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: 4-18-99

Sermon Number: 138

Text: Luke 21:20-24

Jerusalem’s Destruction

We come again to the twenty-first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Last week we dealt with verses six through nineteen. There, Jesus spoke to his disciples about things to come. He began by telling them that the temple would one day be destroyed. The disciples ask what sign would precede such an awful event? Jesus spent a good deal of time talking about things that might be viewed as signs but were not. He warned them not to listen to anyone that claimed to be the Christ or that He had returned to some part of the earth unknown to them. He spoke of wars and rumors of wars. He predicted great earthquakes, famines, general terrors, and great signs from heaven. None of these things should be taken as THE sign that the time had come. Jesus then spoke to His disciples of a particular kind of persecution that they would have to endure. Some of them would be taken into the synagogues, put in prison, killed, and persecuted by the Jews. The hardest part of His prediction was the revelation that their closest relatives and loved ones would turn them over to the authorities. The second coming of Christ was also the subject of last weeks text and would be preceded by all of these events.

We know that as each day passes the second coming is nearer. But if Jesus is to be believed there are no signs that tell us exactly when that day might occur. The thing for us to do is to be ready at all times. This is the counsel found in 2 Peter 3:10-14 NASB.

"But the day of the Lord will come LIKE A THIEF, (without warning, fanfare, or announcement) in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (The judgement and the second coming of Christ are inseparable.) {11} Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (Since you know that Jesus is coming back unannounced to judge this wicked and redeem the saved what should occupy your mind and time? The pursuit of holiness, of course.) {12} looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! {13} But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. {14} Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, BE DILIGENT (make every effort) to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless . . ." In other words, we must not be concerned about secret things God has chosen to conceal, specifically the time of the second coming of Christ. Rather, we should be diligent in our faith so that when He does come. He will find us at peace with God, at peace with ourselves, at peace with our neighbor, spotless, and blameless by faith in Him.

The text we look at this morning insists that we think about God’s judgment of unbelievers. Those familiar with the old Testament scriptures know that Israel was warned many times to turn from her sin to live for God according to His law. God promised that judgment and destruction would come upon them if they did not repent. The records reveal that they were, by in large, unrepentant, so God brought unbelieving nations against Israel to destroy them or carry them off into captivity. Each of these occasions was a judgment from God, a fulfillment of His threats and promises. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was no different. It was God pouring out His wrath upon an obstinate and rebellious people, the Jews. The instrument of His wrath was the Roman army. But it was the hand of God which brought this awful destruction to pass.

Having told His disciples what DID NOT constitute a sign that the destruction of Jerusalem was going to occur immediately He now tells them when they can know for sure that the destruction had arrived. Let’s read our text for today.

(Luke 21:20-28 NASB) "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. (In other words, when the destruction begins you can know it has arrived.) {21} "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; {22} because these are DAYS OF VENGEANCE, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled." Exactly what was written in the Old Testament about Jerusalem’s destruction? There are many texts that could be considered. Lets look at just two.

(Leviticus 26:14-21 NASB) 'But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, {15} if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, {16} I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that shall waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you shall sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies shall eat it up. {17} 'And I will set My face against you so that you shall be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when no one is pursuing you."

(Deuteronomy 28:64-68 NASB) "Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known. {65} "And among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. . . . {68}. . . And there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer." In other words, no one will want you in the lands to which I will send you. This is what was written by the prophets and this is what was about to come to pass.

Jesus says that when this destruction begins those in the larger area of Judea must flee to the hills. Those within the city must get out. Third those outside the city must stay out. In other words, the only way to preserve oneself is to flee Jerusalem the instant the trouble begins. For God will not stay His hand of judgment. He will pour out His wrath as promised. Jesus continues with the description of that horrible day.

{23} "Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, {24} and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Woe to those who are with child and who nurse young children. Why? Because such people would not be able to flee fast enough to escape the destruction. Those who did not escape, men, women, boys, girls, and babies, would fall by the sword or be led captive into many different nations.

Some details as to what happened just before and during the actual destruction of Jerusalem are brought to our attention by William Hendricksen in his commentary on Luke. He wrote, "Even several years before the outbreak of the Jewish war Roman rule was becoming more oppressive than ever. Action produced reaction, with a result that Jewish hatred of their heathen oppressors rose to the point of organized rebellion. By no means was every Jew in sympathy with this movement, but after a while the warnings of the moderates were drowned out by the voices of the zealots. Emperor Nero sent his general to Galilee and soon the zealots were quieted. However, due to the forced return to Rome of this general and Nero’s suicide, the conquest of Galilee was short-lived. The Jews took advantage of the situation, so that the rebellion began to make some headway again. Then Titus, who himself later became Emperor, was sent to Jerusalem with a large army.

