A Look at the Last Days through Luke 21
By Kato Mivule
March 5th 2008
As one continues to study Bible Prophecy, they realize that
Jesus Christ was quite clear and understandable about His
Doctrine concerning His Second Coming. It amazes me that Bible
Prophecy is considered a very complicated subject that only PhDs
in Theology can understand.
Yet to the surprise of many, Jesus Christ who never attended any
Seminary spoke and taught his disciples who were not “educated”
men according to today’s standard yet they understood what He
taught.
What so-called Bible Prophecy Teachers have done is to make
people focus on them as the solution providers when it comes to
Bible Prophecy rather than the Teachings of Jesus Christ.
On the other hand are those who theorize that Bible Prophecy is
not as important and therefore more concerned with Church Growth
and general welfare of the church in terms of material
prosperity, fancy Mega Church building projects, Healing
Crusades, Political Christianity, Dominionism, and the like…
Others think that they can hold views on the Second Coming of
Christ even when they contradict the very words of Jesus Christ
concerning the same subject.
However, The Testimony of Jesus Christ and that of His apostles
as we have then recorded in the New Testament are paramount and
supersedes all…all other testimonies outside the Bible are
simply thoughts of men or lies from Satan… Setting all bias and
prejudice aside, Lets proceed to listen to The Testimony of
Jesus Christ in the first person concerning His Second Coming in
Luke Chapter 21…
Giving to be approved of Men…
Luke 21:1-4
(1)
And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their
gifts into the treasury.
(2)
And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
(3)
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you,
This poor widow cast in more than they all:
(4)
for all these did of their superfluity
cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the
living that she had.
Interestingly Luke 21 opens with Jesus Christ in the Temple and
looking at people giving in the treasury. He saw the rich and
then the poor widow give. Jesus Christ concludes by stating that
the poor widow cast in more than they all…
Today the westernized global church is more concerned with
giving as a means of justification so as to attain “God’s
Blessings” and gain more material wealth… The Poor widow gave
all she had and received applause not from Men, Preachers, and
Pastors but from Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords… Where is your justification coming from? It is from men
or Jesus Christ?
The Jewish Temple and the Mega Church Phenomenon…
Luke 21:5-6
(5)
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly
stones and offerings, he said,
(6)
As for these things which ye behold,
the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one
stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The Temple physical structure was focus of the Jews that they
were blinded to seeing The Messiah who walked among them. The
disciples thought that Jesus Christ would be astonished and
amazed at the magnificence of the Temple in Jerusalem but to
their surprise Jesus Christ spoke doom to this beloved physical
Temple.
Notice how the Disciples spoke of the Temple being adorned with
precious stones and offerings… They were looking at the outward
appearance of things. Today in these last days many are focusing
their attention on the physical structures of churches and the
offerings of money generated inside these concrete structures.
The Mega Church Phenomenon has taken the Church by storm and
many Christians focus on the outward appearance of these Mega
Churches as a measure spirituality, blessings, and God’s
approval yet what is coming ahead is persecution, tribulation to
the Christians that they will not be able to utilize those Mega
Church structures.
The Temple in Jerusalem became an Idol to the Jews until it was
totally destroyed in 70AD as Jesus Christ had prophesied.
Likewise the Mega Church Ideal is an Idol in Christendom today
and judgment is determined towards it. In the days ahead true
Christians will find no use for Mega Church structures and the
money generated in them…
The Church of Jesus Christ is not a physical Temple made by
hands of men nor is it a fancy high tech Mega Church complex
built and created by the ingenuity of men… For The Lord abides
not in such but in the hearts of Men who are the Temple of The
Holy Spirit and not built by hands of men but God Almighty…
When shall these things be?
Luke 21:7
(7)
And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these
things be? and what
shall be
the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
The disciples asked Jesus Christ the time that these things
shall be…which of course included the destruction of the Temple
in Jerusalem… The disciples also asked Jesus Christ what shall
be the sign when these things are about to come to pass…
-
When these things shall be…
-
What shall be the sign when these things are about to come
to pass…
All these questions in verse 7 should be taken in context as we
study about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as that is the key
in this study… In other words what events will transpire leading
to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ…?
There will be Great Deception…
Luke 21:8
(8)
And he said, Take heed that ye be not
led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am
he;
and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
Jesus Christ clearly tells us that we are to TAKE HEED that we
be not LED ASTRAY. There will be great deception in that people
will come in Jesus Christ’s Name preaching and saying that Jesus
is The Christ but yet shall deceive many.
Jesus Christ is very clear these false prophets are wolves who
will come in sheep’s clothing…and not every one who says Lord
Lord will enter Heaven… Jesus Christ will cast away many who
will have done miracles and great wonders in His Name but were
false and workers of iniquity…
Matthew 7:15-23
(15)
Beware of false prophets, who come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
(16)
By their fruits ye shall know them. Do
men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17)
Even so every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20)
Therefore by their fruits ye shall know
them.
(21)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father who is in heaven.
(22)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out
demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?
(23)
And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
(1)
Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;
(2)
to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet
be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from
us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
(3)
let no man beguile you in any wise: for
it will not be,
except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition,
(4)
he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called
God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of
God, setting himself forth as God.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
(1)
But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall
fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
doctrines of demons,
(2)
through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their
own conscience as with a hot iron;
2 Timothy 4:1-4
(1)
I charge
thee in the sight of
God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the
dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(2)
preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
(3)
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound
doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves
teachers after their own lusts;
(4)
and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside
unto fables.
2 Peter 2:1-2
(1)
But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among
you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring
in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought
them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
(2)
And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom
the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.
One of the things that happen before Jesus Christ returns and
that Christians largely ignore is that there will be deception
inside the church and a great falling away – a departure from
truth.
Today in many Christian churches the Doctrine of Jesus Christ
and the Teachings of His Apostles have been cast aside and
largely people are following the Traditions and Commandments of
Men which they teach as Doctrine.
It is high time that Christians examine what they listen to and
hear from the pulpits with The New Testament. Does it line up
with God’s Holy Word? If it does not, then reject it and have
nothing to do with it…
The deception Jesus Christ speaks about begins in the Church…by
men who proclaim that Jesus is The Christ yet they use it as a
means to deceive… The Apostle Paul warned about the Great
Falling Away – Apostasy that will take place before Jesus Christ
returns.
However, you don’t have to be apart of those who Fall Way from
Truth. Today many Christians and Pastors are falling away and
have fallen away from Truth in Christ Jesus as presented in the
New Testament by Jesus Christ and His Apostles…
There will be wars and turmoil but this is not the end…
Luke 21:9-10
(9)
And when ye shall hear of wars and
tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to
pass first; but the end is not immediately.
(10)
Then said he unto them, Nation shall
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
War and rumors of wars are one of the signs Jesus Christ gave us
that would signal His soon return. However, these wars don’t
mean that the end has come. For over 2000 years now, there have
been wars and major world conflicts. The temptation is for folks
to think that the end of the world has come. Jesus Christ gave
us a strong warning in the verse above that the end will not
come immediately. In Matthew 24, it states that these will be
the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:6-8
(6)
And ye
shall
hear of
wars
and rumors
of
wars: see
that ye
be not
troubled:
for all
these
things
must
come to pass, but
the end
is not
yet.
(7)
For
nation shall
rise
against nation,
and
kingdom against
kingdom:
and
there shall
be
famines, and
pestilences,
and
earthquakes, in
divers places.
(8)
All
these
are
the
beginning of
sorrows.
Jesus Christ is clear that these wars and uproars don’t mean
that the end has come. These are just the beginning of sorrows.
The world wars that happened all were just a beginning of
sorrows.
I believe that we are about to witness a Third World War – or
the Gog Magog war spoken of in Ezekiel 38, 39, but this will not
be the end of the world. It will just be a war that ushers in
the reign of the Antichrist and the Tribulation period; a period
in which the world will see greater sorrows.
Notice that Jesus Christ also talks about nations rising up
against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms… Well, we shall
see more ethnic cleansings as one ethnic group rises up against
another.
What happened in Rwanda and Kosovo, not mentioning recent ethnic
riots in Kenya, all point to the fact that there will be more
ethnic uproars in the future. Ethnic groups of various kinds
will seek autonomy and self rule from authorities that they will
deem responsible for the mayhem they face.
There will be earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various
places…
Luke 21:11
(11)
and there shall be great earthquakes,
and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be
terrors and great signs from heaven.
Another important sign that Jesus Christ speaks about pointing
to His Second Coming is that Earthquakes will take place in
various places. Today when one does a simple Google search on
earthquakes, you will be amazed that earthquakes are on the
increase and also averaging at 5.0 on the Rector Scale…
There are numerous earthquakes happening that websites that keep
track of them now report earthquakes that happen above 5.0 on
the rector scale. These earthquakes will not reduce but
increase with magnitude even as we read in the book of
Revelation until Jesus Christ appears in the sky with all His
Glory…that event itself will be preceded by a strong and great
earthquake…
The Seal Earthquake…
Revelation 6:12-14
(12)
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood;
(13)
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree
casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
(14)
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;
and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
The Golden Censer Earthquake…
Revelation 8:3-5
(3)
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden
censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he
should offer
it
with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was
before the throne.
(4)
And the smoke of the incense,
which
came
with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of
the angel's hand.
(5)
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the
altar, and cast
it
into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and
lightnings, and an earthquake.
The Two Witness Earthquake…
Revelation 11:12-13
(12)
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come
up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their
enemies beheld them.
(13)
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth
part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men
seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory
to the God of heaven.
The Trumpets Earthquake…
Revelation 11:15-19
(15)
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become
the
kingdoms
of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and
ever.
(16)
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their
seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,
(17)
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and
wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great
power, and hast reigned.
(18)
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest
give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints,
and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest
destroy them which destroy the earth.
(19)
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen
in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and
great hail.
The Vail/Bowels Earthquake…
Revelation 16:17-18
(17)
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the
throne, saying, It is done.
(18)
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there
was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the
earth, so mighty an earthquake,
and
so great.
So, it is important that we keep watch. The Lord communicates
His end time signs through major earth convulsions below and
signs in the heavens above. When major earthquakes take place,
remember the sayings of Jesus Christ, that these will happen
prior to His Second Coming – they are signs pointing to the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ…
However, Jesus Christ spoke about famine and pestilences too.
The world especially in the Third world has witnessed epidemics
caused by pestilences unknown before like HIV/AIDS, Ebola. Yet
millions were killed at the turn of the 20th century
by global epidemics like Small Pox, influenza, Chicken Pox,
etc…all these fulfilling what Jesus Christ had spoken that there
will be pestilences as a sign to us that His Soon return would
be close…
Revelation 6:8
(8)
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on
him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword,
and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the
earth.?
Hunger and famine are on the increase and will do so even during
the Tribulation period that a price of bread will cost a
person’s day wage… Already there are reports of increase in the
prices of wheat globally that recently BBC News reported of
uproars in Cameroon in Africa as people rioted because of the
increase in fuel and food. We are to see an increase and
continual occurrence of such riots and uproars.
Revelation 6:5-6
(5)
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast
say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he
that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
(6)
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A
measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a
penny; and
see thou hurt not the
oil and the wine.
Global Hate and Persecution of Christians…
Luke 21:12
(12)
But before all these things, they shall
lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you
up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and
governors for my name's sake.
(13)
It shall turn out unto you for a
testimony.
(14)
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not
to meditate beforehand how to answer:
(15)
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to
gainsay.
(16)
But ye shall be delivered up even by
parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and
some
of you shall they cause to be put to death.
(17)
And ye shall be hated of all men for my
name's sake.
(18)
And not a hair of your head shall
perish.
(19)
In your patience ye shall win your
souls.
Now this is a topic which many Christians hate to listen to. The
reason being that they have been deceived by preachers and
teachers who teach that Christians will not suffer and endure
the Great Tribulation period and that they will “fly away “in a
‘secret rapture’ before the great tribulation. However, Jesus
Christ also gave that to us as a sign pointing to His Second
Coming.
A global persecution of Christians will certainly take place
prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Brethren, yes, we
better prepare spiritually, mentally, and even physically to
endure that time of great global persecution of Christians. This
period of time will require great patience.
The Bible clearly shows us that the Antichrist persecute the
saints and kills many of them. Brethren, the Bible never self
contradicts but always reaffirms truth in one portion of
scripture to another portion of scripture. Daniel the prophet
speaks of this end time global antichrist persecution of the
saints, so does Jesus Christ, Paul the apostle and John in the
book of revelation….
Antichrist makes war on the saints…
Daniel 7:21-22
(21)
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;
(22)
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom.
There will be global hate towards Christians…
Matthew 24:9-10
(9)
Then
shall they
deliver you up
to be
afflicted, and
shall
kill you:
and ye
shall
be hated
of all
nations
for my name's sake.
(10)
And
then shall
many be
offended,
and
shall betray
one another,
and
shall hate
one another.
We are appointed for tribulation…
1 Thessalonians 3:2-4
(2)
And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our
fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to
comfort you concerning your faith:
(3)
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves
know that we are appointed thereunto.
(4)
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we
should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Satan makes war against the saints during the Tribulation…
Revelation 12:17
(17)
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of
God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Antichrist makes war against the saints…
Revelation 13:7
(7)
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations.
Saints come out of the great tribulation…
Revelation 7:13-14
(13)
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these
which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14)
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
There is certainly no confusion about if Christians (except if
they are not saints) will not endure the great tribulation and
persecutions coming ahead… It is clear that elect – the saints –
the redeemed go through the great tribulation, they are
persecuted, and hated by all nations for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Jerusalem shall be surrounded by Armies…
Luke 21:20-24
(20)
But when ye see Jerusalem compassed
with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.
(21)
Then let them that are in Judaea flee
unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her
depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter
therein.
(22)
For these are days of vengeance, that
all things which are written may be fulfilled.
(23)
Woe unto them that are with child and
to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great
distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
(24)
And they shall fall by the edge of the
sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and
Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times
of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
A simple look at this portion of scripture above suggests that
it has already been fulfilled and therefore no reason to look
intently at what Jesus Christ was stating in the portion of
scripture above. Most Theologians engage in debates on if Luke
21:20-24 is still relevant since the Romans surrounded Jerusalem
in 70AD and Gentiles trampled over the Holy City. However, let’s
take a look again at this important scripture…
We see Jesus Christ spoke on the following…
-
Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies…
-
Know that her desolation is near…
-
Those in Judea should flee to the Mountains…
-
Those in the midst of her should depart…
-
Those outside the country should not return…
-
These are the days of vengeance…
-
That all that is written may be fulfilled…
-
There shall be great distress upon the land and wrath upon
this people…
-
They shall fall by the edge of the sword…
-
Shall be lead captive into all nations…
-
Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles until time
of the gentiles is fulfilled…
Certainly when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Romans in 70AD,
there was an initial fulfillment of this important prophecy.
According to the writings of Historian Josephus, Christians
escaped Jerusalem when she was surrounded by Roman armies.
Also there was great distress on the land and the Romans used
excessive force – great wrath upon the Jews and Pharisees who
had put up resistance against the Romans. The Romans then
killed thousands of Jews and took many Jews as slaves to Rome
and other places. The Gentiles since then took control of
Palestine and Jerusalem up until 1948 and 1967 were Israel
regained “full control” of Jerusalem City.
