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Prayer
Luke 21.24-end
22.1-
May 31st 2020
So, the disciples asked Jesus “when would be the things he talked about happen,” and “what would be the sign of his coming,” and “what would the sign of the end of the age.” And we left off with him saying to them/then . . .
(in Matthews account)
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.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Upon what people? Jesus said it – upon this people then.
So, let’s pick it up in Luke at verse 24 where Jesus says:
Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
We get several more clues from this passages as to how to time-stamp this sign that Jesus gives.
It begins with, “and they shall fall by the edge of the sword.”
Of course, we know that wars today and invasions are not typically done with swords and so I think its safe to see this as yet another passage speaking specifically to them.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
From this point forward Yeshua speaks to some specifics of His actual return. Prior to this he spoke of the tribulation that would come before these signs.
The idea here is that “as” lightening comes from the east and shines (brightens up) the skies in the west, so would the coming of the Son of Man be, meaning it would be quick, unexpected and immediate, like lightening, and not meaning from the east as many people believe. In the verse before he describes people saying that he was in the desert or other “secret places,” but this description of his arrival depicts him coming in a flash.
These images, like most Hebrew expressions, are not literal and they are frequently employed in the Old Testament to describe disasters. So just as the darkening of the sun, moon, and the falling of the stars would be an inexpressible catastrophe, so would be the events surrounding the end of that age and the coming of the Son of Man.
Looking to the Old Testament we see very similar descriptions of the destruction of Babylon (Isaiah 13:10); Tyre and Sidon (Isaiah 24:23); the slaughter in Bozrah and Idumea (Isaiah 34:4) and others (Isaiah 50:3; 60:19,20; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 3:15).
Luke adds to Matthews account that there would be “distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts falling them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth.”
All these words are similar figures of calamity used by the Jews. (see, Daniel 7:11-12; Joel 2:10,31; Amos 5:20; 8:9; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The term shaken here depicts the shaking of everything in place from the former kingdom, both in heaven and in earth (the law, prophets, temple, priesthood, genealogy, human authority, brick and mortar religion) so much so that the only thing remaining will be those things that cannot be shaken at all (the things of the Spirit, a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem and a new covenant.
This shaking of all things – even the powers of heaven shall be shaken – would occur at the end of that former age, the age of Material religion, the age when God was approached and appeased through material representations – over, so much so that Jesus here says that the verse POWERS OF HEAVEN shall be shaken.
Why then? What is happening that the very powers of heaven are shaken so much that the only thing remaining, according to Hebrews 12, is unshakeable?
It seems that prior to sin being fully accounted for, and all prophesies having the opportunity to be fulfilled (as God’s Word must be fulfilled) there was even a heavenly administration in place as there was one on earth with a temple and priesthood and animal slaughters and the rest.
And Jesus, having ascended into the Holy of Holies, sitting at the right hand of his Father, all things placed in his hands, was waiting for all prophesies to be complete, and the Gospel to go out to His brethren, before the things of that administrations and its operations could end.
The apostle Peter describes this in such a way that biblical literalists suggest that at His coming everything will be destroyed. Listen to what he says in 2nd Peter 3
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
That sounds like the destruction of everything doesn’t it?
But listen to Isaiah’s Hebraic description of the destruction of Babylon:
Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
And of the destruction of Tyre and Sidon
Isaiah 24:23 Then the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, a Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when before his ancients gloriously.
And of the destruction of Bozrah and Idumea
Isaiah 34:3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
No, Peter employs language of the Jew, which describes things using imagery not literalisms.
The imagery was depicting the wrapping up of all things in that former age both in heaven and on earth as a means to introduce a new heaven and a new earth SPIRITUALLY that was established by the life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of Jesus to the world he came to save.
So when it was time to end, and all the elements of it were to be destroyed once and for all, EVERYTHING changed, or we might describe it as, “everything got shaken up – both in heaven and in earth” with regard to administrations – and the absolute end of everything from that former age was shaken to the dust – at His return. (Verse 27)
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
The sign of the coming of the Son of man was related to His return to destroy the city of Jerusalem and to save his pristine bride. This was the sign of the day of Judgment for them and this was the sign of Yeshua’s promised return.
This was the end of that world (or that age) where Yeshua would come in the glory of his Father with his holy angels. This would institute the resurrection of the dead which would begin at his coming and continue on out to this very day as an ongoing event in the lives of every individual.
Those who were “His” (Hebrews says “those who were looking for him” and Revelation says “those who pierced him”) would see Him coming in judgment in the clouds of heaven just as He ascended in a cloud, (Acts 1:9) and the angles said that he would return in like manner (Acts 1:11).
At this time he would come with “power and in great glory, proving his deity and majesty to His own and to His enemies.
The power he brought would be felt in and through the signs that he has described, the utter and complete destruction of Jerusalem, the ruination of the temple. And this, as I said, would be the raising of the material religious world, (2nd Peter 3:7-12) the beginning of the raising the dead by changing those who would be alive at this time (John 5:29; 21:25; 1st Corinthians 15:52; 1st Thessalonians 4:17) the wrapping up of all the affairs of that age once and for all, the receiving of the righteous pure unspotted bride to heaven (Matthew 25:34; 1st Corinthians 15:57) and sending the wicked to sheol (Matthew 25:41,46; John 5:29) who would later be loosed and judged. (Revelation 20:13) (see also, Daniel 7:13; Zechariah 12:12; Mark 13:26)
As a side note, Matthews account adds that the Lord would send messengers in conjunction with his return (angellos) and they would be seen in connection with “the sounding of the loud trumpet” and “the gathering of the elect” together “from the four winds” (Ezekiel 37:9; Isaiah 43:5-6) and “from one end of heaven to the other.” (Psalm 19:1-6; Deuteronomy 4:32).
These four elements clearly point to the fact that the angels from heaven, who would sound the ancient the call to assembly (through trumpets) were there to gather and save the elect (or the Bride of Christ) from certain destruction, out from “the four winds and from one end of heaven to the other,” meaning out from under the whole area set beneath the skies.
And then at verse 28 Jesus adds
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Look up! Your redemption (Jesus of Nazareth, God with us, draweth nigh).
They had asked him to tell them “when the things he was saying would be” – he told them. They had asked him, “What would be the sign of his coming?” – he told them, “and they had asked him, “what would be the signs for the end of that age, that world, that administration?” AND HE TOLD THEM/THEN.
Before leaving the subject he appears to want to emphasize to them more on the signs of all of this and so we read:
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Figs are mentioned in Genesis 3:7 and the fig-tree is mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8. They were a sign of peace and prosperity (1st Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10) and were used medicinally (2nd Kings 20:7) and for food (1st Samuel 30:12; Jeremiah 24:2).
Because they were so abundant and important to the people their season of bloom and fruit was well understood by them and could therefore be easily used as a symbol for discerning the times ahead.
So, just as the “signs of the fig tree” signaled the arrival of fruit and the need for harvest so would the signs Yeshua has shared with them to show that his coming and the end of that age was near, even at the gates (meaning upon them).
When Jesus adds at verse 32:
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
We have an irrefutable statement from the Lord impervious to manipulation. If he was right, then everything he just described occurred within a biblical generation; if he was wrong, it is a major indictment on his teachings.
We have done entire studies and written entire chapters on this passage and statement from the Lord, especially relative to the word, Generation, and I will summarize our findings:
When Jesus said it, it meant approximately 40 years. In other words, I say unto you “forty years will not pass before everything I have just described to you will happen.”
However, to add to the complexity of the whole thing, Matthew adds (at verse 36 of chapter 24)
36But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Which means of the exact day and hour in that day nobody can say, not even the angels of heaven, but his father only.
And Matthew also adds:
37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39And they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away; so will be also the coming of the Son of man. 40Then wo men will be in the field; one will be taken, and the other left t. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord will come. 43But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you must also be ready: for the Son of man is coming at the hour that you do not expect.41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord will come. 43But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you must also be ready: for the Son of man is coming at the hour that you do not expect.
Looking back to Luke’s reference to the Fig tree, and the “sign of it,” the sign of the fig tree would generally describe the time of his return and the end of the age was approaching, but that did not mean they knew the actual day or hour that figs would be on the tree and ready to eat.
