June 08 2025

Sunday June 08

Luke 21:8-19 – One Interpretation, Many Applications

8 And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 10 Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

We're continuing in Luke chapter 21, looking at verses 8-19. Jesus has been asked by his disciples, as they're sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking the beautiful city of Jerusalem and the great temple that Herod built. They asked because Jesus just said, "There will not be one stone left upon another of this temple that shall not be thrown down." In verse 7, they said, "Wow, when is that going to happen? When will these things begin to happen that you're talking about, and what will be the end of the age?"

I need to remind you, as we look at this passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish group of people, His disciples, prophesying about the Jewish nation's future. We need to understand that Scripture has only one interpretation but many applications. There are things in this passage that you and I can apply to the church age. I was sharing yesterday with my son-in-law, Chris, in Roanoke, Virginia, and as you can see in the video chat, we're back in Sneads Ferry. I have a makeshift studio because we have company here with our grandchildren—about six or seven grandchildren with us for a few days. It's a makeshift studio here in my dining room, and I hope you can adjust to it as I'm trying to.

As we said yesterday to our son-in-law, there are three agendas that God seems to have in Scripture for three different groups of people. First, there's the Jewish nation, and God has a specific agenda for them, their purpose, and their future. Then there are the Gentile nations, which include you and me—anybody that's not a Jew—and these are the nations that make up the different people groups of the world. Then, of course, in this age, beginning at Pentecost, we have the Church, the body of Jesus Christ. God has an agenda for the church.

It's really important, as you look at Scripture, that you make the proper interpretation and applications concerning each of these groups. The Church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles, and we become a part of that group, even though, at the same time, God's agenda for the Jewish nation will be fulfilled.

We believe the next thing on God's agenda is the rapture, the catching up of the church, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians chapter 15:50-58, and other passages of Scripture. We are caught up to heaven before the tribulation begins. Shortly after the rapture, when the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel, the seven-year tribulation begins to take place. That's the seven years prophesied in Daniel's 70th week. We see that just around the corner too.

When the Bible speaks of the second coming of Christ, it's speaking of His coming at the end of the tribulation in great power and glory, bringing us, His church, his bride, His saints, with Him. He throws the devil into the abyss for a thousand years and the Antichrist and the false prophet into the fiery pit, the lake of fire, as the Bible says. Then we rule and reign with Christ for a thousand years on the earth (Revelation 19-20).

That's God's agenda for both the Jewish nation and the tribulation period, preparing them for the end of that period when they will see Him whom they have pierced and receive him, as prophesied in Zechariah 12:10 and Revelation 1:7. Jesus is speaking here in this passage of Luke 21, particularly about the tribulation period, the agenda for the Jews, the time of Jacob's trouble, as we see in Old Testament and New Testament scripture.

As you read this passage, remember one interpretation, mainly for the Jewish nation, but many applications for us because, before Jesus comes again at His second coming, seven years earlier, He comes for His church.

My friend, we need to be looking up because these things are beginning to happen. Jesus is coming again. He said, "If I go away, I will come again" (John 14:3).  And Jesus always keeps His promises.

God bless!