Day 103

Luke 21:25–38 (NIV)

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” ³⁷ Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, ³⁸ and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why do people believe the events Jesus describes will happen soon? Do we really know?

How could some of the events that Jesus describes happen in our day?

How does the “this generation” comment work since many generations have gone since Jesus said this statement in verse 32?

What is Jesus’ message to those believers who are around during these events?

Notes

now Jesus moves to end time events.

vs 25-26 they show calamity will come to the earth before Jesus comes back. The physical world will be in chaos. It makes me wonder if the events like the warming of the earth and the rising of the oceans are what are being predicted by Jesus. Could it be asteroids hitting the earth? We don't know the details but its is interesting to think how what some of the doomsayers say about the earth are also being predicted by Jesus. It would allow for those who don't believe in Jesus as the Christ to have a scientific explanation for what will happen.

vs 27-28 at such a time of disaster Jesus says that is when He comes back. There is a question of whether believers will experience all these times or whether Jesus' coming will take believers out of the world before such times happen.

I think it is clear that believers will be seeing at least some of these events based on the way Jesus states for us to look for His coming as these events happen. Believers at least have to be present to wait for Jesus' coming.

vs 29 31- Just as the fig leaves coming out means summer is coming so will the events Jesus describe mean that He is coming. The kingdom of God that started with Jesus coming to earth will finally take it full form.

vs 32- there is much speculation about what Jesus means by generation (can be translated race)

· Could mean race. In other words the Jewish people will not be wiped off the face of the earth. They will still be here when the end comes

· Could mean the idea of a new time period beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem. (Like the time of the Gentiles in verse 24)

· could mean that once the end times begin it will all happened within a generation.

· could mean that the destruction of Jerusalem will happen before this generation passes

vs 33 there will be a new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1) What has been corrupted by sin will be not just restored but completely made anew. Sin will have no place in it. Heaven in this case represents the spiritual world that is itself corrupted by Satan and demons. They, as well as unbelievers, will be banished from the new heaven and earth.

vs 34-36 Jesus once again hits one of His main points. Be READY!! (12:35-38)

What will happen will happen to everyone everywhere. Pray that you will it have to experience it (another point for believing that believers will be on earth during the calamity mentioned in vs 25-26)

vs 34 If you are around when this happens do not let the events destroy your witness. Don't let what is happening keep you from remembering what is important. Stand firm in your faith!

The Key is to be able to stand before Jesus at the judgment and be one of the invited (14:17-24, 13:24)

vs 37- 38 this verse shows Jesus was not in hiding, He was there in the temple every day. Anyone knew His schedule and where He went. Jesus was not scared about what was going to happen to Him. He was doing what He came to do to teach people about the way to God. The people were still on His side.