Again in Matthews account, Jesus likens his return to them, His second coming,
to the days of Noah and the arrival of the flood wherein that world was destroyed.
This description steps back from the signs of the end of that age, and describes the times prior to that tribulation just explained as Yeshua says that like people in Noah’s time “before the flood fell upon them,” they would be living life normally, i.e. eating and drinking and marrying and getting engaged.
All of such things would go on “until Noah entered the Ark” meaning until the waters fell the people in that day would be unaware until they were being swept away (or destroyed).
None of them new the day or hour that this would occur and so it would be of his return to them/then.
Many people think that the phrase “one would be taken” that is speaks to the rapture. In reality, “taken” in this case speaks to being killed (by the Roman army), with the other being left alive.
Finally, Jesus directly tells these four disciples to “watch” – a command which would be very misleading if he was not going to return to them for another 2000 years.
He ties this watching to a home owner who would watch for a thief if he knew the hour that he would break in his house.
He appeals to this example because he would return to them like a thief in the night.
So back to Luke where he says something similar at verse 34
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole region.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Matthew adds
45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has made ruler over his household, to give them food at the right season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47Truly, I say to you, he will make him ruler over all of his possessions. 48But if that wicked servant says in his heart, My master has delayed his coming; 49And begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken; 50The master of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him and in an hour of which he does not know 51And will cut him asunder, and put his portion with the hypocrites where men will weep and gnash their teeth.
Verses 45-51 is yet another parable that serves to instruct his disciples to serve, to be alert, and to be ready to be judged at His return to them.
We cannot escape the fact that Jesus spoke really hard facts to his disciples about what was expected of them in these days of trial approaching.
In some ways the directives take me back but they are ever present and distinct and to them then as to what Jesus expected of them relative to his return.
So that wraps up the eschatology part of Luke 21 and the chapter ends with:
37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
From this point we have three chapters left. Chapter 22 speaks to the Jews plotting to arrest him, the Passover meal, Judas being outed, the Communion being introduced, Gethsemane, his betrayal and trial.
Chapter 23 speaks to his being taken to Pilate, Pilate trying to free him, and his crucifixion and death, and chapter 24 speaks to the Resurrection, appearances and the road to Emmaus event.
So, let’s get into chapter 22
Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
So, let’s go back to verse 1
1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Matthew 26:2 has Jesus say:
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
The festival of the Passover was celebrated to help the Jews remember when YHWH liberated them as a Nation from Egyptian servitude which included one very special night were the safety of their firstborn was ensured by the shed blood of animals sprinkled on their doorposts and the firstborn of the Egyptians died.
The name Passover was given to the feast because the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites without slaying their firstborn but did not Passover the Egyptians firstborn.
It was celebrated for seven days, from the 15th to the 21st of the month our April.
During all this period the people ate unleavened bread, and hence the festival was sometimes called the feast of unleavened bread, (Exodus 12:18; Leviticus 23:6).
On the evening of the fourteenth day, all the leaven or yeast in the family was removed from the house (still is) which is something Paul even mentions in 1st Corinthians 5:7.
Then on the 10th day of the month the master of a family separated a lamb or a goat of a year old from the flock, (Exodus 12:1-6,) which he slew on the 14th day before the altar, (Deuteronomy 16:2-6.)
The lamb was commonly slain at about 3 o’clock, P.M . and the blood of the paschal lamb was, in Egypt, sprinkled on the doorposts of the houses. After the Exodus the blood was poured by the priests at the foot of the altar.
The lamb that was killed was roasted whole, with two spits thrust through it —one lengthwise, and one transversely–crossing each other near the fore legs; so that the animal was, in a manner, crucified.
Not a bone of it might be broken–a circumstance strongly representing the sufferings of our Lord Jesus, who was the Passover slain for us (according to John 19:36; 1st Corinthians 5:7).
Once roasted, the lamb was served up with wild and bitter herbs. Not fewer than ten, nor more than twenty persons, were admitted to these sacred feasts.
