"Give Thanks To Jehovah, For He is Good"
Psalm 106:1
2015 year text

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Jesus' Ministry at The Temple Completed -

Sign of The Last Days Revealed.

Events on Nisan 11

Please read Luke 21:1-36


Jesus is at the temple again teaching the people many things. He has warned them about the hypocrites who oppose him, boldly exposing who they really are. (Compare: Matthew 22:41-23:24) Jesus now moves to where he can watch the treasury chests in the temple and the crowds dropping money into them. The rich drop in many coins. But then a poor widow comes along and drops in two small coins of very little value.

Jesus calls this to the attention of his disciples saying, "I tell you truthfully, This widow, although poor, dropped in more than they all did. For all these dropped in gifts out of their surplus, but this woman out of her want dropped in all the means of living she had." After saying these things, Jesus leaves the temple for the last time. -verses 1-4

As Jesus and his disciples begin their climb up the Mount of Olives, the disciples being very impressed with the size and beauty of the temple, point out how it is built with stones over 35 feet long, more than 15 feet wide, and over 10 feet high! Jesus reply may surprise them, "As for these things that you are beholding, the days will come in which not a stone upon a stone will be left here and not be thrown down." -verses 5 & 6

When they reach their destination Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple. Since Jesus has just foretold that not a stone will be left upon a stone in it, several of his disciples are concerned and question Jesus further. (Compare Matthew 24:3) Jesus answers them with a lengthy response. He provides a sign that identifies when the Jewish system of things will end. He also gives a sign that will alert his future disciples so they can know that they are living during his presence and near the end of the entire system of things! Yes, the time we live in, referred to by some as "the last days". Verses 7-33 give Jesus' description of this future time, read his own words then compare them to what we see around us today. Jesus stated, "... on earth anguish of nations , not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea* and it's agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth..." -verses 7-33

After giving the prophetic sign Jesus gives directions to those living during the time of the end of the systems of things. "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you, as a snare. For it will come in upon all those swelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man. -verses 34-36.

*sea (compare: Isaiah 57:20; Rev 17:15)


4 comments:

sandyseashells said...

I believe we are living in the last days. And the second coming of Christ is at hand.

(I do overeat and have anxiety.)

sweet older sister said...

We all have anxieties, some of which cause us to overeat, because of these critical times we live in. But what do we focus on? Jesus said to "Keep awake(spiritually), making supplication (prayer) so then we may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, (no man can stop these things from happening, they have been prophesied by Jesus the Son of God, who does not lie. Every thing God says will come true.)
We must take in accurate knowledge of Jehovah to understand His purposes and of Jesus Christ, the Chief Agent of Life. (John 17:3) In that way we will keep standing before the Son of man, no matter what.

Jen said...

Many, Many signs concerning the last days. One scripture brings, though, sums up how I feel about calamities and destruction we know has and is coming. It is found in Amos 3:7.

Follow the prophet(s) of God. Their words are given to them through the Holy Ghost and those words testify of Christ.

sweet older sister said...

"For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets." -Amos 3:7

Thank you for bringing this scripture out. Yes, we must listen to the prophets, who point to Jesus Christ, the appointed King.