LUKE LESSON 51

     We will begin this lesson in Luke 21:20 "And when ye shall see
Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof
is nigh."

     We know that just a few years after Jesus spoke this, Jerusalem
was surrounded and fell.  I personally believe this had a dual meaning
for then and for the last days, as well.  One of the things we are to
watch is what is happening to Israel and especially Jerusalem to know
when we are near the end of the Gentile age.  The main thrust of verse
20 above is for the end of the Gentile age.

     Luke 21:21 "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."

     This time to run and leave the temple and everything within the
city walls is at the end of the Gentile age.  Israel turned its back
on the Lord and in this terrible time God lets this happen to
Jerusalem.

     Luke 21:22 "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled."

     God's fury has come up in His face, and He will wait no longer
for His beloved people to turn to Him.  This is punishment time.

     Luke 21:23 "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."

     This would slow them down in their escape.  At this late date,
God will not wait to give them more time to get out.  A woman in
either situation above could not run to escape.  It will be especially
bad on those who can't get away.

     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."

      It is estimated that during the fall of Jerusalem about one
 million people perished.  This is probably what the first part of
 verse 24 is saying.  These Israelites were captive in many nations
 until recently.  Jerusalem was lived in by Gentiles until recently.
 The times of the Gentiles has about been fulfilled, as well.  It
 appears the second coming of Jesus is near.

      Luke 21:25  "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;"  Luke 21:26 "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."
     There are signs in the sun.  Sun spots have been seen with
telescopes already, so there is the fulfillment of that part of this
prophecy.  One of the signs in the moon is that man has been able to
travel there .  You see, you could pick out anything you want from
this prophecy, and really could say it had already been fulfilled.  I
also, tell in the Bible study on Revelation how stars sometimes are
symbolic of people who have become very well known.  In the last few
months, we have seen a good number of that type of heavenly stars
fall.  It is no shock to anyone that men's hearts are failing for fear
of things coming upon the earth.  Just one push of a button could
bring global nuclear war.  You see, all of this in fact is already
here.

     Luke 21:27 "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory."

     Just as He went away in a cloud, He is coming back in a cloud
(Acts 1:9-11).  He will have power and great glory, because He will be
King of kings and Lord of lords.

     Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then
look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

     We are not to hang our heads and complain when all these things
start happening.  We are in this world, but we are not of this world.
We are about to go home, so rejoice and praise God.  Look toward
heaven with anticipation and joy.  Your redemption draweth nigh.

     Luke 21:29 "And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,
and all the trees;"

     The fig tree throughout the Bible is symbolic of Israel.

     Luke 21:30 "When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your
own selves that summer is now nigh at hand."

     In my opinion, this fig tree shooting forth is when Israel became
a nation in 1948.  I believe this is just another sign that the end is
near.

     Luke 21:31 "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to
pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."  Luke 21:32
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all
be fulfilled."

     We see here, God is giving man some signs to watch for.  When
these things happen, praise God.  The end is near.  A generation many
times in the Bible is spoken of as 40 years.  In some few instances,
it is even 120 years.  You see, we don't know what generation God is
speaking of.  It is fun to anticipate.  If God had wanted us to know
for sure when this would happen, He would have told us in the Word.
Our job is to stay ready.

     Luke 21:33 "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall
not pass away."

     You cannot put value on anything in this earth or even on heaven
itself.  This earth will pass away.  God's Word is the only thing that
will not pass away.

     Luke 21:34  "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."

     We are cautioned over and over to watch and wait.  Sin should not
be in the vocabulary of the Christian.  The Lord is coming back for a
church without spot or wrinkle.  If we are living like the world,
pleasing our flesh, when the Lord comes back, we will go the way of
the world. The Son of man cometh when you least expect Him.

     Luke 21:35 "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell
on the face of the whole earth." Luke 21:36 "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."

      Just as death comes without warning many times, we see here that
the return of the Lord will be unexpected by the world.  Even the
Christians will not know the day or hour.  "Watch and pray that ye may
escape" has to do with the catching away of the Christians.  Those who
are washed in the blood of the Lamb and living for Jesus when He
comes, will be snatched away into heaven to remain until the wrath of
God is complete.  You can read about the catching away in
1 Thessalonians 4:13.

     Luke 21:37 "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."

     Jesus went into the temple to teach the few days after Palm
Sunday.  He went to the mount of Olives to sleep each night.  Perhaps,
He was there praying.  This was Jesus' favorite place to go to pray.
For what ever reason He was there, it was a good place to rest.

     Luke 21:38 "And all the people came early in the morning to him
in the temple, for to hear him."

     It seems that even that last week before the crucifixion, the
general public came to hear Jesus teach.  In verse 38, "coming early
in the morning" shows great devotion, and also, that they were eager
to be taught of Him.  My only question is, where were they when they
crucified Jesus?







                           Luke 51 Questions

1.  The desolation is nigh when you see what?
2.  Where should we watch to know the end is near?
3.  Let them which are in Judaea flee to the ---------.
4.  Why will God allow this to happen to Jerusalem and its people?
5.  In verse 22, this time is called the day of ---------.
6.  Verse 23 says woe to whom?
7.  In verse 24, what happens to them?
8.  During the fall of Jerusalem, approximately how many died?
9.  Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles until when?
10. What is a sign in the sun we have been seeing recently?
11. Why will men's hearts fail them?
12. How will they see the Son of man coming?
13. In what book in the New Testament does it say Jesus will come back
    the same way He went away?
14. When these things come to pass, what is the Christian to do?
15. Who is the fig tree symbolic of?
16. What is probably meant by this fig tree shooting forth?
17. When you see Israel spring forth, know ye that what is nigh?
18. This ----- shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.
19. What two things shall pass away, but God's Word will not pass
    away?
20. What are we cautioned not to be doing?
21. In verse 36, what two things must we do?
22. What should we want to be accounted worthy to escape from?
23. Who will be caught away to be with Jesus?
24. What did Jesus do in the daytime?
25. Where did He go at night?
26. Why did the people come early in the morning to the temple?