Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20100526.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Luke: Jesus, The Son Of Man For All Mankind
Part LXVI: Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Prophecy Of The End Times
(Luke 21:5-28)
  1. Introduction
    1. If Jesus is the true Creator God's true Savior of the world, He should not only have a clear view of the end times God plans to bring on the world, but we should expect Him to express that view in His life.
    2. Such was the case as reported in Luke 21:5-28. We view His words there for our insight and edification:
  2. Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Prophecy Of The End Times, Luke 21:5-28.
    1. After fending off the efforts of Jerusalem's religious leaders to catch Him in error in His teaching in rebellion against God (Luke 20:1-47, Jesus reacted to the comments made by some who marveled at the construction of the temple, giving a foreboding prediction of the temple's destruction, Luke 21:5-6.
    2. That reaction should have the overtone of judgment on Israel for rejecting Him as Messiah, Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Indeed, as we view Christ's words here, we are guided by recalling the nature of those future events as they address this burden of judgment on Israel for rejecting her Messiah, Christ, Luke 21:8-36:
      1. Both before Jersualem's A. D. 70 fall and in the start of the Great Tribulation after the rapture of the Church, believers in Israel were to avoid false Messiahs, and know wars and revolts would arise as the time of trouble began, Luke 21:8-9. This fits the Zechariah 11:1-14 prediction of Christ's rejection followed by God's letting antichrist arrive to punish Israel for this rejection, Zechariah 11:15-17!
      2. Especially in the Great Tribulation, many nations will go to war on a large scale, and huge earthquakes, famines and epidemics would occur with great, fearful signs in the heavens, Luke 21:10-11.
      3. However, before these stronger troubles arose, believers in Jesus would suffer for their faith: they would be captured and forced to appear before rulers, but were to rely on God to answer as God would use these opportunities to testify through them of His power and truth, Luke 21:12-15.
      4. Believers would be betrayed and hated even of relatives and friends (Luke 21:16-17), but they were to be faithfully patient for God's help to be saved through the whole time, Luke 21:18-19. This subject is introduced in Zechariah 11:16 that describes antichrist's terrible treatment of Jews in the Tribulation!
      5. Upon Jerusalem's being surrounded by invading armies, both before the A. D. 70 fall and in the end of the Tribulation, believers were to flee to the mountains, for the end was near, Luke 21:20-22.
      6. Especially in the Great Tribulation, the trouble would be very difficult for those with child, Luke 21:23. Jerusalem would be destroyed, many Jews would be slain and led captive, and the city would be trodden under by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles (that began under Nebuchadnezzar and ends with antichrist, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Lk. 21:24) were fulfilled, Luke 21:24. Terrifying signs would appear in the heavens until Christ would be seen returning to the earth, Luke 21:25-27.
      7. That was the sign for believers to be encouraged as their deliverance was near, Luke 21:28. Indeed, Zechariah 12:1-9 predicts God will turn what seems to be certain doom into great victory for Israel!
      8. Zechariah 12:10-13:9 coincides with this description to tell of Israel's repentance and cleansing from sin in accepting Jesus as Messiah, and the Second Coming of Christ is predicted in Zechariah 14:1-8.
      9. The Messianic Kingdom is thereupon established in Zechariah 14:9-21.
Lesson: Jesus revealed that times of great trouble were coming upon Israel for her rejection of Him as the Messiah. However, she would be saved in the end as Christ returned to save her when she repented.

Application: (1) May we believe that Jesus is the true God's true Son and Messiah to have eternal life (John 20:31) that we not experience God's severe temporal [or eternal] punishment! (2) May we as believers apply the PRINCIPLES of handling troublesome times in our era of history that Jesus taught, for what is taught for that Great Tribulation era will work for our "easier" times: thus, (a) may we not heed false religious leaders; (b) may we not become upset at turmoil in human history; (c) may we wait on Christ for the power and wisdom to answer those who persecute us without preplanning our answers in our own wisdom, all so God can bring glory to Himself in our lives, and (d) may we trust God as events look grim, for He often delivers believers just when things turn from bad to wors e! (Heb. 4:16)