Notes

Spiritual Leaders Must Understand Clearly What Jesus Christ Teaches Regarding Israel and Jerusalem
Luke Chapter 21 can be a difficult Chapter to read and study. What's Jesus actually talking about and what does He really mean when He speaks these words to His disciples? This Chapter also handles the area of Israel, and the importance of Israel, in the plans and purposes and economy of God. Our knowledge of Israel is crucially important. This is the longer study because there is no way this passage can be divided. Read it most carefully and know very well what Jesus is revealing.

After speaking about the chance of deception, wars and revolutions, natural disasters and increased suffering as consequence, and persecution and using such times as opportunities to witness and testify, Jesus speaks about armies surrounding and overthrowing Jerusalem.

All of this happened, some thirty years later and we know that those that fled when Rome overrun Jerusalem were saved from onslaught.

It pays to give heed and focus on the prophetic words of Jesus. Their lives depended upon acting upon the words of Jesus.

Verse 24. We read of Jerusalem being trampled. That indicates that it's out of Divine order. God never means anything to be trampled upon. All this was fulfilled literally. Observe that word 'until'. get more info see this in prophecy. Such and such a thing will happen 'until'. You will see a scattering of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 'until'.

In verse 29, we read of the fig tree reappearing and growing in its own soil; growing in its own land and getting into leaf. The fig tree. as a symbol of Israel, reappeared in 1948, having been absent for 2 2,000 years. We cannot go into all the details here. There are lots of excellent books with this. Lance Lambert and Derek Prince and David Pawson explain all this, most thoroughly and comprehensively. Then in 1967, Israel started to re-govern Jerusalem for the very first time in 2,000 years and the trampling was over. We Gentiles had trampled over that city and 2,000 years is really a long time.

We want what to happen within two weeks or two months, and certainly within 2 yrs. For Israel, she had to wait 2,000 years, but God brought her back.

Jerusalem always flourishes under Jewish control, and languishes under Gentile control. You only need to look at photographs of Jerusalem before 1967 and after 1967. You'll not think it was the same city.

Now, from what Jesus says, the liberation of Jerusalem from Gentile control and domination points to the close return of Christ.

When the fig tree, or any tree, sprouts leaves, it is springtime and you understand that summer is near. It is not yet summer, but summer is around the corner. When Israel reappears you know that the Coming Again of Jesus Christ is near. It will not happen just yet, nonetheless it will happen soon.

Verse 22. The time of punishment is over. Note that it really is Jesus Who uses the term 'punishment' and 'wrath' in verse 23, and 'perplexity' in verse 25. Perplexity means 'no way out'.

Anguish, fainting and fear - are central themes as Jesus speaks to the disciples, and because He could be talking about His Coming Again, He tells the disciples to operate and 'lift up your heads', and know. Don't doubt or wonder or question. God wants us to know. There are certain truths which God wants us to learn and have a clear understanding.

There exists a parallel here. Just as very few believed Jesus about the destruction of Jerusalem, so a comparatively few people, even within church circles, believe what Jesus says here regarding His Coming Again. That's where Jesus issues another warning. Jesus issues warnings!

Be cautious or your hearts will undoubtedly be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close in you unexpectedly such as a trap.

Don't go overboard. Watch your step. Don't give in to indulgence. Quite simply, discipline yourself. How terrible it could be, if on that day when Jesus Christ comes again, we weren't ready for His coming, and we were caught unawares, and taken by surprise.

Jesus says, watch and pray, so as to stand prior to the Son of Man. Be alert and prayerful. Be aware of everything that is being conducted around you.

Jesus is giving His disciples all of this for a purpose; in order that we will know very well what is going on on the planet and not be deceived or afraid, and so that we will not be taken in by false prophets or follow false Christs, therefore that we will never be swayed and over- influenced by current trends fashions values and standards. This will keep us from giving directly into certain pressures to compromise.

Jesus is very clear, very precise, and incredibly practical, also it always pays to cover attention to the words of Jesus.

It is significant that this teaching is recorded in Matthew and Mark too.

Last week that question arose which is answered in Zechariah Chapter 12, and I ask you to read that Chapter too in this connection and understand the significance of what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says.

All of the nations of the planet earth will undoubtedly be gathered against Jerusalem. Three times he says this. Jerusalem will occupy a central place on the world's stage. It will be a focal point of controversy, conflict, and war. Its status and destiny can be a cup of wine into which includes been poured a poison, and anyone who meddles with Jerusalem will see they poison themselves and paralyse themselves. It will be just like a heavy stone, which if they attempt to lift it, the result will be they rupture themselves, and their lifting days are over.

God will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication, and they'll "look on me, the main one they will have pierced". read more is the key to all of the.

Yes, this is the more difficult Chapter but it is worth all of the serious study. Do you recall my saying many months ago that folks suggest that only if the Church would adhere to and keep to what and teaching of Jesus? Well, these are the words of Jesus.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the indegent areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, in addition to a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to perform and exercise regularly to keep up a level of physical fitness.
My Website: https://trujillojimenez4.bloggersdelight.dk/2023/04/16/spiritual-leaders-must-understand-clearly-what-jesus-christ-teaches-regarding-israel-and-jerusalem-2/