The Predictions about the End, Part 1

I forgot to tell you that in the year 2000, when we went to Israel for the very first time, there was all kinds of bombing that was taking place, and particularly in the city of Bethlehem.

But you have to understand that everybody is in favor of tourism. And so they stopped the shooting and the bombing. To allow our bus to go into Bethlehem. Now, back in those days, very few people were going to Israel except us. We were going. And so they stopped everything to let us in to do our Bethlehem thing, to buy our souvenirs and that kind of stuff, to eat their food and all that stuff. And so then we left. We left the shooting. Took place again. Okay? Yet that's how it works over there. Okay?

It's all about the Almighty dollar. Okay, and so when when tourism comes to the city, everything's got to stop because they have to make money So, really, there's nothing to be afraid of. And if you do happen to die in Israel, don't worry. It's quicker to heaven from there than it is here anyway. So, you'll just get there a lot quicker. All right, we better pray on that note. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today, the opportunity to study your word. Truly, Lord, you are a great God, and you alone are worthy of praise.

And today, we will see once again the greatness of our God as he tells us about the future. In Jesus' name, amen. If you got your Bible, Luke chapter 21 is where we're at. Luke chapter 21. It's Wednesday of Passion Week. It's been Wednesday for quite a few weeks for us. It's been the Passion week since Luke chapter 19 when Jesus Christ rode into the city on the backside of a donkey to the praises of the people, singing Hosanna to the son of David. They saw him as Their Messiah, their king. And so we've been studying this last week of our Lord's life.

And so we have spent. A book of our study on Wednesday of Passion Week because that's when a book of his teaching and preaching was accomplished there in the temple courts, and so they were able to understand exactly what our Lord was saying. We realize that what's going to happen is that on Thursday, they'll prepare for Passover. There'll be the Passover meal. There'll be the first commun.

Christ will take his men to the upper room. He will teach them some of the greatest truths that will enhance their ministry in the future. And then they will make their way over the Kid Brook to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane. There he will be betrayed by Judas. And they will come and take him away. They will try him. They will accuse him falsely. He will be crucified on Friday. He will rise again on Sunday. That's where we're going. That's exactly what took place, and all the details in between all that, and all the conversations that he's had, all the interaction that he has, what takes place during that week.

We're going to cover for you. You need to understand exactly what's happening in this last week of our Lord's life. So we're trying to unfold that literally word by word, verse by verse, so you're able to follow through the last week of our Lord's life. Here upon the earth. It's important to understand that Christ has left the crowds. It's late on Wednesday now.

He is making his way to the Mount of Olives. He's left the crowds. He's left the religious leaders. He's not going to talk to them anymore. The invitations are over. It's done. He has said everything he's wanted to say up to this point to the religious leaders and to the crowds. They have heard every sermon that he's preached that week. He's done talking to them. And now he's going to go away with his men, just his disciples, and they will spend some time together, and he is going to unveil for them the end.

They're going to think that his death is the end, but it really is just the beginning of the end. They just don't know that yet. And so he's going to unveil for them the events that are going to take place that will allow them to understand the end and the kingdom of God that's going to come upon the earth. This is crucial truths for these men to understand and to grasp. The crowd has remained uncommitted. Even though they sang praises to him on Monday, even though the children on Tuesday when he cleansed the temple continued to sing his praises.

It is now late in the day on Wednesday. The crowd still remains uncommitted. They still remain indifferent to him as their king and messiah, simply because he did not accomplish in their minds. That was what they supposed that he would accomplish. And the disciples themselves have been a little taken back by the lack of Of fulfillment of expectations that they themselves had. And so, in the context of Matthew 24 and 25, which is the Olive Discourse. Luke chapter 21, Mark chapter 13, all of those chapters cover the same thing a little bit more in detail in Matthew's account than in Mark's and Luke's.

But what happens is that there's a conversation that takes place. The men leave the temple. As they leave the temple, there's a discussion about the greatness of the temple, the size of the stones in the temple. Why? Because the Lord has already denounced the temple. He's already prophesied the destruction of the temple. He's done it on three separate occasions that their house has been left to them desolate. He did it in Luke chapter 13. He did it in Luke chapter 19. He does it again in Luke chapter 21.

