[Our Lord is now nearing Jerusalem and his crucifixion.  The disciples think that Jesus must soon reveal Himself as the kingly deliverer of Israel.  The hope and stay of Israel for hundreds of years has been that the Messiah would come and deliver them from their long lasting oppression under the gentile world.  However, this was not the purpose of our Lord at all during His first advent.  Hence the question finally arises, when will it all happen?   

A.     The Appearing Of The King (vs 5-7) [– The Second Advent, the Apostles primary question in this passage - And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, ⁶ As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. ⁷ And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? – Recognizing the question being asked and answered is the key to properly understanding the answer given by our Lord.]   

1.      The Question Asked [- Too many people make false assumptions concerning what is being addressed in this particular passage because they never stop to fully recognize the question our Lord is answering.  Many teach this passage from an end-times perspective based upon a misunderstanding concerning the relationship between this passage and Matthews perceive harmony of this text.  Notice the difference between this text and Matthews text.] 

[Luke 21:7 ⁷ And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? ]

[Matthew 24:3 ³ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? ]

a.       [Luke’s text deals primarily with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, while Matthew’s text adds discourses concerning the second Advent (coming) of our Lord, and the End Times.  These distinctions should not be taken lightly nor misunderstood.] 

2.      The Question Answered [– Consider what our Lord said to the Apostles that day concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.  Jesus said: ] 

a.      [There would be Deceivers (vs 8; 1 John 2.18-19,26; 2 Pet 2.1; 1 Cor 11.18-19) – And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. -  It did not catch the early believers by surprise when they discovered false apostles, false teachers, and false Christ’s that claimed to be Christians and Church leaders.  They had heard the words of our Lord and responded appropriately to His warning.  The Bible records,] 

[1 John 2:18-19 ¹⁸ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.]

[1 John 2:26 ²⁶ These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ]

[2 Peter 2:1 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.]

[What is the affect of false teachers?]

[1 Corinthians 11:18-19 ¹⁸ For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹ For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ]

[It is a confusing thing that the early Church recognized the religious deception permeating their culture and Church, but contemporary Christians cannot see the same among us.]

b.      [There would be Destruction (vs 9-10) – 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. ¹⁰ Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: - The fact that our world is constantly at war is a fact of the human sinful condition, it is not an indication of the end times.] 

c.       [There would be Disasters (vs 11; Mal 3.10-15) – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. – Natural disasters are a part of life on earth.  Many natural disasters are used by God as a means of chastising and correcting the rebelliousness of mankind, especially of the people of God.  Something that even the modern Church is slow to acknowledge.  For instance,] 

[Malachi 3:10-15 ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹² And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹³ Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? ¹⁴ Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. ]

[It does not take much consideration of the Biblical text to realize that God used natural disasters, and international disputes to correct those who once called themselves His people.]

d.      [There would be Disbursement (vs 12-19) – Severe persecution would scatter the Church throughout the world.] 

[Luke 12:12 ¹² For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. ]

[Luke 12:16 ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ]

[Luke 12:18 ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ]

e.      [There would be Destruction (vs 20-24) – The destruction and dispersion of the Jewish people are predicted within this passage.  Other passages reveal their regathering and ultimately their final regathering by God.] 

[Luke 12:20 ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?]

[Luke 12:24 ²⁴ Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? ]

f.        [There would be Deliverance (vs 25-28) – Jesus gives a word of hope to his chosen people the Jews, for it will be the second advent of our Lord that will bring the ultimate deliverance they have long hoped for.] 

[Luke 12:28 ²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? ]

B.     The Ascending of the Church  [– The Rapture of the Church – Our Primary Question.] 

1.      What we can Look for (Rev 11.8-9,12; 13.16-17; 8.7-12) [- What are those things that must take place in order to fulfill the Biblical prophecies concerning the End Times, and what must be in place for these to occur?] 

a.       [Discovery (Rev 11.8-9,12) – Mankind must be able to view worldwide events. The Bible reveals that during the end times the events in one part of the world will be viewed worldwide.  The most profound of these events will be that of the martyrdom, resurrection, and ascension of the two prophets.] 

[Revelation 11:8-9 ⁸ And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. ⁹ And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.]

[Revelation 11:12 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. ]

b.       [Dictatorship (Rev 13.16-17) - Mankind must be able to absolutely control commerce.] 

[Revelation 13:16-17 ¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: ¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.]

c.       [Destruction (Rev 8.7-12) - Mankind must be able to largely destroy the world.  For years scholars had taught that these were all judgments delivered by God, and they may be.  However, today we know that mankind has the capability, through our weapons of mass destruction, to bring every word of these verses to fulfillment, by our own hands.] 

[Revelation 8:7-12 ⁷ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. ⁸ And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; ⁹ And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. ¹⁰ And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; ¹¹ And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. ¹² And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.]

2.      What we must Live for (2 Thess 2.6-10; Zech 14.3-4; Rev 20.4,6)  [– How do we know that we are not already in the millennium?  How do we know that the Biblical prophecies of the New Testament have not yet been fulfilled?] 

a.      [The Preservation of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess 2.6-10) – The presence of the Holy Spirit of God in our world and as evidenced in the lives of those who have accepted Christ is Scriptural evidence that the End Times are yet to come.  Before the anti-christ can be revealed the Holy Spirit must be taken out of this world, and Jesus promised that born again believers will never be with out the Holy Spirits illuminating presence.] 

[2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 ⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ]

b.      [The Physical Presence of our Lord (vs 27; Zech 14.3-4; Rev 20.4,6) – The actual physical presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is not here upon this earth.  At the Second Advent our Lord Jesus Christ will stand upon this earth again, this time to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.] 

[Zechariah 14:3-4 ³ Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. ⁴ And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ]

[Revelation 20:4 ⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.]

[Revelation 20:6 ⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.]

C.     The Affirmation of Christians (vs 19) [– The evidence of our lives – In your patience possess ye your souls - When we really believe what the Word of God teaches about the Rapture, the End Times, and the Second Coming of Christ what impact will it have on our lives?  The perseverance of the saints.]

1.      The Purification of Anticipation (1 John 3.1-13; Gal 5.22-25) [– Those who hear the words of our Lord concerning the end times will find themselves compelled to live holy, righteous, and pure lives. They won’t worry about the worlds deceptive distractions.  They will live pure lives because they know that their Lord could return at any time, and they refuse to be caught unprepared.  Anticipation results in purification.] 

[1 John 3:1-3 ¹ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ]