Luke 21:5-32 "The End of the World pt 1"
The disciples ask Jesus a question and He gives them a pretty long answer—34 verses all in red ink. I’m going to have to break it into two parts even though it’s really all one teaching by Jesus. I figured it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we tackled it in two sermons, especially since He’s talking about the end of the world.
One question up front: If one day, all of a sudden, the sky went completely cataclysmic and weird with the sun looking like it was going to explode—I mean, it looks like the end of the world—what would you do? Run and hide? Hug your kids? Get in the bathtub with a mattress over you and open that 50 year scotch you’ve been saving?
We’re going through the Gospel of Luke line by line. We’re in chapter 21.
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Luke 21:5-6
The temple was the heart of Jewish worship—especially during Passover when everyone traveled to Jerusalem for the great festival. Jesus had already told them the temple was going to be destroyed, He’s just reminding them about what He said. He’s been teaching all day and as they got ready to leave for the night, a few of the disciples were saying the temple was pretty magnificent—it’s hard to imagine someone just tearing it down. What a waste! Jesus is like, “Well, you should take some selfies because its days are numbered.”
So, they leave the city and go back to the Mount of Olives. They spent the days in the temple teaching but each evening they went to their camp near the Garden of Gethsemane which had a spectacular view of the temple and the city.
Maybe they had some dinner, sitting there chilling, that’s when they got up the nerve to ask a question—they had probably been talking about Jesus’ ominous words about the destruction of the temple all day.
And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” Luke 21:7
We, the readers of the Gospel of Luke, we know what’s coming: the cross, the resurrection—all that stuff. But they’re still in the middle of the story, following Jesus around, listening to Him teach on all kinds of things. So they ask…
“When will the temple and Jerusalem be destroyed? Will we get a heads-up?”
They don’t know what we know. That Jesus is about to die, rise from the dead, hang around for 40 days and then fly up into heaven to rule and reign at the right hand of God the Father. They don’t have the same perspective we do.
Jesus knows things are about to get really weird, so before He answers their question, He thinks about after He’s gone, warns them not to follow people who pretend to speak for Him. People who act like they have it all figured out. After Jesus went back to heaven, there was a copycat movement. There were a bunch of people who stepped up and were like, “Nevermind about that Jesus guy—I’m the real Messiah!” “No, I am!” “No, me!” Some of them even got some followers.
And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. Luke 21:8
So, that is what happened, and it’s been that way for two thousand years. False teachers, contradicting the words of Jesus, setting themselves up as the Big Cheese, the one with the real truth. People who act like they have this whole end of the world thing all figured out—sometimes right down to the date and time. Sell books to scare people. Explain all the mysteries of the apocalypse and Revelation. They say things like, “Look at the news! I can explain it all! Everything is a sign that the end is coming! All you need is my secret decoder ring. Only $19.95 while supplies last.”
That’s funny. What did Jesus say? “When people say, “The time is at hand! Do not go after them.” Don’t follow them. But the disciples have asked Him a question, they want to know when the end of the world is going to happen…
And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:9-11
Jesus says that’s just life on planet Earth. This is what your faith is for, people! Do not be terrified.” These things will continue to happen all the way up to the end.
Like when Westly said to Buttercup, “Life is pain Highness, anyone who says otherwise is selling something.” The Gospel according to The Princess Bride. He was pretty much quoting Jesus, “In this world there will be trouble.”
And contrary to all the prosperity preachers and people who think Christians get a pass from suffering in this life…
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Luke 21:12-13
Following Jesus is not for cowards. Everything in this world wants to silence you, get you to give up on your faith, get you to deny Jesus and listen to them instead—be afraid of the world, the flesh, the devil.
For the disciples and early followers of Jesus, they had some tough times ahead. They were going to be arrested and tried as enemies of the state.
Jesus says this would be their opportunity to bear witness.
“Witness” is an interesting word. We think of it as testifying, like in court. Or maybe “witnessing” like when we share our faith with someone. The word is a little stronger than that.
The Greek word for “witness” is martyrion. It’s where we get our word “martyr.” It means to solemnly assert something, offering firsthand authentication of a fact; often concerning grave or important matters.
What Jesus actually says here is more like, “This will be your opportunity to give your life as a testimony of your firsthand authentication of your faith in Me.”
Kinda heavy. It was true for almost every one of them—and even for us, it’s going to be asked of all of us in one way or another.
So, what should we say when we’re put in the position to bear witness to our faith in Jesus—when someone is hostile to what we believe?