At first it was observed with the loins girt about, with sandals on their feet, and with all the preparations for an immediate journey. This, in Egypt, was significant of the haste with which they were about to depart from the land of bondage. The custom was afterwards retained in remembrance of it all.
So while they partook of this meal (Verse 2 )
2 . . . the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
Matthew speaks of how they could kill him by subtilty (meaning through guile, deceit, or in some secret manner, so that the people would not know it.)
Jesus was regarded by the people as a distinguished prophet, and by many of them probably, as the Messiah; and the council or Sanhedrim did not dare to take him away openly, lest the people should rise and rescue him or in the least revolt.
Matthew also informs us that this was not to be on the feast day as that would or could cause way to much uproar with the potential of their deception being called out.
See, a huge multitude of Jews attended the Feast of unleavened bread from all over that world so much so that Jerusalem is said to have contained at such times three millions of people during the feast.
Way too many to control if they burst out in defense of the Lord. So they talked about how to approach the deception discretely.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luke’s account omits Matthews account of Judas dipping into the Passover meal as the identifier that he was the traitor, but instead just says that Satan entered into him. Verse 4
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
So back to verse 3
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Whether this is a literal description or that the influence of Satan took hold of Judas then we don’t know.
But there are a few things we do know about Judas that help us understand the situation that he got himself into.
Luke does not tell us the fate of Judas after he betrays the Lord with a kiss in Gethsemane but Matthew does – he hangs himself after repenting about his betrayal and tossing the 30 pieces of silver at the feet of those who paid him.
There have been a number of things that people suggest or say about Judas that I would like to clear up here – and one of them is that he repented (because that is what Matthews account says he did) he returned the silver, and therefore he was in no way accountable in the future before God for his actions.
I can’t say whether Judas was accountable before God for his actions, God does what God does, but what we can say relative to what I just said is:
1. There is a difference between repenting and Godly repentance.
Repentance literally means changing ones mind, and we can do that on any number of accounts in life – I ordered a cheeseburger and repented for that and ordered a falafel.
But Godly repentance is a change in the mind/heart of the individual that leads to Godly actions or decisions.
So the fact that Judas realized that he made a mistake and even gave the money back does not mean that he was filled with Godly repentance – and we can be suspect of his repentance being Godly when we look at what he did after – he hung himself – and action which is not conducive to the will of God who is selfless love, hope, and people placing their will and futures on Him.
In other words, the line that Satan entered him, whatever that means, suggests that Satan remained in him, guiding him and moving him to accomplish what Satan and his demons do when they embody something or someone – they push to self destruction.
Remember the swine and the demons and their response to them entering them? Suicide. Same thing here.
I am not judging Judas or his standing before God post life, but I do not see his change as being synonymous with Godly change afterward – because God would have lead the man to fully repent, and to pursue a course of action that reflected such.
Secondly, there are those souls who suggest that Judas was only doing what he was commanded to do by Jesus – similar with Peter in the instructions of, “you will betray me, Peter.”
But the content of scripture does not allow for this liberality to remain: Jesus makes it very clear that he was predisposed to die, but woe to the one who causes it, it would be better if they were not born.
And relative to Peter and his betrayal, John’s gospel informs us that Jesus stared-right-through him from the place where he was being beaten, not to mention the three-pete question of do you love me after his resurrection all of which lead to some pretty plain evidence that Peter denied him of his own accord.
I say all of this to wipe away any notion that either Judas or Peter were merely following orders, but that Judas was led by the deceiver and Peter by human weakness.
When looking to Judas he appear, from context, to have had a love for money and that this was his “besetting sin.”
It also appears that this proclivity was what allowed Satan to take hold of the man, capitalizing on his weakness.
From this we can see that our temptations appear to rise up and out of our own natures and desires, and so in this sense perhaps Jesus really did know who he chose and why.
So after being tempted and outed and set on his course we read:
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
In other words he would play a part in betraying the Lord in a way that would keep his arrest and trial out from the eyes of the masses.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
Which is a referential fulfillment of Zechariah 11:12 which says:
“And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”
Final verse of the day:
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
And we will stop there.
PRAYER
