Lucas 21
Tony Garland · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 21
Garland notes that the "antidote" to the false Messiahs is a visible, global sign (Mt 24:30). (Reference) Related Resource: Book - 50 Jewish Messiahs (search this book and you can read about Yudghan - click page 26) Beware! Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Take heed that you not be deceived. —Luke 21:8 An acquaintance of mine was “taken in” by a smooth-talking salesman who stopped at his place of business. The man displayed some attractive jewelry that he said he had purchased at a tremendous discount. He was especially proud of some very expensive-looking watches that had a well-known name on the dials. My friend was impressed and bought several watches. But after the salesman left, he examined his “bargains” more carefully. He was surprised to discover that the trademark was not that of a famous brand after all. Two letters in the name were different, but the print was so small he hadn’t noticed it before. The watch straps were not genuine leather but “genuine lizard,” and on the back of the cases were the words “Swiss base metal.” The incident reminded me of what the Savior said in Luke 21:8, “Take heed that you not be deceived.” Even as some in the business world cleverly pervert the facts and victimize their customers, there are also false teachers in the church who distort the truth. They use biblical terminology and appear to be orthodox. But beware! They are evil and will lead you astray. Be firmly grounded in the Word of God and you won’t be “taken in” by deception. O grant us grace, Almighty Lord, To read and mark Your holy Word, Its truths with meekness to receive, And by its holy precepts live. —Beddome Examine all teaching in the light of God's Word. Luke 21:9 "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." KJV Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. When you hear of wars and disturbance Luke 18,19; Ps 27:1-3; 46:1,2; 112:7; Proverbs 3:25,26; Isaiah 8:12; 51:12,13; Jeremiah 4:19,20; Mt 24:6-8; Mark 13:7,8 but the end does not follow immediately Luke 21:8,28 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole Luke 21:9-11 The World in Conflict and Distress - John MacArthur WARS DO NOT SIGNAL THE IMMEDIATE END Parallel passages: Matthew 24:6-8+ You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened (present imperative with a negative = Don't let this begin or stop being frightened), for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. “For (term of explanation) nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (see preceding note on birth pangs). Mark 13:7-8+ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened (present imperative with a negative); those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. When you hear (akouo) of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified - The natural reaction to war is terror! Jesus says (not a command in Greek but functions like one) do not be terrified. How can a believer NOT be terrified? First, because Jesus calls for us to believe Him and if we believe Him (His Word) we can choose not to be terrified. Second, in my opinion the only way to "override" our natural reaction of fear is not by "gritting our teeth," but by believing Jesus and relying wholly on His Holy Spirit to supernaturally enable us to obey Jesus' words. We need to be Spirit filled (controlled) and to continually seek to be surrendered to the Spirit of Jesus (the only way we can be continually surrendered to the Spirit is if the Spirit gives us the desire and the power! cf Php 2:12+, Php 2:13NLT+. Is this spiritual dynamic mysterious? Yes. Is it truth? Absolutely. It is truth not just that we can hold to, but even better is truth which "holds" us when everything around us is falling apart! Compare Luke 21:15+ - How will Jesus give utterance and wisdom? By His indwelling Spirit, the Spirit of Christ!). While Luke has wars and disturbances, Matthew and Mark both have "rumors of wars." Disturbances (181)(akatastasia from akatastatos = unstable from a = negative + kathistemi = set in order) means literally without order or stability and thus has a basic meaning of instability = to an unsettled state of affairs, an upheaval, a state of violent group disturbance, a tumult, or unrest, especially in a political or social setting (riots, revolutions). In 2 Cor. 12:20 and James 3:16 the context suggests that akatastasía is used of the disruption of the Christian community by worldly disputes among the brethren and in both of these passages jealousy and selfish ambition (eritheia) are listed prior to akatastasia as factors which predispose to social instability.