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Luke 21:14-15
Jesus says He’ll give us the words to say. Trust in Him. The martyrdom of Stephen in the 7th chapter of Acts is a perfect example. A very powerful sermon by a guy who was pretty much their Adan.
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. Luke 21:16-17
Strangest pep talk ever. “Who wants to be a Christian? Who wants to follow Jesus! Who wants to be kicked out of your family and stoned to death?”
The followers of Jesus were almost all Jews at that time. All their family and friends who rejected Jesus were going to do everything in their power to get them to deny Jesus and go back to the way things were before they met Him—it was going to get ugly. Some of them were going to be betrayed just like Jesus was betrayed by Judas. And killed.
It still happens all over the world wherever people hate Jesus. Martyrdom has not slowed down in modern times. This kind of thing could start happening here, given how hateful our culture is growing toward the church and the idea of objective truth and the belief that God’s word defines sin—that there’s even such a thing as sin. It could get ugly before it’s all over.
I’m going to give the warning that I always give though—please try to hear me—if they’re going to hate you, make sure it’s actually because of how much you’re like Jesus, not how much you’re not like Him. Make sure they only hate you because you’re telling them about Jesus, telling them the Gospel—telling them there’s no one like Him, that He’s the divine Son of God, that He loves them and forgives them. Make sure they don’t hate you because you’re obsessed with pointing out their flaws and sins—trying to win some theological argument so you can feel better about yourself—some political argument just because you think you’re right. Make sure they don’t hate you because you act like you hate them.
They’ll hate you just fine if you stick to the Gospel parts. Grace is offensive enough. Jesus says some of us might even be put to death. And that sounds bad—I mean, it is bad—but look at the very next thing He says…
But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. Luke 21:18-19
You might be killed for standing with Jesus—killed! But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
It sounds like a contradiction—it’s not. This is the hope of the Gospel. Even though you die, you will live. If you lay down your life for My sake you will find it. It’s counterintuitive.
The only difference between the disciples who were hiding after the crucifixion and the disciples who weren’t afraid of anything after the resurrection was the resurrection! The promise of the resurrection giving them courage by the power of the Spirit. “What are you going to do? Kill me? Haha. Go for it. That ain’t nothin’. I’m immortal!”
This is how Jesus wants us to look at it—do not fear the one who threatens your mortal life. Trust in Jesus who gives eternal life. They might kill you but not a hair on your head will perish, keep trusting in Jesus and you will gain your lives.
Then Jesus finally answers their question, “Will there be a sign so we can know when the temple is going to be destroyed?”
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Luke 21:20
Jesus is like, “Well, when you see the armies getting in position… here’s your sign!”
They’re sitting on the Mount of Olives, it’s a pretty night, things are going great—although they’re probably starting to feel like something’s about to happen.
Jesus says, “Guys, listen, when you see the Roman army start to make camp around the city—you need to get out of town. Can you remember this? I don’t want you to get stuck in Jerusalem when it goes down.”
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Luke 21:21-22
This is counterintuitive. Everyone knows the safest place to be in a war is inside the city walls—especially Jerusalem. It was on a fortress on a hill, practically impenetrable. Plus, it was God’s house. It has supernatural protection, right?
All those Psalms that say, “From where does my help come? Look to the City of God! Lift your eyes to the mountain of God. Run to Zion!”
When Rome finally did attack in 70 AD, it was just before Passover, millions and millions of Jewish people scrambled to get inside the city walls. The only ones who ran away from the safety of the city were the Christians who remembered Jesus’ words to get out of Dodge.
Jesus is looking into the future and His heart seems to be breaking for the actual people He sees suffering and struggling in the invasion…
Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Luke 21:23
He says something similar in chapter 23 to the women who are weeping for Him as He carries His cross to Golgotha. He says, “
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed, the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Luke 23:28-29
Even on His way to die on the cross, He’s thinking about how hard it’s going to be for His people.
For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:23-24
Who are “this people?” They’re the people who were supposed to be waiting for the Messiah but rejected Him when He came instead. They’re the unfaithful Jews. The ones who reject Jesus.
This terrible judgment, the vengeance of God, is the fulfillment of a lot of Old Testament prophecy. It’s the turning of the page and becoming the New Testament. The Roman armies flattened Jerusalem, the temple, and killed almost everyone in the city. It’s one of the most horrific things the world has ever seen.
It happened to the people who rejected the Son of God. All those Pharisees and Scribes and Sadducees—all the Jews who yelled, “Crucify Him. Give us Barabbas!”