So on three separate occasions, twice in one week, he talk about the destruction of this temple. This magnificent structure created by Herod. It's called Herod's Temple. And it would still remain unfinished until about. 35 years from this point in Luke chapter 21, it would be ultimately destroyed in 70 A by the Roman governor Titus when he came in with Rome. Completely plundered the Temple Mount. So, as the men leave, they have a discussion about how beautiful this temple is. And they had this discussion with the Lord.

Let me read to you the account in Luke's Gospel. It says: And while some were talking about the temple and it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, as for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another. Which will not be torn down. And they questioned him, saying, Teacher, when therefore will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? Now, if you just read that account, you would think that that all happened in one brief conversation.

But when you read Matthew's account and Mark's account, They're coming down the temple steps and they're talking about this massive structure, the temple, and they asked Christ about this. They're talking about how beautiful the structure is, how magnificent the structure is. And Christ talks about how it's going to come down. Well, they make their way over the Kid Brook up to the Mount of Olives before they continue their discussion. Because they still have to process everything. They have to process the fact that all this is coming down.

And so, in Matthew's account, in Matthew chapter 24. It says this, and Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when his disciples came up to the point out of the temple buildings to him. And he answered and said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, not one stone here shall be left upon another, which will not be torn down. Now, Matthew's account doesn't record the discussion. That they had concerning the building, but Luke's and Mark's does account recall that account.

Then it says in verse 3, and as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, The disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? You see, they've processed everything. They have to process it because they don't quite understand it. And so, in that brief 10 to 12 to 15-minute journey from the Temple Mount. Down the steps of the temple, across the Kij Valley, up to the Mount of Olives, they're processing everything that Jesus has said.

They know how he feels about the temple, he's already cleansed it twice. They were there both times. They know exactly how he feels about it. But for them to process all that was happening. They didn't quite get it. So they, okay, what is the sign of your coming, your presence among us, and the end of the age? Because they associated. The destruction of what was going to take place with the end of the age. They associated with the presence of Christ the Messiah. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

He is. And because he was present among them, what will be the sign of the end of the age? You're here. They couldn't imagine that he would leave and come back again. And if he did leave, it'd only be for a brief moment. It wouldn't be 2,000 years. You see, they didn't process all that. And so Jesus has to spend time explaining to them what's going to happen. They understood Zach 12. They understood Zach chapter 14, or Zach 12, 13 to 14. They understood that Jerusalem would be That there would be a surrounding of the armies against Jerusalem.

They understood Zach 12. They got that. They also understood that in Zach 12, it speaks of. The shield that the Messiah would provide for them that would protect Judah, that would protect Jerusalem. And they also knew that Zach 13. Talked about the salvation of Israel, but they didn't see that as a personal salvation. They saw it as a national salvation. Okay? That they would be saved as a nation. So they understood the Old Testament, Zechariah 12, 13, and 14. They understood the destruction of the city.

They knew that that was coming, but they thought that the Messiah would be there. And that he would protect them. He'd watch over them. He'd set up his kingdom. The nation would be saved. They didn't understand the time lapse that would take place. They didn't get that. And why would they? Because all they had was the Old Testament that explained to them the prophecies concerning the arrival of the Messiah and what would take place when he was there. And so Christ would sit down and speak to them about his coming.

The end of the age, the predictions that would take place, the peril that would take place, the preparation that needed to take place, and ultimately the presence of Christ. What happened? In fact, he says in verse number twenty-seven, he says these words. Or verse number 25, he says, And there will be signs in the sun, and the moon, and stars, and upon the earth, dismay among nations. In perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world.

For, he says, the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then they, who's they? They will see. What? The they is the generation that's alive at that time, as we will see as we go through the text of Luke 21. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption Drawing near. He gives to them a parable. Verse 3: He says, Be on guard that your hearts may not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life.

that that day come upon you suddenly like a trap, for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the ear. Christ begins to let them understand some things. He tells them in verse number eight. He says, See to it that you be not misled for many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and the time is at hand. Do not Go after them. He warns them: Do not be misled. You're at a very vulnerable Situation. You're in a situation that makes you very gullible because your expectation about what I'm going to do is in your heart.

So be careful, don't be misled, because many will come and they will claim to be the Messiah. Many will come and say the time is at hand, the time is near. He tells them that over the process of time, many people are going to come and claim that their Messiah or the time of the end is near. Don't fall for it. So he begins to warn them at the outset. It's a long way away. You see, what's going to happen is that on Thursday night, when he's arrested, their hopes are going to be dashed. On Friday, when he's crucified, their hopes are going to be obliterated.