Lucas 21
Garland comments on Rev 12:15+ "Satan desires to drown her (Israel) with his flood, but God has plans to regenerate her with His living water (Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 7:38-39)." To reiterate, drowning her DOES NOT sound like leading her captive into all the nations! Zechariah 13:8-9+ also describes a time of horrible bloodshed in which 2/3's of the Jews will be killed in the end times - "And it will come about in all the land," Declares the LORD, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it." In sum, the Scripture supports that the Jews in the end times will not be led captive into all the nations but will be killed or at least attempts will be made to eradicate them! In summary, I think that the weight of evidence strongly favors the interpretation of Luke 21:20-24 as descriptive of an event which has been historically fulfilled in the destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. As noted above, the majority of evangelical writers who espouse a futuristic interpretation of other passages (especially Mt 24:15-28+) also favor the past historical fulfillment of Luke 21:20-24 in 70 AD. For example, Thomas Ice, an avid dispensationalist, comments on Luke 21:20-24... Preterists and futurists do not agree on much when it comes to the Olivet Discourse. However, when it comes to the interpretation of Luke 21:20-24, we both agree that it is a literal prophecy of the AD 70 judgment. Preterist Dr. Kenneth Gentry says, " The context of Luke demands a literal Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) besieged by literal armies (Luke 21:20) in literal Judea (Luke 21:21)- which as a matter of indisputable historical record occurred in the events leading up to a.d. 70.” [5] However, when expounding on Luke 21:25-28, preterists resort to massive doses of symbolic interpretation in their attempt to give these verses a first-century fulfillment. The futurist does not need to make such adjustments and continues a plain or literal reading of the text. I believe that Luke 21:25-28 is a brief prophecy that parallels Matthew 24 and Mark 13, as I will expound upon in the future. Luke 21:20-24 demonstrates that preterists take prophecy literal when it is alleged to support their view, but if a passage would lead to a non-preterist view, if interpreted literally, they allegorize. On the other hand, futurists are able to take all parts of Christ’ s Olivet Discourse, and all prophecy literally. It is clear that Luke 21:20-24 is spoke of the first-century Roman invasion of Jerusalem.....The entire passage speaks over and over again of judgment and wrath upon the Jewish people and their city, just as Christ prophesied in Matthew 24:2+ and the other passages noted above. Yet, when one searches prophecies of Matthew 24 and Mark 13 this language is missing. (The Thomas Ice Collection) D A Carson in his comments on the identity of the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 notes that "Some have suggested Caligula's plan to set up a pagan altar and standards in the temple precincts (A.D. 40), a plan never carried out; but the description in the following verses cannot apply to that (ED: ESPECIALLY Mt 24:21+). The obvious occasion, in general terms, is A.D. 70, though certain difficulties must be faced....(ED: Then Carson mentions a major problem!) by the time the Romans had actually desecrated the temple in A.D. 70, it was too late for anyone in the city to flee. Mark's language is less explicit: "standing where it does not belong" (Mark 13:14+), instead of "standing in the holy place." Luke resolves the matter: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20)—but now there is no explicit mention of "the abomination of desolation." Possibly Jesus said something ambiguous, such as Mark reports." (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Comment: Another possibility for Luke not mentioning the crucial phrase, the abomination of desolation, is that Luke 21:20-24 does not refer to the same event as Mt 24:15+. It is also interesting that Carson quotes Mark 13:14+ but not from the ESV translation which reads "the abomination of desolation standing where HE (Greek is masculine, singular) ought not to be." The fact that Luke does not mention the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place coupled with the fact that the ESV translation of Mk 13:14ESV+ translates it as a "HE" make an "A.D. 70" fulfillment less that "obvious!" In fact, the ESV rendering would favor a MAN standing in the holy place (cp 2Th 2:3+, 2Th 2:4+) rather than an ARMY standing in the holy place! A NEAR FULFILLMENT AND A FAR FULFILLMENT As alluded to above, the phrase days of vengeance...will be fulfilled could be construed as relating not just to the fulfillment of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (which did fulfill Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 9:26+) but to a future fulfillment of the destruction of Jerusalem during the seven year tribulation. For example Norman Crawford commenting on Luke 21:20-24 espouses a near and far fulfillment a concept which is seen with other prophetic passages... "Jerusalem compassed with armies" is one of the great events of prophecy which allows us to link the teachings of Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation with the chronology of the Lord's teaching in the Synoptic Gospels. The siege of Jerusalem under Titus in ad 70 is the "near fulfilment", but what happened then was a portent of another great siege of the city in the time of the end, just preceding the coming of the Son of man (Zech 14:1-3+). Those who limit the teaching of the Lord to the event of ad 70, must, when they reach Lk 20:25-27, move on to the coming of the Son of man (ED: THERE IS ACTUALLY A NICE CHRONOLOGICAL TRANSITION, BECAUSE TRAMPLING OF THE CITY IN THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES IN 70 A.D EXTENDS 2000+ YEARS AND AWAITS A FUTURE FULFILLMENT). Some have used Luke's account of the Lord's teaching to interpret Matt 24, but there is nothing in Matthew that can rightly be given a "near" interpretation. Luke does combine the "near" and the "far", but much of this material is yet future. The events of verses 8 to 19 are what Matthew has called, "the beginning of sorrows" (Mt 24:8)...."Days of vengeance" have application to the ad 70 destruction of Jerusalem, but we would have a serious problem in limiting this expression to the historical event. "The days of vengeance" is an OT expression used frequently to describe the coming time of "Jacob's trouble" (Isa 34:8; 35:4; 61:2; 63:4; Dan 12:1; Hosea 9:5-7; Micah 5:15; Zech 12:1-3), and the vengeance that God will bring upon Israel's enemies. Then there is the Lord's sweeping statement, "all the things that are written may be accomplished" (JND). All that is written will not be accomplished until David's greater Son, who is truly David's Lord (20:41-44) will sit upon His own throne of glory (Matt 25:31), righting every wrong and establishing a kingdom of righteousness and peace that cannot be shaken (Heb 12:28). (What the Bible Teaches: Luke ) ESV Study Bible - Jerusalem surrounded by armies. The first fulfillment of this was the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70, and this destruction may also foreshadow a greater judgment at the end of the age, so that some of what Jesus predicted in Lk 21:5-24 may also find fulfillment in events that precede Christ’s second coming. Cf. also note on Lk 19:43-44. I agree with the comments by Steven Cole "The first part of this discourse (Lk 21:5-24) focuses on the impending judgment of Jerusalem because of rejecting her Messiah. But the terrible events that happened in A.D. 70 were just a portent of the events that will lead up to the second coming of Christ and the final judgment. As I said last week, many of the events that Christ predicted have double or multiple fulfilments, culminating in the grand finale at His return. (On Guard! He's Coming! Luke 21:25-38) Luke 21:21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city: tote oi en te Ioudaia pheugetosan (3PPAM) eis ta hore kai oi en meso autes ekchoreitosan (3PPAM) kai oi en tais chorais me eiserchesthosan (3PPAM) eis autes KJV Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. flee - Lu 17:31-33 Ge 19:17,26 Ex 9:20,21 Pr 22:3 Mt 24:16 Mk 13:15 let those: Nu 16:26 Jer 6:1 35:11 37:12 Rev 18:4 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole GET OUT OF THE CITY AND DON'T ENTER IT Then (expression of time) - Then signifies "at that time" or "next" and should always prompt a simple question of "At what time?" or "What's next?" Jesus has just given them a clear "sign" of when the Jews were to take action. This sign was to be a visible for all to see = Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies. The encircling army presaged the coming desolation of the city. As Stein says the "then" "refers to the "when" of Lk 21:7." (Ibid) To reiterate Jesus' command = "WHEN you SEE...THEN you FLEE!" Flee...depart...not enter - Jesus issues not one but three commands to emphasize the urgency of His warning to abandon the city of Jerusalem.
Lucas 21
Garland has an interesting note on earth dwellers, a description that is found several times in the Revelation (describing the time prior to Jesus' Second Coming in glory)... The tribulation and wrath associated with this coming hour is intended to test those whose home, citizenship, and focus is earthward rather than heavenly. The phrase those who dwell upon the earth takes on a soteriological/eschatological meaning in the book of Revelation for it denotes the unsaved at the time of the end who steadfastly continue in their rejection of God. In contrast to the faithful who are aliens and sojourners upon the earth (Lev. 25:23; Nu 18:20, 23; 1Chr. 29:15; Ps. 39:12; 119:19; John. 15:19; 17:14, 16; Php. 3:20+; Heb. 11:13; 1Pe. 2:11) and whose hope is heavenward (Heb. 11:13-16; Rev. 13:6+), these that dwell upon the earth are trusting in man and his environment. These are the spiritual offspring of the humanists of our day. Believers are not among these earth dwellers, for the earth dwellers ultimately hate believers: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). When the earth dwellers give us praise and are in love with us, then it is time for us to reassess the validity of our heavenly witness. (See earth dwellers) J C