Luke 21 -- Heaven and Earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.

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1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Our life can be a living sacrifice that is acceptable to the Lord. So many are very concerned about how that is going to be judged. Here the Lord makes it clear He doesn’t look at your gift in terms of how many dollars it is worth, but rather how much of your living it is worth. The rich man that gave out of his abundance didn’t give any of his living, whereas the poor woman who gave out of her poverty gave all of her living. That is how we will be judged. You can’t fake that.

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Imagine a rich person gave money for a wing of a hospital to be built with his name on it. He may feel how great this building and its gifts are, and yet with wars and riots and natural disasters it could be that not one stone is left upon another. So there you are appearing before the Lord at His judgement seat and your life’s work has gone up in smoke. So the Lord is not judging the money but the living that was sacrificed. He also isn’t looking at the buildings you built but the people who were built up by you. Those people will also be standing at the judgement seat of Christ.

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

So how are we going to “not be deceived”? First of all you need to realize there is a purpose for the wars and commotions. They need to come to pass. Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth, but how do we know that is true? Therefore Caesar Nero tested this, Napoleon tested this, Hitler tested this. It is necessary for these wars to take place because it is the test that proves God’s word is true. What about the commotions? You can read Gandhi and see what Bible verses he based his protests on and his non violent resistance. But not everyone is persuaded, so you need to have the commotions of the Black Panthers and ANTIFA and the looters and rioters to prove that all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in God’s word.

 

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10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

We have had many different people all with their theory on how to raise a great empire. They have all come and gone. Alexander the Great, the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Roman Empire, this is necessary to test their wisdom and knowledge against God’s word.

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

The earthquakes reveal the inner workings of the earth. The famines have really helped us to understand how to best cultivate the land. The pestilences have taught us a lot about healthy practices and the need for sanitation. Before we can rule and reign on this earth we need to learn from all these things, they are all necessary, they all need to come to pass before we can be fully prepared to meet the Lord. There have also been great signs from heaven, particularly the great sign in Revelation 12 of the woman giving birth to the man child.

12 But before all these,

If you are involved in the gospel you will have the following experiences "before all these". What does that mean? Before all these signs? Or, before all these that will experience this in the Great Tribulation? It is my theory that the tribulation that we see in the Great tribulation is similar to the tribulation that people experience when they preach the gospel. It is kind of like squeezing orange juice from an orange. When you first start it only takes a little pressure, but then you need to put that orange in a press and really squeeze out every last drop. There have been many Christians who with just a little pressure the gospel pours out, with others you will need the press of the great tribulation to squeeze the gospel out of them.

they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

This is a very big but, one minute He is giving us a sweeping view of the next 2,000 year history and now He is telling the apostles that before the nations are tested, before the kings are tested, before the scientists and farmers and health care workers are tested that they need to be tested. We need proof that this word can stand the test first. There needs to be a testimony that the fellowship of the apostles is a trustworthy word that can withstand the gates of hell. This is the foundation word of this entire age.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

All of us have been given this word, not simply Peter and Paul. The word that the Lord gave them they have given to us. I see these people who have lost everything in these fires in California. I just wish I would see one of them holding a Bible saying “I still have this, I’ll be fine”.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Twice He says “for my name’s sake”. This is how you can settle your mind. The suffering you are going through is for “His name’s sake”. The way you respond will be a testimony, it could be a glory to the Lord or it could be a shame. Really, be prepared so you aren’t shocked, and glorify the Lord.

 

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20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

I have shared in previous posts that I think Jerusalem refers to the US. Yes, at the end of the Great tribulation the Lord Jesus will set his foot down in Jerusalem, Israel. But Luke is not the end of the Great tribulation, it is the beginning and I think the Bible refers to this starting with the US. When you see Washington DC compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Jerusalem in Israel has been compassed with armies since it first became part of the reformed nation of Israel. Washington DC has really only been compassed by armies in 1812 (there were some close calls in the Civil War, but not really what is spoken of here). But you can rule out 1812 because of all the other prophecies not having been fulfilled. People need to wake up, 25,000 troops in Washington DC with barbed wire everywhere and yet people going about like nothing is happening? The desolation thereof is nigh.

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

This is a direct reference to 70 AD and the army of Titus. This is how it works. Those who are in power must hear the testimony of the apostles. They despise it, hate it, persecute it, and even put them to death. But the testimony has been made and it will stand for 2,000 years. Meanwhile those leaders will then be utterly and completely destroyed and disappear like dust being blown by the wind. Those are “days of vengeance”. Not yours, not ANTIFA’s, but God’s. A solid testimony of the Lord lays the groundwork for Him to then come in and take vengeance because they wouldn’t listen to His word.

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. 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.