However, questions remain as we closely look at the parameters
Jesus Christ used in this prophecy as we look for its real
fulfillment…
-
Was there a fulfillment of ALL that was written at the 70AD
event?
-
Did all the prophetic scriptures we read of in Daniel,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other Prophets get fulfilled at the
70AD event?
-
Did the Antichrist appear then and set up his authority and
blaspheme the Temple for 3.5 years at the 70AD event?
-
Did Jesus Christ return the Second Time and setup His
Kingdom?
So, we find that verse 22 is a parameter we cannot overlook for
the fulfillment of this portion of scripture…
Luke 21:22
(22)
For these are days of vengeance, that
all things which are written may be fulfilled.
There is certainly going to be a final and complete fulfillment
of Luke 21:20 were armies will surround Jerusalem once again and
ALL prophetic scriptures will be fulfilled, and Jesus Christ
will return to setup His kingdom and reign for 1000 Years.
Many Bible Prophecy students get perturbed as they see Prophecy
being fulfilled twice in a number of instances in the
Bible…sometimes in a partial fulfillment then in a final and
complete fulfillment…
Yes, we see Jerusalem was surrounded in 70AD yet NOT ALL what
was written was fulfilled then… However, we see in the book of
Revelation that Jerusalem is surrounded again at the Battle of
Armageddon and Christ returns and Prophetic Scriptures get
fulfilled again… Then we see the Last time in the Book of
Revelation again were Jerusalem is surrounded once again at the
last rebellion and Prophetic scriptures in Revelation are all
fulfilled…
It is like a pattern happening through History insofar as
Prophetic scriptures are concerned. Take for instance prophetic
scriptures concerning the Antichrist right in the Book of Daniel
and Isaiah…
We see the Assyrian made a ‘Covenant of Death’ with Israel and
it was annulled… Then we see the same pattern as Antiochus
Epiphanies makes covenant with the Jews, breaks the covenant and
attacks Jerusalem, desecrating the Temple and offering a pig on
the alter… We see Titus with the Roman-Syrian armies surround
Jerusalem and destroying the Temple…
However, we don’t see other prophetic scriptures like the rise
of the Antichrist Global Kingdom and 666 Economics take place…
We are yet to see another final and complete fulfillment of the
Prophetic Scriptures in which the Antichrist will come in with
flatteries and make covenant with the Israel and in the middle
of that 7 year covenant (70th Week of Daniel), the
Antichrist will break covenant with Israel and declare himself
to be God in the Temple – the abomination of Desolation…
History provides us with these clues as we see partial
fulfillments or shadows of things to come… (I will deal with
this in more detail in the 70 Weeks of Daniel article)…
I believe that Jerusalem will be surrounded once again by armies
at the following Global Battles…
-
Gog Magog Battle of Ezekiel 38, 39…
-
Armageddon Battle of Revelation 19...
-
Last Satanic Rebellion of Revelation 20…
However, in my opinion the ‘times of the Gentiles’ will come to
an end at the Armageddon Battle… We see Jerusalem being placed
on the table for division at the Middle East Peace Conferences
taking place courtesy of the USA. Jerusalem is always a topic.
The Arabs want part of Jerusalem as their capital in their ‘New
Palestine State’. So, the times of the Gentiles continuing to
trample of Jerusalem are really not yet ‘over’ as some suggest…
Any peace agreement between Israel and the Beast global
government will include concessions concerning Jerusalem…
Remember also that the Antichrist shows himself in the Temple in
Jerusalem as God and sets up the abomination of desolation…
It is clear that the Antichrist will come in with flatteries,
false peace deals, and covenants, and then betray the Jews…
Daniel 11:21-24
(21)
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they
shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in
peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
(22)
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before
him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
(23)
And after the league
made
with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and
shall become strong with a small people.
(24)
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the
province; and he shall do
that
which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he
shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches:
yea,
and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even
for a time.
