Notes

Spiritual Leaders Must Understand Clearly What Jesus Christ Teaches Regarding Israel and Jerusalem
Luke Chapter 21 could be a difficult Chapter to read and study. What is Jesus actually talking about and what does He really mean when He speaks these words to His disciples? This Chapter also deals with the area of Israel, and the significance of Israel, in the plans and purposes and economy of God. Our understanding of Israel is crucially important. That is a longer study since there is no chance this passage could be divided. Read it most carefully and understand what Jesus is revealing.

After speaking about the danger 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 this happened, some thirty years later and we realize that those who fled when Rome overrun Jerusalem were saved from onslaught.

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

Verse 24. We read of Jerusalem being trampled. That indicates that it is out of Divine order. God never means anything to be trampled upon. All this was fulfilled literally. Observe that word 'until'. We often see this in prophecy. Such and such a thing will happen 'until'. There will be 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 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 everything here. There are plenty of excellent books with this. Lance Lambert and Derek Prince and David Pawson explain all this, most thoroughly and comprehensively. Then in 1967, Israel begun 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 a long time.

We want things to happen within a fortnight or 8 weeks, and certainly within two years. 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 merely have to look at photographs of Jerusalem before 1967 and after 1967. You'll not think it had been 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 just about the corner. When Lovelywholesale Dresses Review reappears you understand that the Coming Again of Jesus Christ is near. It will not happen just yet, but it will happen soon.

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

Anguish, fainting and fear - are all central themes as Jesus speaks to the disciples, and because He could be speaking 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 know and have a clear understanding.

There exists a parallel here. In the same way hardly any 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 careful or your hearts will undoubtedly be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close in on you unexpectedly just like a trap.

Don't overload. Watch your step. Don't surrender to indulgence. Put simply, discipline yourself. How terrible it might be, if on that day when Jesus Christ comes again, we were not 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; so that we will know very well what is going on on the globe and not be deceived or afraid, therefore that we will not be used by false prophets or follow false Christs, therefore that we will not be swayed and over- influenced by current trends fashions values and standards. This will keep us from giving in to certain pressures to compromise.

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

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

The other day that question arose which is answered in Zechariah Chapter 12, and I request you to read that Chapter too in this connection and understand the importance of what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says.

All of the nations of the earth will be gathered against Jerusalem. 3 x he says this. Jerusalem will probably occupy a central place on the world's stage. It'll be a focal point of controversy, conflict, and war. Its status and destiny will become a cup of wine into which includes been poured a poison, and anyone who meddles with Jerusalem will find 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 will "look on me, the one they have pierced". Jesus Christ may be the key to all of this.

Yes, this is usually a more difficult Chapter nonetheless it is worth all the serious study. Do you recall my saying many months ago that people suggest that if only the Church would stick to and keep to what and teaching of Jesus? Well, they 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 of these past years teaching, speaking, in the us, 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 run and exercise regularly to keep up a level of conditioning.
Homepage: https://www.youthagainstsudoku.com/lovelywholesale-dresses-review/