But then on Sunday, their hopes will be made alive again because of the resurrection of the Messiah. And he'll take them aside, and for 40 days, he'll explain to them things pertaining to the kingdom. And when that's all said and done, they will then respond by saying, Lord, is it at this time you are now going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Is now the time because they are still anticipating that his presence is already there. Okay, and because his presence are there, they can't imagine him going away for a long period of time then coming back again.

Because everything was centered around the kingdom of God. And so they were perplexed. They were dismayed. And Christ would give them much instruction concerning the end of the age. And so he begins to communicate to them this very valuable truth. How valuable is this? How important is what Christ says in Luke 21, Mark 13, Matthew 24, and 25?

How important is it? Well, we told you last week, it's the longest answer he gives to any question asked of him. So if he's going to spend time giving a long answer, He wants you to understand the answer. And so he gives it to you at great lengths. He wants you to come to grips with it. Because there's so much details you need to understand. Everything is going to be different than what they expected. But he is still going to fulfill his promises because he is the God of truth and God always fulfills his prom.

And so Jesus is saying, I'm going to come. Yes, I am. It's going to happen. It's just not going to happen in your time fr. It's going to happen in my Father's time frame. And so Christ goes on to explain and predict everything that's going to happen at the end. That's why he predicts the destruction of Jerusalem. Why? Just like the prophets of old, they would always give a prediction that would happen in the near future, and then he would give a prediction that would happen in something. Further down the line to prove that their prediction in the near future was true, and therefore the future prediction would be true as well.

Christ would prove himself true on both accounts. And so he would give a prediction that would happen just about 40 years from that point, it would come true. And yet, people still don't have a hard time believing about the end and Christ coming again. So, prophecy is crucial to Scripture. Why is that? Well, of the 46 Old Testament prophets, ten of them spoke of the first com of the Messiah.

3 of them spoke of the second com of the Messiah. Most people don't even understand that. It's imperative to understand that of the 3 prophecies centered specifically on the arrival of the Messiah, 109 of them were fulfilled in his first coming.

Leaving 224 yet to be fulfilled in his second com. In fact, it's imperative to understand that. One out of every 25 verses in the New Testament add the second coming of the Messiah.

In fact, every time the first coming is mentioned in the New Testament, his second coming is mentioned eight different tim.

Every time the at is mentioned, his coming is mentioned twice. It's imperative to understand that of the major doctrines of Scripture. The most talked about doctrine in the New Testament is a doctrine of faith. The second most talked about doctrine in the New Testament.

Is a doctrine of the second coming of the Messiah. The first doctrine, faith, all talks about believing in what God has said.

That's what faith is: it's believing what God has already said. And what you need to believe about what God has already said is that He's coming again. And so the second most talked about doctrine in the New Testament deals with the second coming of the Messiah.

And yet, most of us know very little about the arrival of the Messiah. Most of us can hardly begin to explain the end and how it's all going to happen. It's imperative to understand that Jesus has promised that the church will be translated from this earth into glory. And then there will be this marriage supp of the lamb that will begin its celebration in glory. Christ will then return to the earth. He will destroy the ungodly. He will have what is called the sheep-goat judgment. He will set up his kingdom.

He will rule and reign for a thousand years. Satan will be bound for that thousand-year time. At the end of those thousand years, Satan will be released. There will be a huge destruction that will consume this planet. There will then be the great white throne judgment. There'll be a new heaven and a new earth. And thus shall we ever be with the Lord. And to understand that, you need to understand what the Bible says concerning the arrival of the Messiah.

Having said that, Because it's such a cardinal doctrine, and it is a cardinal doctrine, outside the doctrine of faith, you should know about the second coming of Christ more so than any other doctrine In the Bible, because it trans the way you see life today.

And the way you view life today. It revolutionizes everything that you do, everything that you say. Christ knows that. The apostles knew that. They were cons with the coming of the Messiah. Having said that, Satan will do everything he can. To keep you from understanding that, Satan will do everything he can to keep you from studying. That element of scripture. In fact, the Bible says on seven different occasions, there are certain things that we are not to be ignorant of.

Or we are not to be unaware of, or we are not to be uninformed about. Depending on which translation you use. Some of us say, Brethren, we don't want you to be ignorant of these things. We don't want you to be uninformed. We don want you to be unaware of these things. There are seven of them in Scripture. Seven of them you need to understand because you don't want to be a stupid saint. You want to be a smart saint. And so the Bible says, don't be ignorant of these things.