“Trampled underfoot.”
Remember what Jesus said last week? “For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Psalm 110:1
Those enemies are the people who reject the Son of God the Son of Man.
So, God used Rome just like He had used Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and other Gentile nations against Israel when they rejected Him before. Just like He continues to do with the Muslims who built their Mecca on top of where the temple used to be. Jerusalem will continue to be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
What is “the times of the Gentiles?”
It’s the time between the destruction of Jerusalem and the arrival of Jesus at the end of the world.
So, you ready for it? The end of the World? Or at least ready to hear about it? Here we go, this is Jesus describing the end…
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26
This is a sudden and obvious change in everything—the entire sky. The heavens, the sea. You won’t need to buy a Hal Lindsey book to decode the signs of the times. You won’t need to go to a Tim LaHaye prophecy conference to learn about all the secret mysteries of Revelation.
No. It’s going to be obvious to every single person who is alive on the earth. This is the end of the world and no one will mistake it for anything else. It’s not a secret rapture of the believers with everyone wondering where all the people went. No one is going to think, “Maybe it’s aliens!” Talk shows won’t invite religious leaders of all faiths to discuss what this could possibly mean. This is the end. Chaos. Perplexity. Fainting. Sun, moon, and stars are going to melt into something completely different and terrifying. And do you know what happens next?
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27
That’s what happens next—they’ll see Him. Jesus. Everyone will see Him. All people. All nations. The Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and glory.
It’s going to be cataclysmic. Horrifying. Nightmarish. This is why Jesus is letting us know in advance. So we can be ready. He doesn’t want us to be afraid…
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28
When the obvious end of the world starts to happen, everything is going completely bonkers, and you see Jesus coming down from heaven—try to remember what He told us to do. It’s just three simple things: Stand up straight, raise your heads and look at Him, and thank God your salvation is here! Can you remember that? It’s also going to be counterintuitive.
When the most frightening thing in the history of the world happens, Jesus says you don’t have anything to be afraid of.
And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:29-31
A simple little parable. “You know winter is over when you see the trees start to grow leaves again. So, when you see all these apocalyptic things in the sky, it means I’m about to make everything new. New heavens, new earth. Resurrection of the living and the dead. It’s going to be a good day.” The long cold, dead winter is over. Spring is here!
The end of the world is not supposed to be a scary thought for you. And Jesus paints this whole thing with a bunch of weird, poetic language—Live in the mystery. Let it blow your mind a little.
So, Jesus has been talking about the temple being destroyed, Jerusalem being destroyed, and the entire world being destroyed. He’s answering the disciples’ question about when these things are going to happen.
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Luke 21:32-33
“Truly I say unto you” means He really means what He’s about to say. This generation will not pass away until all this happens. What does He mean by that?
Well, first of all, that’s exactly what happened. That generation saw the temple and Jerusalem destroyed. They had to wait 30 years but then, BOOM! No more temple. They saw it and then they all died waiting for Jesus to come back and two thousand years have gone by so far.
Imagine if He hadn’t warned them about Jerusalem and the temple. They might have lost their faith when they were destroyed. “God has abandoned us!” Instead it made their faith stronger because it happened just like Jesus said. So, clearly the impending doom of Jerusalem was the biggest thing He needed to warn those early Christians about.
But I think He also means “This generation” in the same way He meant “this people”—the ones who rejected Him. In other words, people are going to continue to reject Jesus until He comes back. He didn’t want them to be surprised by that either.
He wants them to be ready for the fall of Jerusalem but He also wants them, and us, to continue looking for His return—even though lots of people still don’t believe. Don’t give up. Don’t think, “Oh, it’s been too long. He’s not coming back.” He wants us to keep trusting in His word—heaven and earth might pass away but His words will not pass away.
In this world there are going to be thousands of little things that feel like the end of the world. They’re not. Nothing is the end of the world except the end of the world. But all those little things, they are good practice for the real end. So, when something goes wrong, doesn't go the way you want it to, when someone attacks you because of Jesus—remember what to do: Stand up straight, lift your head toward heaven, and be thankful that your salvation is drawing near. AMEN
Prayer Help us to be ready, to keep watching, waiting. You said “a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day to you—but you are being patient so that all who will come to faith in repentance will turn to You and be saved. Help us to not grow weary. Help us to persevere through all the little “end of the worlds” we face in our lives. You said “in this world there will be trouble but be of good cheer—lift up your heads—because Jesus has overcome the world.” Thy kingdom come—soon. AMEN