The End Times (2)
The End Times (2)
I just learned about the death of a young man from my village that graduated from medical school last year and was doing a compulsory National Youth Service in Nigeria (like the American Peace Corp). In his early twenties, this young man was full of life and a promising future in everyone’s eyes. Unfortunately, his “world” and life here on earth has come to an end. May the Lord comfort his family. Amen. This is a “personal” end time and we will all reach there if Christ does not return while we are still living here on earth.
In Luke 21, Jesus talks about two end times. Last week we looked at one of them namely the end of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. This time we will look at the other end time predicted by Jesus namely His return, otherwise known as the end of this world. We noted last week that Jesus’ first prediction has come to pass. Jerusalem of then and the temple were destroyed in A.D 70 by the Romans. The fact that the first prediction came to pass gives me every confidence that the second one must surely come to pass. Jesus Christ is certainly returning again for His Church. It is something that should excite every believer in Christ but it is also a doomsday for those that do not believe. What did Jesus teach us about the end of this world and what does He want us to be doing in light of it?
Luke 21: 25-38
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. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32"I tell you the truth, this generation[b] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven 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. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be 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."
37Each 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, 38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Note that this chapter of Luke is in apocalyptic language like the book of Revelation. Some of what is said here are symbolic. However, there are things we must know and understand about the end. First, the exact time is unknown to any human and not even the angels. There is no need to make prediction or listen to anyone who makes such prediction.
2. There will be signs but the signs by themselves do not constitute the end – earthquakes, wars, famine and other calamities. There will also be persecution of the saints of God; it happened then and it is also happening now. Jesus warns us not to be surprised of persecutions.
3. The signs of his coming should encourage us because Jesus says that we should” look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” So look up and lift up your head regardless of what is happening around you.
4. In the Matthew 24 account, Jesus said. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come”, v.14. So the complete preaching of the gospel (which only God knows when it is complete) will usher in the end. It sounds like we have some work to do in this area of preaching Christ the savior to the world.
5. One thing is for sure. No one living or dead will mistake that day of his coming. “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”. Luke 21:27. Are you excited?
6. So what should we be doing in the time being? We must share our Jesus with the world as noted above. We have other responsibilities too. We are to “watch and not be deceived’ v.8; We must be patient in tough times, v.19; We must take heed, “lest our hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, v.34; finally, we must “watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.”, v.36. You know we have no legs of our own to stand before Christ. I thank God we will stand on his account and not on our own righteousness. This is the good news (the gospel) that we must share with others. Do you have someone in mind? Then tell him/her.
7. The alternative of standing before God on ones merit is terrifying and Jesus says, men’s hearts will be “failing them from fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” , v. 26. The best gift we can give any human being is to invite them to stand before God on Jesus’ merit. Let’s give the gift of life to others who are yet to believe in Jesus. I don’t know if the young man I mentioned above had faith in Christ. I hope he did but if not, then that is the tragedy of his death.
In these hard economic times, one of Jesus’ warnings is so relevant to all of us. Jesus tells us, “don’t be weighed down with cares (anxieties) of this life”. What are these? They are the bills to pay and the everyday grind of life. If we don’t pause and catch ourselves, these things will consume us and we will not have time for anyone else even to share the good news of the gospel. We are to trust God for all things. What is weighing you down? “Since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses (the saints of old), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrew 12:15. Who are you looking unto; your employer or business?
Life is a race. Let’s run it to the end of time and meet our savior. Let’s see each other at the end in Jesus’ presence. Christ is coming back. Come Lord Jesus, come! Amen.
I just learned about the death of a young man from my village that graduated from medical school last year and was doing a compulsory National Youth Service in Nigeria (like the American Peace Corp). In his early twenties, this young man was full of life and a promising future in everyone’s eyes. Unfortunately, his “world” and life here on earth has come to an end. May the Lord comfort his family. Amen. This is a “personal” end time and we will all reach there if Christ does not return while we are still living here on earth.
In Luke 21, Jesus talks about two end times. Last week we looked at one of them namely the end of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. This time we will look at the other end time predicted by Jesus namely His return, otherwise known as the end of this world. We noted last week that Jesus’ first prediction has come to pass. Jerusalem of then and the temple were destroyed in A.D 70 by the Romans. The fact that the first prediction came to pass gives me every confidence that the second one must surely come to pass. Jesus Christ is certainly returning again for His Church. It is something that should excite every believer in Christ but it is also a doomsday for those that do not believe. What did Jesus teach us about the end of this world and what does He want us to be doing in light of it?
Luke 21: 25-38
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. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32"I tell you the truth, this generation[b] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven 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. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be 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."
37Each 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, 38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Note that this chapter of Luke is in apocalyptic language like the book of Revelation. Some of what is said here are symbolic. However, there are things we must know and understand about the end. First, the exact time is unknown to any human and not even the angels. There is no need to make prediction or listen to anyone who makes such prediction.
2. There will be signs but the signs by themselves do not constitute the end – earthquakes, wars, famine and other calamities. There will also be persecution of the saints of God; it happened then and it is also happening now. Jesus warns us not to be surprised of persecutions.
3. The signs of his coming should encourage us because Jesus says that we should” look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” So look up and lift up your head regardless of what is happening around you.
4. In the Matthew 24 account, Jesus said. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come”, v.14. So the complete preaching of the gospel (which only God knows when it is complete) will usher in the end. It sounds like we have some work to do in this area of preaching Christ the savior to the world.
5. One thing is for sure. No one living or dead will mistake that day of his coming. “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”. Luke 21:27. Are you excited?
6. So what should we be doing in the time being? We must share our Jesus with the world as noted above. We have other responsibilities too. We are to “watch and not be deceived’ v.8; We must be patient in tough times, v.19; We must take heed, “lest our hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, v.34; finally, we must “watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.”, v.36. You know we have no legs of our own to stand before Christ. I thank God we will stand on his account and not on our own righteousness. This is the good news (the gospel) that we must share with others. Do you have someone in mind? Then tell him/her.
7. The alternative of standing before God on ones merit is terrifying and Jesus says, men’s hearts will be “failing them from fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” , v. 26. The best gift we can give any human being is to invite them to stand before God on Jesus’ merit. Let’s give the gift of life to others who are yet to believe in Jesus. I don’t know if the young man I mentioned above had faith in Christ. I hope he did but if not, then that is the tragedy of his death.
In these hard economic times, one of Jesus’ warnings is so relevant to all of us. Jesus tells us, “don’t be weighed down with cares (anxieties) of this life”. What are these? They are the bills to pay and the everyday grind of life. If we don’t pause and catch ourselves, these things will consume us and we will not have time for anyone else even to share the good news of the gospel. We are to trust God for all things. What is weighing you down? “Since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses (the saints of old), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrew 12:15. Who are you looking unto; your employer or business?
Life is a race. Let’s run it to the end of time and meet our savior. Let’s see each other at the end in Jesus’ presence. Christ is coming back. Come Lord Jesus, come! Amen.
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