It begins in 1 Corinthians 10, verse number 1: Do not be ignorant, brethren, about the sins of Israel. The sins of Israel. Most people are ignorant about the sins of Israel. They don't understand the unbelief of Israel. They don't understand the The nation and how they forgot to do what God said. But Paul makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 10:1: Do not be ignorant concerning the sins of Israel. Because if you are, you're going to repeat those sins. So don't be ignorant about them. Number two, Romans chapter 9, verses 25 and 26 says.

Do not be ignorant concerning the salvation of Israel. Not only can you not afford to be ignorant concerning the sins of Israel. You can't afford to be ignorant concerning the salvation of Israel because God has a plan for Israel. You would be surprised about how many people have no idea about the salvation of Israel. And people who today or who are proponents of the replacement theology that somehow the church has replaced Israel are ignorant of the salvation. Israel. And Romans 9: and 26 says, Brethren, do not be unaware, do not be ignorant, do not be uninformed concerning the salvation of Israel.

God has a plan for Israel. It includes their salvation. All you have to do is read the book of Zach, understand that. And so, do not be ignorant concerning the sins of Israel. Do not be ignorant concerning the salvation of Israel. 2 Corinthians 2:11, my brethren, do not be ignorant concerning Satan's devices. Satan's devices. But so many of us are uninformed, are unaware, or are ignorant concerning how Satan works. And we can't afford to do that. We need to know exactly how Satan, the wiles of the devil, operate and how he uses doubt and deception and disguise.

To create all kinds of confusion in the church. We can't afford to be ignorant of Satan's devices. The Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 12, verse number 1: Brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant concerning. spir gifts. Why? Because spiritual gifts enable you to operate and function as a body that allow you to be the kind of body that people want to be a part of. But you can't afford to be uninformed about them. That's why we have a class that operates on spiritual gifts, that you can understand each and every one of the gifts as outlined in scripture.

So, you'll know what your gift is. So, you know how God wants to use you within the body of Christ to encourage people, to motivate people, to stimulate people to love and good deeds. But so many people in the church are ignorant when it comes to spiritual gifts. The Bible says don't be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts, Satan's devices.

The salvation of Israel, the sins of Israel for right Number five, the Bible says, make sure that you are not ignorant concerning the sufferings of Paul.

Second Corinthians 8, verse number 1. Why? Because all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You can't afford to be ignorant concerning the sufferings of Paul because there are times in your life you're going to suffer. You're going to experience pain and turmoil. You're going to be treated unjustly. If you're ignorant about how Paul handled all those things, you're going to have a hard time functioning in the present. You can't afford to be unaware. You can't afford to be uninformed.

You can't afford to be ignorant concerning the sufferings of Paul. Then in Romans 1, you can't afford to be ignorant concerning the stimulus for preaching the gospel. There is a stimulus that causes us to preach the gospel of Christ, that motivates us, that moves us to continue to communicate the truth of Christ. And if you're ignorant about that, You will not be one who preaches the gospel in season and out of season. And then lastly. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse number 13. Brethren, we don't want you to be uninformed concerning what?

The se com of the Messiah. But we are. All the things the Bible says don't be ignorant about, we are.

Why is that? It's like when your parents say, don't touch that, what do you do? You touch it. Don't do it, but you do it anyway. Don't be ignorant, but we are. Because Satan wants to move you away from those things. He doesn't want you to know how he operates. He doesn't want you to know about the sins of Israel and how God's going to save them. He doesn't want you to function in the body, of course. He doesn't want you using your spiritual gift. He doesn't want you to understand the sufferings of Paul because he wants you discouraged.

He wants you depressed. He wants you quitting. He certainly doesn't want you to understand what it means to preach the gospel and the stimulus behind that, because if you do, that means you'll preach the gospel. People will get saved. He doesn't want that happening. And he certainly doesn't want you thinking about the second coming of the Messiah because you're going to comfort one another with these words, and he doesn't want the believers to be.

To be comforted concerning what's going to happen with the rapture of the church and the coming of the Messiah to this earth. He doesn't want that to be seen and heard among his people. Why do I tell you that? I tell you that because it's imperative that we as a church understand everything that pertains to the second coming of the Messiah.

It's imperative. If there's 2 prophecies yet to be fulfilled. And only 190 of them were fulfilled at his first coming of the 333.

