Luke Part 3 Week 16

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:20-22 

²⁰ “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. ²¹ Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. ²² For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled.” 

Although what would occur to Jerusalem in A.D. 70 would be terrible, there would be even greater violence to Jerusalem at the end of time before Jesus would return to the earth. Later in Luke 21 the indication is that Jerusalem will also be the center of attention at the Second Advent of Jesus.  

REFLECT 

Have you realized that the Bible has what is called a law or principle of double reference? A prophecy can have a near partial fulfillment and a distant complete fulfillment.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the law of double reference concerning the birth of Jesus. A near partial fulfillment is in Isaiah 7:10-17 when a virgin would be married and have a child that would be a sign to King Ahaz. The distant complete fulfillment of this prophecy was the Virgin Birth of Jesus as mentioned in Matthew 1:18-23.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:23-24 

²³ “How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. ²⁴ They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.” 

This prediction was true both in the near future when Jerusalem would be overrun by the Romans, and it would also come true at the end of the age when it would be overrun by the Gentiles. The Times of the Gentiles extended from the time the Babylonians captured Jerusalem (586 B.C.) to the end of the age when Jesus will come to earth to establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16). 

REFLECT 

For the mothers reading this you can best imagine what the pregnant and nursing mothers will experience during this difficult future time. 

RESPOND 

Jerusalem has many Jewish people there but Gentiles also have a significant presence there. The Islamic Dome of the Rock sits on the biblical temple site used by Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:25-26 

²⁵ “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. ²⁶ People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” 

These signs never occurred before Jerusalem and the temple were overrun in A.D. 70, yet there are some who think no future prophecy needs to be fulfilled. The signs mentioned in this passage will occur before Jesus’ Second Advent to the earth. This time is also referred to in Matthew 24:29-31.  

REFLECT 

These verses tell what it will be like when it is time for Jesus to return to earth.  

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading Joel 2:28-32 that was quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17-21. These passages tell how bad times will be when Jesus is ready to return to earth. Notice especially the statement, “That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Salvation has always been by grace through faith in God apart from the works of the Law as seen in the salvation of Abraham (see Genesis 15:6).  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:27-28 

²⁷ “Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” 

These verses make it specific that the passage is referring to the time when Jesus will return to the earth to set up His kingdom as indicated in Revelation 19:19-21. The believers during the New Testament Church age will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air before the awful Tribulation period (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Jesus returns to earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. 

REFLECT 

Knowing some of the things that will occur in the future should give you the desire to live to please Jesus now (see 2 Peter 3:10-13). 

RESPOND 

Help others to understand they may not live to the time of these events. Their lives could end long before that. The key question is, “Are you ready to meet Jesus if you should be snapped into eternity by a stroke, heart attack, or vehicle accident today?” 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 21:29-31 

²⁹ Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. ³⁰ When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.” 

Some consider the fig tree to be a symbol of the nation Israel. Jeremiah 24:1-7 uses it to teach a lesson to the people. The budding of the fig tree indicated summer was coming. Those who live to see the signs in Luke 21:25-26 in the Tribulation period will realize the kingdom of God is about to be set up as the King of kings and Lord of lords appears (Revelation 19:16).  

REFLECT 

Where you live what are some of the signs that summer is coming? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading some of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 24. See the questions the disciples asked in Matthew 24:2-3. Read about the Great Tribulation in 24:15-28. Read about the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ in 24:29-31.