Luke 21:5-9; 20-24

Luke 21:5-9; 20-24 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."

These verses basically were fulfilled in the first century, but some view them in apocalyptic terms as signs of the end times. However, the temple definitely was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, and over a million Jews were killed and several hundred thousand were dispersed to other lands. The Romans, with Satan's inspiration, intended to completely destroy the Jewish people, God's elect. The ones they did not kill, they dispersed throughout the world. Jesus warns the disciples not to go after different messiahs after He is gone. They will not have the answers for the coming turmoil. Nevertheless, the false messiahs would lead many people away by claiming they have the divine answer for the coming conflicts. As the Zealots rebelled, the Romans fought them over an extended period. Jesus says, do not be frightened by these conflicts in the streets and surrounding areas, for the end of Jerusalem and Israel is not near. However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, the time of desolation is near for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.

A great calamity befell the Jews, God's chosen. They were thrown out of their land and were dispersed throughout the nations of the earth. What a sad period of time that was for mankind. But Jesus earlier said, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Even though the Romans were doing Satan's work by coming against the Jewish people, the devil was already defeated, for Jesus had given his people the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:18-20) Yes, the enemy tried to destroy God's people by destroying the Jewish nation, but another people, washed in the blood of the Lamb, was already present on this earth, and they would do the devil great harm. Through Christ's power, they would deliver people out of darkness and through the portals of death to heaven. These Christians would live forever in the presence of the Almighty as his beloved children.

A new covenant was established IN JESUS, based upon grace and mercy--unconditional love. This is a covenant for every people, every land. This agreement fulfills the covenant with Abraham: I will bless all nations through your loins. Through his seed, "whosoever will" are blessed, restored to the image of God, adopted into his family. No matter how difficult the situation, whether your time is near or you are looking toward a long life, cling to Jesus. He is the perfect Lamb sacrificed for your salvation. Even if the armies of the world surround your soul, seek Jesus. He will rescue you, bring you through your dark night of the soul. He will make a hopeless situation full of hope. Jesus alone is Master, Deliverer, and King. Jesus said, Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, "I am he," and, "The time is near." Do not follow them. Over the millenniums, many Christians have prepared for the end times on the mountaintops and in desolate places. They followed false messiahs and theologies of fear. However, Jesus is the cleft in the rock, our hiding place. All of us will die someday; all of us will need a safe place. No mountaintop or desert retreat will prepare us for that day, only Jesus. He alone is our Rest, our Promised Land, our all in all.