We must know what those other 224 are and how they will be fulfilled. That's important. Need to come to grips with that. If you've got your Bible, turn to 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3, know this, verse 3. First of all, then in the last days, mockers will come.

Know this first, Peter concludes his second epistle. Above everything else, know this. Make sure you come to grips with this element. You need to get it. Know this first of all.

That in the last days, now the last days began with the arrival of the Messiah, okay, the first time.

And we are in the last days. As we speak, know this, first of all, that in the last days, mockers will come with their mocking.

Following after their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? Forever, since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. You need to understand about the second coming of the Messiah because mockers are going to come and they're going to deny the fact that Jesus is going to come again.

And they'll mock us for believing in the supernatural arrival of the Messiah. And they're going to use the argument of uniformity. That is, everything has continued as it always has from the very beginning of time. That they say that because they live, as Peter says, for their own lusts. They don't want accountability. See, the unbeliever says there is no God, God is not true, God's not going to do what He says He's going to do because they don't want accountability, they don't want to be judged because of their sin.

They want to somehow deny it, thus escape accountability. You can't do that. They're going to say. Things have always happened just the way they are. Nothing's ever going to change. That's like saying, I'm never going to die because I never have. That didn't make sense. The Bible says there's a point that a man wants to die after that, the judgment.

You can say all you want, I'm not going to die because I never have died. You're still going to die because that's the way it's going to be. And so Peter says this: He says For when they maintain this, it escapes your notice that by the word of God the heavens existed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

But the present heavens and earth by his word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. It escapes their notice.

They're saying that things are going to continue as they always have been, but they haven't. Because there was a worldwide judgment. It's called the flood. It took place in the book of Genesis. It truly did happen. Eight souls were saved: Noah and his family. There was a worldwide judgment. And there's going to be another one. It's not going to be with water. It's going to be with fire. But it's going to happen. Because God said it was going to happen. It says in verse 10: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens will pass away.

With a roar, and the elements will just be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. You see, we know how it's going to end. We know what the TV says. We know what scientists say. Well, there's going to be this meteor that's going to come and hit the. Hit earth and blow us to smithereens, or there's going to be this global warming that's going to take place and the melting of the ice caps, and all of a sudden we're going to be flooded as an earth. Or there's going to be Worldwide terrorism or a worldwide nuclear war.

No, there's not. That's not how it's going to end. We can surmise everything we want to surmise about how it's all going to end, but the Bible's made it very clear how it's all going to be to end. How it's going to end. The Creator. Is going to destroy his creation. God him is going to destroy the planet. We 're not going to destroy it. We don't have the power to do that. But God Himself does. And it will be obliterated. Because there's going to be a brand new heaven, and there's going to be a brand new ear.

That's going to be perfectly created by our God. Oh, He's going to come again. He's going to renovate the earth. He's going to bring it back to the way it was before the flood. during the millennial kingdom of God, but all that will be destroyed because it's still a sin-cursed ear. But God will destroy it all. And there will be a new heaven and there will be a new ear. All that's important. We need to come to grips with that. We need to understand the big picture of prophecy. We need to understand that as the Bible speaks, the person of God demands a second coming.

The purposes of God determine a second com. And the priority of God will deliver a second coming. You need to understand that. That the purposes of the person of God demands it. Who he is demands that he come again. His purposes determine he will come again, and his priority will deliver the fact that he will arrive again. We need to understand that, so let me explain that to you.

First of all, the person of God demands the return of the k. All throughout the Old Testament, God the Father, New Testament, God the Son, New Testament, God the Spirit. All promised the return of the king. The triune nature of God and his credibility is at stake if he doesn't come again. If he doesn't come again, he's a liar, and God cannot lie. So if there's a hundred and nine prophecies. That were all fulfilled literally, that would mean of the 333 prophecies, 224 had to be fulfilled literally as well.

Let me give you an example. The Bible prophesied in Isaiah 7, verse number 14, in Jeremiah chapter 32, that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Okay? That was fulfilled literally in Matthew chapter 1 when Mary conceived and bore a child. Having never known a man. So that was a literal fulfillment of Is 7, verse number 14. The Bible also says that the Messiah will be born in a city called, you know it, Bethlehem, right? How do we know that? Micah 5, verse number 2, Micah 4, verse number 8. All prophesy that the Messiah will come and be born in the city.