The siege began in April of the year 70 A.D. while Jerusalem was still filled with Passover Pilgrims. For the terror that ensued one should read Josephus, "The Jewish Wars." After a siege of about five months the Romans finally overwhelmed the entire city. According to Josephus the total number of prisoners taken throughout the entire war was 97,000 while one million one-hundred thousand perished during the siege.

The war, he continues, was in-excusably cruel. Not only was the temple given up to the flames but the entire city, except three towers and a portion of the western wall, was completely destroyed. By the thousands aged man, women, regardless of their physical condition, and even little children were murdered. Some of the prisoners were subsequently thrown to the wild beasts, others were sold into slavery "into all the nations," while a select number of the strongest and best looking captives were made to take part in the triumphal procession which Rome gave to the conquerors, and which Josephus describes in such elaborate detail, as if the terrible slaughter were really something to be proud of. For many years no Jew was allowed to reside in or even to visit Jerusalem, which was made a pagan city." Behold the terrible consequences of sin. Behold the judgement of God.

How long would the pagan’s control of Jerusalem continue? The answer is found in the latter part of verse twenty-four which says this, "and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." What did Jesus mean by this? You cannot understand the times of the Gentiles without being aware of the times of the Jews that preceded it. So lets talk about that for a moment.

The times of the Jews began with the calling of Abraham and extended to the days of Christ. During that vast span of time God dealt primarily with one nation on earth. He gave the Jews His protection, His law, His ordinances, His Tabernacle, the sacrifices, and His promises. But in the new Testament we discover God turning FROM the Jews TO the Gentiles. Things were about to change dramatically. Consider the words of Acts 13:46-48 NASB. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; (God dealt with the Jews before He dealt with any other nation. His law and the Gospel came to them first. However, the vast majority of them refused God’s mercy.) since you repudiate it, (deny and reject the word or God, the gospel message we have brought to you) and JUDGE YOURSELVES unworthy of eternal life, behold, WE ARE TURNING TO THE GENTILES. (No longer would the Jews be the focus of ministry. Now, God’s servants would take the gospel to all kinds of people, the Gentiles.) And {47} "For thus the Lord has commanded us, 'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’" {48} And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and AS MANY AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE (the elect among them) BELIEVED."

This was the beginning of the, "times of the Gentiles." On the human side this was done because of the obstinance and rebellion of the Jewish nation. On the divine side it was done because God had a number of people He intended to save out of every nation under the Sun, not just Israel. This is made clear in John 10:14-16 NASB.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, {15} even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. {16} "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; ("This fold" refers to the saved in Israel. The "other sheep" are the lost elect among the Gentiles.) I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock (with the flock that is made up of Jewish Christians) with one shepherd." In other words, Jesus came to save His people from their sin. Many of the sheep are found among the Jews. However, not all of God’s elect people are Jews, in fact, the vast majority of them are Gentiles. Jesus must bring them also, they shall hear His voice, and they shall become one flock with one Shepherd. God is now concerned with saving the elect Gentiles on earth, the time of the Jews has come and gone. God’s emphasis is no longer on the physical nation Israel, that time has passed. God’s turning from the Jews to the Gentiles is discussed further in Romans eleven.

(Romans 11:1-26 NASB "I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? (He has not rejected them to the extent no Jew will ever be saved has He?) May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. {2} God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God AGAINST Israel? {3} "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED THY PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN THINE ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." {4} But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." (That is, there were seven thousand Jews in Israel who had real saving faith in God. Compare this seven thousand to the several million that made up the nation and you will see why the whole nation is often said to be unbelieving. Only a small remnant were true worshipers of God. Had things changed in Paul’s day? No, for he says . .) {5} In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. (The phrase, "according to God’s gracious choice," refers to God’s election unto salvation. In Paul’s day as is true in every age there is a remnant of Jews who will be saved out of the nation of Israel.) . . . {7} . . . those who were chosen (elected to salvation by God) obtained it, and THE REST WERE HARDENED; {8} just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." {9} And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. {10} "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER." . . . {11} I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? (so that no Jews will ever be saved) May it never be! . . . . {25} For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a PARTIAL hardening has happened to Israel (Remember, not every Jew is hard toward Christ. The remnant, the elect unto salvation, will be saved. The Jewish rebellion is only partial. Jews are being saved all the time. But the vast majority of those being saved today are Gentiles. Because this is the time of the Gentiles. This scenario will continue until all the Gentiles God intends to save are, in fact, saved. Or, as Paul puts it . .) until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; {26} and thus all Israel will be saved."

