soul or the eyes. The exterior was covered on every side with massive plates of gold, the sun had no sooner risen than it would reflect so fiery a flash that those straining to look at it were forced to avert their eyes as from the solar rays. To approaching strangers it often appeared from a distance like a snow clad mountain, the reason being that whatever was not overlaid with gold was purist white marble." The Jewish Rabbis often made this comment, "He who has not seen Jerusalem and her splendor has never in his life seen a desirable city. He who has not seen the temple in its full construction has never in his life seen a glorious building." The building was impressive because of its beauty.
The building was also impressive because of its purpose. Of course it was a place of worship and learning for the followers of Judaism. But it went beyond that. In the book of Isaiah we find a few lines that expand the purpose of the temple to include all men. (Isaiah 56:6-7 NASB) {6} "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; {7} Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in MY HOUSE OF PRAYER. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; FOR MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE PEOPLES."
This incredibly huge, beautiful, purposeful and seemingly indestructible building symbolized many things to the Jew. It was theirs, exclusively and it would always be there, wouldn’t it? Not according to Jesus. He said in verse six that there would come a day when there will not be one stone left upon another but that the entire temple would be thrown down. His disciples are alarmed how could such a thing come to pass and when will it take place.
(Luke 21:8-11 NASB) {7} And they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" (Christ’s answer has to do with what is not a sign.) {8} And He said, "See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is at hand'; do not go after them." In other words, don’t listen to anyone who identifies themselves as the Christ. This one is not too alarming to us. For being students of the scriptures we know that Jesus will return in the clouds for ALL to see. He will not return to one part of the earth so that people in another part will not be able to see Him. All will know when Jesus comes back. So, when you hear of Jesus having arrived somewhere it is simply not true. But His second warning has to do with something that does get Christians in trouble. Jesus says "Don’t be misled or alarmed by anyone who says, "The time is at hand!" Meaning, don’t listen to anyone who tells you that the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, is here, now, or on January 1, 2000 at 12:01 a.m.. A minister in our own community has told his parishioners this very thing. Jesus says don’t give these people the time of day. Why? The answer comes from the words of Jesus found in another place. (Mark 13:26-33 NASB) "And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. {27} "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth, to the farthest end of heaven. . . . {32} "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. {33} "Take heed, (Pay attention to what I am telling you!) keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is." So don’t let anyone mislead or distract you from what you should really be concerned about by claiming to know when Jesus will return. No one knows or can know. Jesus continues to speak of events that are not signs of the imminent return of Christ. {9} "And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but THE END DOES NOT FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY." {10} Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, {11} and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." Each of these things move us closer to the second coming but they DO NOT TELL US WHEN IT WILL BE.
At the time these words were spoken the Roman Empire had enjoyed a long period of peace. But forty years later Rome was in such political turmoil that she had four emperor’s in one year. The nation was racked with violent revolts and insurrections but, says Jesus, these are not signs that indicate that the end has come. So Jesus adds, "do not panic, for these things must happen before my second return." A look back through time will reveal that wars and rumors of wars did not cease with the destruction of Jerusalem. Throughout the centuries the prophecy of Jesus continues to be fulfilled. "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Uninformed Christians have always given credence to "date-fixers" who take some war or cataclysmic event as "the" sign of the coming of Christ. But what happens every time when the date rolls around? Nothing, nothing at all.
One author counted 300 wars in Europe during the last three hundred years. These wars are increasing in intensity even today but when taken for signs that Jesus is "at the door" they are mistaken signs. For Jesus said, "Don’t pay attention to such things."
Jesus also speaks about great earthquakes, famines and pestilences. As was true with respect to other predicted events, so it is here. These disturbances are foreshadowings and portrayals of what will take place at the end of the age; but they are not to be taken as signs that the day has arrived. Not one of these events would give the disciples the right to make predictions about Jerusalem’s fall or the time of the second coming of Christ. The same is true today, we must not make too much of what we see happening around us. It is true that about the time of Jerusalem’s fall there were famines, pestilence, fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes in and around the Holy Land and Rome. Vesuvius erupted violently in the summer of A.D. 79, destroying Pompeii. One author counted no less than seven-hundred earthquakes great and small, which occurred in the nineteenth century. However these events did not indicate that the Lord was about to arrive.
In spite of the clear warning our Lord gave to his disciples, many present day church members are filled with admiration for the minister or evangelist whose sermon is about, "The signs of the times." This man will try to show his congregation that this terrible war, and that serious earthquake, devastating famine, threatening comet, or the year 2000, is the infallible "sign" of Christ’s imminent return. But Jesus says, "Know one knows but God."
Yes we are told that toward the end things such as Christ mentioned will intensify but never will we be able to tell when the end has come. So what do we do? We listen to the rest of Christ’s warning which, at least by implication, tells us what is to occupy our time while we wait for the Lord’s return.
(Luke 21:12-13 NASB) "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you (The disciples) and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. {13} "IT WILL LEAD TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY."
Many of the predictions mentioned, such as nation will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, great earthquakes, famines, and pestilence, have to do with every age leading up to Christ’ return. However, being handed over to synagogues was unique to the early disciples. For after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 the synagogue lost most of its persecuting power against Christians. But until then the Jewish leaders opposed the Christian church with deadly force. Paul was one of the agents of this persecution as you know. (Acts 9:1-2 NASB) Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, {2} and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 22:19 NASB) "And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in Thee."