Of Bethlehem. So when Herod heard about the arrival of the king, he calls the scribes in Matthew 2 and says, Hey, where is this king going to be born? And what do they do? They quote Micah 5, verse number 2, because everybody knew. The Messiah would be born in the city of David called Bethlehem. They all knew that. And Jesus, of course, was born in Bethlehem. The Bible says in Is chapter 11, verse number 1, that I will call my son out of Egypt.

Prophecy fulfilled. In Matthew, Matthew's gospel, when the angel sent Mary and Joseph to Egypt to flee the wrath of Herod and then called them back out of Egypt back to Nazareth again. A literal Fulfillment. The Bible says in Isaiah 11, verses 1 and 2, that the Messiah will be anointed by the Spirit of God.

We know that in Matthew chapter 3, the Spirit of God descended upon the Messiah as a dove and was anointed by the Messiah. A literal fulfillment of Isaiah 11, verses 1 and 2. We know that the book of Zach prophesied that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on the backside of a don. We know that before that, Malachi chapter 3. Malachi 3, verse number 1 says that the Messiah will come to his temple suddenly. We know he did that on three separate occasions at his dedication. When he was 12 at his first Passover, at his bar mitzvah, and of course, when he cleansed the temple in his ministry.

A literal fulfillment. Zechariah 9 says that he will come in to Jerusalem on the backside of a donkey. Luke 19, we've already studied Luke 19. That literally happened exactly as Zach prophesied. Zach 9:9 also prophesied that the daughter of Jerusalem would rejoice at the arrival of the Messiah, and that's exactly what happened in Luke chapter 19. Which is Monday of Passion Week, which is called the triumphal entry. All that was a literal fulfillment. These are just a brief summary of things that took place in Christ's life that help you understand a literal fulfillment of what he said was going to happen happen.

The Bible says that he would be betrayed by a friend. The Psalms tell us that. Of course, Judas was his betrayer. Zach tells us he betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. That's exactly what Judas sold him for: the price of a slave. Again, a literal fulfillment. The Bible says in The Psalms that he would be crucified, Psalm 22.

That's exactly what took place. He was crucified. The Psalms also tell us that he'd be given vinegar to drink, which he was. The Psalms also tell us that they would part his garments, and they did do that as well. And the Psalm 16 also tells us that he would rise again from the dead, and of course he did. All of that, a literal fulfillment of prophecy. So there's no reason to think that his second coming is going to be a spiritual fulfillment or a figurative fulfillment.

It will too be a literal fulfillment. Let me give you an example. Turn with me to Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1. In Luke chapter 1, Jesus' birth is foretold to Mary. It says in verse number 30, and the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. Okay? Did she conceive and bear a child and name him Jesus? What's the answer to that? Yes. Okay, good. You're with me today. He will be great.

Was he great? Yes, he was. And will be called the Son of the Most High. And he was. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. But he hadn't done that yet. But he's going to. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Now, will that literally happen, or will that figuratively happen? It will literally happen. You can't look at the first part of the verse and say, well, yes, it was literal that she would bear a child and she would call his name Jesus and he would be great.

But the rest of it would be figurative. No, it's all literal. It's all going to happen. But it just hasn't happened yet. But it's going to. How do we know that? Because there are so many prophecies in the Old Testament that tell us that. You see, the character of the tri nature of God is at stake. Is what he said true or false? Is what he said going to happen going to happen as he said it, or is it going to somehow mystically happen in our minds and be spiritually fulfilled in some way outside of a literal fulfillment?

See, you have to understand that. So, if you go back and you read Psalm 2, it says this: Psalm 2. Verse number six. But as for me, I have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain. I will surely tell her the decree of the Lord. He said to me, Thou art my son. Today I have begot thee. Ask of me, and I shall surely give the nations as thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as thy possession. Thou shalt break them with an iron rod, a rod of iron. Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.

Has that happened yet? No, it hasn't. But the question is, will it happen? And the answer to that is yes. Because there is a promise given. Go back to Isaiah chapter 9. Remember Isaiah 9? Verse number six: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given. Was that true? Yes, it is. That's exactly what happened in Bethlehem of Judea when Jesus Christ was born. And the government will rest on his shoulders. Did that happen? No. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace on the throne of David or over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness. From then on and forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. That is yet to happen, but it will happen. Because there is the fulfillment of Abrahamic covenant and of Davidic covenant. And all throughout the book of Isaiah, there's a promise given to the nation of Israel concerning their land and the Lord who will come and rule over that land.