This last statement has led many to wrong conclusions about the nation Israel. So we need to be careful here. As we try to determine what this means we must remember to look beyond physical Israel to the spiritual nation of Israel. This spiritual nation is not made up of Jews only but of the saved elect from every nation under the sun. All of these, without exception, will be saved. "All Israel will be saved." Now let me try to explain how we move from the physical nation to the spiritual. We begin with Romans 9:1-5 NASB. Here Paul laments the fact that most of his fellow Jews are not being saved. One can hear the sorrow and love in his heart. "I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, {2} that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. {3} For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, (I would be willing to forfeit my salvation if it would bring about the salvation of . . ) my kinsmen according to the flesh, {4} who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, {5} whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. These words describe the privileges that Israel enjoyed during. "the times of the Jews." Although Paul is moved emotionally when he thinks about how many of his countrymen will be lost he understands that God has not failed in any way. FOR GOD’S PROMISES WERE NOT MADE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE PHYSICAL NATION OF ISRAEL BUT TO THE SPIRITUAL NATION WITHIN THE PHYSICAL ONE, THE ELECT REMNANT. He explains.

Romans 9:6-8 NASB."But it is not as though the word of God has failed. (Paul understands that this is a bit confusing. Were not promises made to Israel? Yes they were. Why then has God rejected Israel and gone back on His promise? He hasn’t. For the promises were to spiritual Israel. If you don’t make that distinction you are always going to come to the wrong conclusion. Listen to the rest of this statement.) For they are NOT ALL ISRAEL WHO ARE DESCENDED FROM ISRAEL; {7} neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." {8} That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." Paul says it again in Galatians 3:6-8 NASB. "Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. {7} Therefore, BE SURE that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham." Being a flesh and blood Jew does not make one a son of Abraham in the most important sense. True, those who share his blood are Jews. But those who share his faith are saved! They are the true and eternal Israel of God. These are the real offspring of Abraham. Every member of this spiritual nation will be saved. So when we read the statement, "Thus all Israel will be saved," we understand that it refers to the true sons of Abraham, the true Israel of God, all believers in Jesus whether Jews or Gentiles. Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"

The times of the Jews are past. The end was signified by many things not the least of which was the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the people. The times of the Gentiles has begun. This age of grace will continue until God has saved the last person He intends to save and then Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead and to redeem His blood bought people.

The lessons of the day are these.

1. God is faithful to His promises both of wrath and blessing. If you have any doubt of this just look at Israel. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. But that is just what will happen to every person who leaves this life without trusting in Christ for salvation. The destruction of Israel was predicted in scripture and recorded in history as a warning to all. God makes no idle threats. (Acts 17:30-31 NASB) "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, {31} because He has FIXED A DAY in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." It is written ladies and gentlemen and it will come to pass. On that day the unbelieving will receive their reward. (Revelation 21:8 NASB) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." God makes no idle threats.

2. But we also learn from our text that there is a way to escape. We must flee from the wrath to come. But where can we go? The mountains will not save us from the fiery gaze of God. Where can one find refuge? In the God of wrath himself, of course. Hear the word of the Lord. (Psalms 34:22 NASB) "The LORD redeems the soul of His servants; And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned." But how does one find refuge in God? By coming to Him for mercy through His Son, the Savior, Jesus Christ. And what does it mean to come to Christ? It means that you turn from any hope of being accepted by God on the basis of your own goodness. It means that you cast aside all hope of slipping by in the judgement. It means that you face your sin and honestly confess that to Jesus. It means that you trust in His goodness and righteousness for acceptance with God. The one who has come to Christ for salvation has turned from all other hope and says this.

Upon a life I did not live,

Upon a death I did not die,

Another’s life, another’s death,

I trust my whole eternity.

This is taking refuge in Jesus and by doing so you find refuge from the wrath of God due you for sin. There is no other way to escape the coming judgement. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.