b. From the very beginning followers of Jesus Christ have been persecuted by the lost world.

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1 SIGNS OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST Luke 21:5-36 I. INTRODUCTIONa. In these verses Jesus talks about the future Jesus can tell us about the future because He is God. b. Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV) I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. c. This chapter is built around five prophecies or predictions of Jesus four of these predictions have already come true the other is still yet in our future. II. JESUS PREDICTED THAT HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD BE PERSECUTED- a. Luke 21:12-19 (NKJV) But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. b. From the very beginning followers of Jesus Christ have been persecuted by the lost world. c. And the closer we come to the second coming of Jesus the persecution of Christians will become more intense and extensive.

2 d. More Christians were martyred in the last century than all previous 19 Christian centuries combined and the persecution of Christians in the world is growing. e. The persecution of Christians is even growing in our own nation which was once considered a Christian nation. f. April 25, 2017 The persecution of Christians is real. It is global in scope, brutal in its nature, daily in its occurrence, and growing worse than ever. A report by a secular institution in Germany indicates Christians are the targets of some 80 percent of all instances of religious persecution around the globe. They are repressed by communist regimes and Islamic states and some secular regimes like those in Central Asia. Earlier this year, a report by Release International warned that persecution of Christians is likely to increase this year. In addition to the attacks of the Islamic State, which are especially barbaric, attacks on Christians in China and India are on the rise. Around the world, Christians face an increasing array of violent persecutors. These include the brutal Islamic State in the Middle East, heavily armed militants in Nigeria and Hindu extremists in India Last month, the group Aid to the Church in Need, warned that the ancient Iraqi Christian community is in danger of extinction. From an estimated 1.5 million Christians in Iraq at the time of the U.S. invasion in 2003, the population has dwindled to an estimated 150,000. In the past year, the persecution of Christians has not only increased, but it has also spread to more corners of the globe with incidents occurring on every continent, according to a new report. The advocacy group Open Doors USA recently released the latest edition of its annual World Watch List, which ranks countries based on the treatment of their Christian populations. The group said the increase in incidents considered persecution was alarming and only getting worse. Open Doors reports that the spread of persecution of Christians has gotten worse, now hitting nearly every continent in the world. Open Doors reports comes on the heels of another study by the Center for Studies on New Religions that showed nearly 90,000

3 Christians were killed for their faith in 2016 and that as many as 600 million were prevented from practicing their faith through intimidation, forced conversions, bodily harm or even death. III. JESUS PREDICTED THAT THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM WOULD BE DESTROYED- a. Luke 21:5-6 (NKJV) Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see--the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. b. The disciples were shocked and stunned when Jesus told His disciples that the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem which was so impressive and seemingly impregnable would soon be destroyed. c. The Temple which existed in the day of Jesus was a stunning, massive, magnificent structure it was one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world the Temple was built with brilliant white stones, which were polished like marble it contained numerous rooms, porticos, colonnades, plazas, and patios, as well as caves, cisterns, and pits for water storage the eastern wall of the temple s main structure was covered in plates of gold which shone brilliantly in the rays of the morning sun coming over the Mount of Olives. d. Jesus said not one stone of the Temple would be left on top of another it would be completely destroyed. e. This remarkable prophecy was literally fulfilled in 70 AD when a Roman army commanded by a general named Titus lay siege to Jerusalem after the Jews had rebelled against Rome. f. Eventually the Roman army breached the walls of Jerusalem killing thousands of Jews burning the city and completely destroying the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem.

4 g. The Romans erected scaffolds around the walls of the temple and its buildings they then filled the scaffolds with wood and other flammable material and set them on fire the intense heat from the fires caused the stones to crumble the rubble left behind was then sifted to find all the melted gold and then thrown down into the Kidron Valley. IV. JESUS PREDICTED THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WOULD BE SCATTERED FROM THEIR HOMELAND- a. Luke 21:20-24 (NKJV) But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations b. The Jews who survived the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD were deported to other nations and scattered around the world. c. For 1900 years there was no geographical nation of Israel and the Jewish people had no homeland. V. JESUS PREDICTED THAT THE JEWS WOULD RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND- a. Luke 21:24 (NKJV) And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. b. Jesus said the Jewish people would be scattered from their homeland until the time of the Gentiles had been fulfilled. c. On May 14, 1948 the United Nations passed a Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel which returned control of the land of Israel to the Jewish people.

5 d. On June 7, 1967 after their victory in the Six Day War the Jews finally regained complete control of Jerusalem for the first time in over 1900 years. e. Except for a brief time during the Tribulation when the Anti-Christ will control Jerusalem the Times of the Gentiles has been completed! f. For 2,000 years the Jewish people were without a kingdom, a country, a Temple and they were scattered among many nations. But they never lost their identity, and now they possess their own national state. On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation again. I believe the greatest fulfillment of prophecy (since the birth of Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago) was the rebirth of the state of Israel in There were other powerful nations in the Middle East in Old Testament times. There were the Philistines, the Hivites, the Jebusites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Edomites, etc. How many of us have neighbors who are Philistines? But all of us know about Jewish people in our communities. The Philistines and Hivites and Amorites, etc. have been absorbed by other nations and have lost their identity. But it is not so with Israel! VI. JESUS PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD COME AGAIN- a. Luke 21:27 (NKJV) Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. b. No one knows exactly when Jesus Christ is coming again but in these verses Jesus gives us some signs to help us to know how close to His return may be. c. One sign that Jesus gave us is that of spiritual deception the closer we get to the return of Christ the more spiritual deception will increase in the world.

6 d. Luke 21:8 (NIV) He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. e. More people are caught in spiritual deception today than ever before there are more false religions more false cults and more false Christianity today than there has ever been. f. Jesus also speaks of political signs that point to the soon return of Christ. g. #1, the growing tension among nations and the growing possibility of catastrophic world-wide conflict Luke 21:10 (NIV) Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. h. #2, The growing isolation and abandoning of Israel Luke 21:20 (NIV) "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. i. Jesus also speaks of signs in nature that point to His soon return. j. Luke 21:11 (NIV) There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. k. The ultimate fulfillment of this verse will occur during the Great Tribulation just prior to the return of Christ but the foreshadowing of these things can be seen in our world today. l. There is no denying there has been an increase in great or significant earthquakes over the last few years despite all of our modern technology famine and hunger are ever increasing problems in our world today and despite the advances of modern medicine there are more deadly epidemics, plagues and diseases in our world today than ever before.

7 m. Today catastrophic storms which are growing in number and intensity foreshadowing the fearful events and the great signs from heaven that will occur in the sky during the Great Tribulation. VII. CONCLUSION- a. How do we live in times like these?...in these verses Jesus gives us six commands. b. #1, Do not be afraid Luke 21:18 (NIV) But not a hair of your head will perish. we may not make it out of this world alive but we will not perish! c. #2, Decide not to worry Luke 21:14 (NIV) But make up your mind not to worry if God takes care of the birds of the air and flowers of the field He will take care of you! d. #3, Stand firm in your faith when the world is falling apart we must stand firm in our faith. e. #4, Build your life on God s Word Luke 21:33 (NIV) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. f. #5, Guard your heart Luke 21:34 (NIV) "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. g. Don t be consumed by the things of this world keep your focus on God. h. #6, Keep watching and praying Luke 21:36 (NIV) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." i. This speaks of spiritual discipline, diligence, determination and discernment which is the fruit of a committed, obedient and Godfocused life.