June 11 2025

Wednesday June 11

Luke 21:25-28 – Jesus Is Coming Again

25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Today, we will be looking at Luke 21:25-28. In this passage, Jesus continues to give His great prophetic message concerning future events to His disciples from the Mount of Olives as they overlook the city of Jerusalem. He's answering their question: what will the signs be of the end of the age, and when will that happen? Here, Jesus describes what we've already discussed as the great tribulation period, the seven years between the time of the church age, the rapture of the church, and the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth.

In verses 8-19, Jesus described some of the things that will happen in the seven-year tribulation. There will be great deception, great chaos internationally with wars and rumors of wars, great earthquakes in various places, along with famines and pestilences, and great persecution of the Jews and Christians alike. In verses 20-24, Jesus describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Luke's account refers not to a distant event to occur during the Tribulation, but to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the Roman army in 70 A.D., just forty years from that time that Jesus is explaining these events to His disciples (see Luke 19:41-44).

Now in verses 25-28, Jesus is revealing what will happen in the last three and half years of the Tribulation jus before He returns. Revelation 15-19 also describe in great detail the frightening judgment signs that God will send on the earth during the last half of the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). When these things occur, it will be evidence that the Lord's coming is drawing near. The image of "waves roaring" describes nations rising and falling like waves in a storm (Psalms 46:1-6; Revelation 17:15). It will be an awesome time, and the population of the earth will tremble with fear, but men will not repent of their sins and turn to God by faith (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9-11).

Matthew 24:29 informs us that the sun and moon will be darkened and the stars will fall (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15). Matthew 24:30 states that "the sign of the Son of man" will appear in' heaven. We do not know what this "sign" is, but it will produce fear among the nations of the earth. However, then Jesus Christ will appear, and every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). The nation of Israel will at last recognize their Messiah, repent, believe, and be saved (Zechariah 12:10-14; and see Mark 14:61-62).

These awesome signs will bring terror to the lost people of the world, but hope to those who have trusted the Lord during the Tribulation period (Revelation 7), for these believers know that the Lord's coming will be soon. Believers today look for the Savior, not signs. However, as we see "coming events casting their shadows," we believe that the Lord's return is near.

Christ's appearing will be sudden, glorious, and with great power (Luke 21:27). The image here is taken from Daniel 7:13-14, a messianic passage that must have been familiar to the disciples; "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”  In Acts 1:9-11, the angels promised that Jesus would return to earth in the same way He departed and He will (Revelation 1:7).

There are those who ignore and even ridicule the doctrine of the return of Christ. After all, the church has been waiting for the Lord for 2,000 years, and He has not returned yet! Peter answered that accusation in 2 Peter 3. He pointed out that God keeps His promises whether we believe them or not, and that God measures time differently from the way men measure it. Furthermore, the reason He waits is so that unsaved sinners may repent, be saved, and be ready when Jesus comes. While His seeming delay is a trial to the church, it is an opportunity for the lost.

Having answered the disciples’ questions concerning “the end of the age”, the Lord then "applied" the message to their hearts by giving them this closing admonition in verse 28: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Today, we should also be waiting, watching, and working! Jesus is coming again!!!!!!

God bless!