After Paul’s conversion the shoe was on the other foot. He was tortured by the Jews as he had tortured others. "From the Jews five times I received 40 lashes less one." Paul’s words form II Corinthians 11:24.
As to kings and governors who figured in the persecution of the early church think of King Agrippa I, who killed James the son of Zebedee, brother of the apostle John. Think of Herod Agrippa II before whom Paul made his defense.
The thing to note is that this persecution would take place "for My names sake," says Jesus. Christians would be persecuted then and now because of their identification with Jesus. Which persecution would be a direct assault on Christ as well. This fact that was impressed on the mind and heart of Paul when Jesus said to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" Saul had never even met Jesus but he was persecuting Christians and that was the same as a direct attack against the Savior. So, before the second coming of Jesus the disciples of Christ’s day must be hauled into the Synagogues to be imprisoned, tortured, and or killed. Further all Christians in ages to come would experience much abuse from the hands of unbelievers. But even this would not mean that Jesus’ coming was imminent. What it does mean is that Christians in every age must be concerned about their day to day living. We must be prepared at all times to endure hardship for the sake of Christ. Whether it be war, earthquake, famine, pestilence, or personal persecution we must always be ready to let our light shine before men. For every trial in life is an opportunity for witness.
(Luke 21:13 NASB) "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony." I offer you one example to show how a tuff situation was treated properly so that a good testimony was set forth.
(Acts 16:13-33 NASB) "And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. . . {16} And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. {17} Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." {18} And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment. {19} But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, . . . {23} And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; {24} and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. {25} But about midnight PAUL AND SILAS WERE PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS OF PRAISE TO GOD, AND THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING TO THEM; {26} and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened. {27} And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. {28} But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" {29} And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas, {30} and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."
Here is a collection of things hard to bear. Imprisonment for the faith, beatings, chains, maybe hunger, and an earthquake. This is a perfect opportunity for whining. But Paul and Silas remembered that each and every trial in life is an opportunity for witness. They remembered that in the midst of every hardship we have a job to do. We must bear witness of our faith in Jesus and His grace to us. So, Paul and Silas decided to sing hymns of the faith all night. The result was that a man and the members of his household believed and were saved. What would you do in such a situation? What would you say to your persecutors? Jesus says don’t worry about the details. Just be ready to make the best of such an opportunity and I will be there to help. (Luke 21:14-15 NASB) "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; {15} for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute."
Things may get even more painful for some. For the people they know and love the most may be the cause of their suffering. (Luke 21:16-17 NASB) "But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, {17} and you will be hated by all on account of My name." Even so this translates into an opportunity for witness. Every trial is an opportunity to do and say the right thing with the Father’s glory in mind.
Finally there is a note of encouragement that, at first glance, sounds like a contradiction. (Luke 21:18-19 NASB) "Yet not a hair of your head will perish. {19} "By your endurance you will gain your lives." After saying "they will put some of you to death" how can Jesus, almost immediately, add, "but not a hair of your head will perish," verse eighteen? He can say this because in the first statement He speaks of one’s flesh and blood body and in the second He speaks of that which is eternal, the soul. They will put some of your bodies to death but you will not be harmed. Though millions of Christians have perished in the physical sense not one of them has perished in the spiritual sense and that is what matters. Fear not, says Jesus, the one who can kill the body. Rather, fear God who can destroy both body and soul. In the end it is always the soul that matters and there is no one who can harm your soul.
(John 10:27-30 NASB) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; {28} and I give eternal life to them, and they SHALL NEVER PERISH; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand."
The only thing necessary for you and I is that we persevere. We must remain faithful no matter how fierce the persecution may get to be. This endurance, by God’s strength and grace, is how we gain our lives. This endurance is how we will find ourselves saved in the end. For he who endures to the end will be saved. This is a phrase that comes form Matthew account of this same event.
(Matthew 24:7-13 NASB) "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. {8} "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. {9} "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. {10} "And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. {11} "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. {12} "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. {13} "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
This does not describe a salvation by works but rather a salvation that produces works or fruit. In this case it is the fruit of endurance. In other words, the truly saved will persevere to the end of their lives or to the second coming of Christ which ever comes first. Those who start out well but fall by the wayside will be lost. Why? Because they were never saved in the first place.
There are many profitable things in this lesson. But there are two that I would like you to take home with you today. One, remember the scripture that says, (Deuteronomy 29:29 NASB) "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us . . ." The timing of our Lord’s second return is a secret. Jesus Himself says only the Father knows. This ought to be enough for us. Let us spend our time dealing with the things that are revealed to us. Namely, hiding the word of God in our hearts so that we will be prepared to bear proper witness to our Lord’s love and grace when given opportunity.
The second thing to take home with you today is this. Every hardship in life is a God given opportunity to witness. Someone is always watching and listening to us. By God’s grace and strength let us determine to suffer well for the glory of God and the souls of the lost. Let us determine to leave the secret things to Him while occupying ourselves with the things revealed.