In fulfillment of Abrahamic and Davidic promise given to Abraham and to David, reiterated over and over again in the Old Testament. Now, either God's going to fulfill that or he's not. And because his character is at stake and God is not a liar, he will fulfill that. You see, the person of God demands that Jesus come again. Over in the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah chapter 23. These words are spoken. Jeremiah 23. Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord. Verse number 5. When I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and he will reign as king, and act wisely, and do justice and righteousness in the land.

In his days, Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell securely. And this is his name by which he will be called the Lord our righteousness. Number one, Judah is not saved.

Number two, Israel is not dwelling securely. But the question is: will that happen? The answer is, yes, it will. Why? Because there will be a literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the arrival of the Messiah. So the person of God demands that he return because the Father's credibility is at stake. The Son's credibility is at stake. Jesus would tell of his coming in Matthew 24, 25, Mark 13, Luke 21, all in the Olive dis. Before this time in Luke 21, Christ has already spoken about his arrival.

He's already warned them about the fact that he's going to come again. So he's already set the tone. He's already set the pace. He's already explained to them that he's going to come again. Now, if he doesn't come again, that means he lied. That means that God is a liar because Jesus is God. But God can't lie because He's the God of truth. Remember John 13? In John chapter 13, our Lord is speaking. This is the Eve, or this is the evening of the betrayal. This is after the Passover. It says these words.

Verse 31, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in him. And will glorify him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek me. And as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, where I am going, you cannot come. Verse 36. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered, Where I go, you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me later. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you right now?

I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow until you deny me three times. Verse 4. Volume chapter 14. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I shall come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. Jesus promises men, I'm going to go away. And if I go away, I will come again. I will receive you unto myself. Where are you going? How can you leave us? We want to go too. Now, this is already after the Olive Ed dis. This is on Thursday evening. This is where he's talking to them about words of comfort that will help them through troubled times.

He promises the coming of the Spirit of God and the arrival of the Spirit, how it's going to instruct them and teach them in the ways of truth. You see? But Jesus said, I'm going to go away. In fact, 60 years later, 60 years later, Jesus said, Behold, I come quickly in the book of Revelation. Twenty-one different times Christ refers to his coming again. In the book of Revelation, it talks about the fact he's going to come quickly. He's going to come again. These are the words of Christ. His credibility is at stake.

He's either going to tell the truth. Oh, he's lied to us. And because he's God, he cannot lie. So the person of God demands Christ's return. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit inspired the New Testament writers. To write and record everything concerning the arrival of the Messiah a second time.

And their whole life: Peter's, James, John. Jude, every one of these guys would reiterate over and over again, the writer of Hebrews about the coming of the Messiah and the glory of his coming, all inspired by the Spirit of God. Remember on the Mount of Transfiguration? On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John were on top of that mountain with Christ, he unzipped his glory. Remember that? One like Moses was there, one like Elijah was there, and Peter wanted to build three tabernacles.

What were they talking about? The Bible tells us they were talking about his soon departure. But it was a glimpse of the kingdom of God. And Peter would say in 2 Peter chapter 1, we have a more sure prophetic word. He goes, I was on the Mount of Transfiguration. I saw the glory of the Lord. I understood the coming of the Messiah. But we have a more sure prophetic revelation. Given to us by God, explained to us about the majesty of His coming again, the glory of His coming again. Folks, this is crucial.

This is so important for you to understand. Outside of your faith in Jesus Christ, you must come to grips with the second coming of the Messiah.

Because it is the most talked about doctrine in the New Testament. Ask yourself this question: what do I know about the return of the king? What do I know about end-time events? What do I know about the tribulation? What do I know about Israel in that tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble? What do I know about that? Or are you one of those who sits back and says, I'm ignorant about the second coming of the Messiah?

I don't know. Folks, it has everything to do with how you live today. And so, we're going to take you verse by verse, literally word by word, through Luke chapter 21, because you need to be able to grasp this. This is our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything about our future. Resides in the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let me pray with you.

Father, we thank you for today and the joy of your word. And the truth that it gives us. Our prayer, Lord, is that we would live in the light of your arrival, that we would anticipate that even today you might come and take us home to be with you. And that, Lord. Everything about your coming again would be inaugurated. Lord, we love you. We look forward to the time we'll spend eternity with Christ. Until that day, may we be found faithful, true to you. In Jesus' name, amen.