Once again, a sweeping view of the last 2,000 year history for the Jews. They were led away captive to all nations, it is called the diaspora. Jerusalem was trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled. It wasn’t until 1948, after the holocaust, that the Jews were able to return. Definitely “great distress” in the land. But even in 1948 Jerusalem was not returned to the Jews. It has only been in the last year that the US has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. UAE has also recognized this.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;

I don’t understand why Christians who claim to believe that every word of the Bible is the inspired word of God ignore this. There have been amazing signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars over the last few years. We have had a number of lunar eclipses taking place on holy days of Israel and solar eclipses taking place at key times as well. The signs in the stars like the great sign from Revelation 12 has also been seen.

and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 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.

At best we are just starting to get a glimpse of this. Every time they use the terms “apocalyptic” to refer to a fire, or flood, or some other disaster it means we are starting to get a glimpse. If the powers of heaven are going to be shaken it should not come as a surprise that the powers of the earth would also be shaken. We are told in Daniel that each nation has spiritual forces associated with it. It should be no great surprise then that the powers of the US would be shaken. Don’t be surprised if you see great protests in the street like we see in Hong Kong, oh wait, sorry, already seen that. Well, don’t be surprised if you see great cyber attacks on the US and Washington DC becoming an armed encampment of the military like the Green zone in Iraq. Oh, wait, sorry, already seen that as well.

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

Seriously, seeing the powers of the US government shaken could be the key event that immediately precedes our seeing the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory?

Who is the “they”? It refers to all those who didn’t see or refused to see Jesus, His power and glory, during this age. Right now there is a privilege to see and believe in Jesus, but then everyone will see. Today you can embrace Jesus, then you will be terrified.

 

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

When these things begin to happen must surely refer to Jerusalem returning to the Jews. But in reality for the entire 2,000 years you could see something. You could see the testimony of the apostles, or the fulfillment of Titus' army destroying the Temple, or any kingdom being overthrown, a famine due to mismanagement, a plague due to uncleanness. Everything is one more step towards us being mature and ready to reign with Jesus. Lift up your heads! Your redemption draweth nigh!

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Israel is depicted as a fig tree. It was planted in the good land again in 1948. In 2019 it began to shoot forth with peace plans to recognize Jerusalem. That is a sign that summer is nigh. That is a sign that Jesus is about to send forth His angels to reap His harvest.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Is there anyone in history who has been able to declare that “heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away”. Once again, if we get a revelation of this we would realize what a treasure the Bible is.

According to the Bible a generation is 70-80 years. On May 14, 1948 Israel, the fig tree, sprouted again after a long winter. 70 years later is 2018, 80 years later is 2028. Most understand that the last seven years of this age begins with the rapture of the man child. That would have to happen in 2021 for all to be fulfilled by 2028.

 

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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. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

The Lord realizes how valuable His word is, but if you don’t, well that will be a great insult to Him. If you are caught up in trivial garbage that is on TV, or Youtube and are distracted from the word, then the day will come upon you unaware. You will be snared like an animal in a trap. You will not greet that day like a child of the king, but rather like an animal in a trap.

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.

Not all believers will be “worthy to escape all these things”. Obviously He isn’t talking about the persecution that the early church went through or that the apostle’s suffered. He is talking about us, at the end of the age, being raptured prior to the Great Tribulation. Not all believers will be counted worthy to be raptured prior to the Great Tribulation. Some will be left behind like trapped animals. But imagine being counted worthy to stand before the Son of man, to be one of those raptured to the heavens to kick Satan out and to then return with the Lord in the clouds as His army when He comes in great power and glory.

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

 

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Matt 24:6 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars.

Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars

Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings],

I was caught by this phrase "rumors of war". What does that mean? Think about 9/11 there was a rumor that Iraq was behind 9/11 so we went to war in Iraq, but that was a rumor, wasn't true. The same thing happened in the Vietnam war, there was a rumor that Vietnam had attacked US warships, that wasn't true, it was a rumor, but that is why we went to war there. WWII there was a rumor that the communists had burned down the Reichstag building, again not true, but that helped propel Hitler to power. There was also a rumor that the Jews were behind the night of broken glass, again not true, but a good excuse to attack the Jews. We had a rumor about Weapons of Mass destruction, which is why we had Gulf War II, but again, not true. In a democracy you have to give the people a valid reason to go to war, which they have manufactured again, and again, and again. Same thing with the impeachment, it is based on Trump instigating a riot at the capitol, however, it is now apparent that this was largely a false flag operation designed to create an excuse to persecute supporters of Trump.

But notice how Luke is different from Matthew and Mark. Right now we have these rumors of revolts, civil unrest and uprisings. That is the excuse to put 25,000 troops in Washington DC.