We also note something remarkable in regards to Luke 21:20-24,
and that is the existence of Jerusalem under Jewish control
insofar as end time bible prophecy is concerned. If we are to
see a fulfillment of Luke 12:20-24, with Jerusalem being
surrounded by armies and ALL that is written being fulfilled
including the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, then Jerusalem must
exist and under the control of the Jews. Israel as a nation or
an entity must exist and under Jewish control. Otherwise what is
written in Ezekiel 38, 39, in Revelation and other unfulfilled
prophecies in the Old Testament cannot be fulfilled.
However, in 1948 Israel became a nation and by 1967 the Jews had
Jerusalem under their control after almost 2000 years in Exile.
It is now possible during our lifetime that we see a complete
fulfillment of what is written by the prophets in both the Old
and New Testaments, with Israel and Jerusalem being central and
major key player in this end time period.
Cosmic Events Signal the Immediacy of Christ’s Return…
Luke 21:25-28
(25)
And there shall be signs in sun and
moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in
perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;
(26)
men fainting for fear, and for
expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
(27)
And then shall they see the Son of man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
(28)
But when these things begin to come to
pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption
draweth nigh.
We see in the above portion of scripture that cosmic events
signal the immediacy of Christ’s Return. It is when there appear
signs in the sun, moon, and stars, coupled with distress of
nations and roaring of the seas, then Jesus Christ appears in
the clouds.
As I have noted before, the Bible never contradicts itself. We
see a second and third witness of the same cosmic events that
signal that Jesus Christ is coming any time… In each of the
scriptures we note the following…
-
Sun Darkened…
-
Moon does not give its light…
-
Signs in the Sun and Moon…
-
Moon turned into Blood…
-
Stars will fall from Heaven…
-
Powers of Heaven Shaken…
-
Heavens shall pass away with great noise…
-
Elements shall melt with fervent heat…
-
The Earth and its works shall burn up…
-
Heavens depart as a scroll…
-
Every Mountain and Island is moved out of its place…
-
Voices, Thunders, and Lightening…
-
Great and Mighty Earthquake…
-
Cities of the Nations Fall…
-
Great Hail…
The Sun turned dark and Moon into blood before the great day of
The Lord…
Joel
2:30-32
(30)
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood,
and fire, and pillars of smoke.
(31)
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
(32)
And it shall come to pass,
that
whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the
LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
After the tribulation of those days…the Sun is darkened, Moon
stops giving its light, stars fall from heaven then Jesus Christ
returns…
Matthew 24:29-31
(29)
Immediately
after
the tribulation
of
those days
shall
the sun
be
darkened, and
the
moon shall
not
give her
light,
and the
stars
shall fall
from
heaven, and
the
powers of
the
heavens shall
be
shaken:
(30)
And
then shall
appear
the sign
of the
Son of
man in
heaven:
and then
shall
all the
tribes
of the
earth
mourn, and
they
shall see
the Son
of man
coming
in the
clouds
of heaven
with
power and
great
glory.
(31)
And he
shall
send his
angels
with a
great
sound of
a
trumpet, and
they
shall gather together
his
elect from
the
four winds,
from
one end of
heaven
to the
other.
After the Tribulation of those days, Sun is darkened, moon stops
its light, stars fall from Heaven, then Jesus Christ returns…
Mark 13:24-27
But
in
those days,
after
that tribulation,
the sun
shall
be darkened,
and the
moon
shall not
give
her light,
And
the
stars of
heaven
shall fall,
and the
powers
that are
in
heaven shall
be
shaken.
And
then
shall they
see the
Son of
man
coming in
the
clouds with
great
power and
glory.
And
then
shall he
send
his angels,
and
shall gather together
his
elect from
the
four winds,
from
the uttermost part
of the
earth
to the
uttermost part
of
heaven.
The Day of The Lord comes…Heavens pass away with a great noise…
2 Peter 3:10-12
(10)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and
the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(11)
Seeing
then that
all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of
persons
ought ye to be in
all
holy conversation and godliness,
(12)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat?
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