Luke 21:5-24 The Temple Mount Discourse

Intro: Seen Jesus is on the TEMPLE MT. – it’s Tues of the Passover week – 10th day of Nisan / Beginning of Inspection – Passover Lamb

  1. Jesus has been playing 20 questions w/ the Religious Leaders
  2. After Answering all their questions successfully – He says I HAVEA QUESTION FOR YOU – MESSIAH WHOSE SON / David son & God
  1. The Religious Leaders are Dumb founded – they don’t know how to Answer –
  1. At that Point Jesus turns & speaks to His Disciples / but also in the Hearing of the Multitude & Says 46 "Beware of the scribes,
  1. He Exposes their Hypocrisy – which really ticked them off

D) Then He points out WIDOW GAVE TWO MITES – Great Gift-

Because she gave her all – totally trusted the Lord .

 

At this point Jesus breaks into a Prophetic Discourse that is prompted by a question from one in the Crowd

5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

6 "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."

  1. So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"
  1. The temple was first Built in Jerusalem by King Solomon it was a Beautiful building to Behold –
  1. After Solomon’s reign & the many wicked Kings who Reigned in Israel & led Israel into Idolatry that resulted in their defeat
  1. The Result was that the Temple was Plundered many times / gold & Ornate Beauty was Stripped / as anything of value was taken

C) The Final PLUNDERING OF the TEMPLE occurred in 597 B.C., then by Nebuzaradar & then was burned by him & his general, in 587/586 B.C.

D)Herod the Great came to power in 37 B.C. - He determined that he would please his Jewish subjects & show off his style of kingship to the Romans by making the Jerusalem Temple bigger & better than it had ever been.-

E) Which he succeeded in doing

    1. It was considered to be one of the most magnificent buildings in the

world.

Josephus, the historian, said that the stones that Herod used to build the Temple were 25 cubits long, 8 cubits high and 12 cubits thick

  1. A cubit = approx. 18 inches which means that these stones were 35.5 ft

long, 12 ft high and 18 ft. thick.

B) For a long time, historians thought that Josephus was guilty of exaggeration.

  1. Yet as archeological work progressed they found stones that formed the retaining wall of the Temple mount that proved his accuracy.

  1. Some of them are as long as 45 ft.

So These people were commenting on the beauty of the Temple that was built by Herod the Great.

  1. Jesus response – probably blew their minds when He declared in v.6

    2. "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."
  2. Jesus was referring to what would take place 37 ½ yrs later in A.D. 70 when Titus would come in & Destroy the temple .

    3.  

  3. Now Caesar happened to be in Jerusalem at the time of the siege of Jerusalem which was undertaken by the 10th Roman Legion,

  1. which was under the leadership of Titus

  1. He happened to be in the Antonio Fortress at the time of the siege, which is adjacent to the Temple Mount.

  2. Because of the magnificence of the Temple, the troops were ordered to NOT destroy the Temple,

  1. so that it might stand as a monument to the building genius of Rome.

  1. When the Romans soldiers began to set fire to the Temple, / Massive bond fire on the temple Mt. Heat was so intense Gold began to Melt

  1. The Soldiers moved by greed began over turning the stones to get to the gold despite the Yelling of Both Caesar & Titus to Stop

  1. The temple was burned & those inside who fled for refuge were Cremated

    2. NOTE: This SENSELESS destruction of the Temple AGAINST the order of Caesar himself proof that God’s Word is true.

  2. IF you go to the Temple Mount today, you will see that there is NOT ONE stone standing.

 

Well Jesus response prompted the QUESTION OF THE HOUR

  1. So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"

  1. At this point I want to make note of an important observation – Many People mistake this portion of scripture to be the Olivet Discourse /

  1. If you have a Scofield Bible like I do – the Publishers have titled this The Olivet Discourse Matt. 24 – NOT ACCURATE

  1. Although the two sermons are similar they are not the same – Lk. 21 precedes the Sermon given in Matt. 24

  1. Note the Differences

  1. The Place is Different – Jesus is still on the Temple Mt./ Lk 21 :37

  1. Yet in Matthew 24 we see Clearly that Jesus is now on the Mt. Of Olives

24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Now as He sat 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?"

 

Notice also that the Audience is Different – Temple Mt. – some still in the crowd –

  1. Mt. Olives Matt. 24 – Disciples come privately

  2. Here is the Key thing to understand – In Matt. 24 Jesus is further explaining what He said in Lk. 21 on the Temple Mt.

  3. He starts by talking about the destruction of the Temple / but then moves to talking about the 2nd coming & end of the World v.25

  4. That is why the Questions are even Different – Lk. 21 – "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"

  5. Matt. 24 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

  1. It is expanded question - We want the full scoop / expanded answer

Notice also the details are Different : In Lk first 24 verses He is dealing solely w/ the Destruction of Jerusalem & Temple He says in v.20

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

21 "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.

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

  1. So Here He speaks of a Fleeing that is Predicated upon the City of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies

  1. Which was EXACTLY the method of Warfare – Practiced by the Romans – Surround you / Flush out – No way out !!

  1. But in Matt. 24 He speaks of another fleeing – but Clearly a Different time & reason . Note v. 15,16

  1. "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

  1. Matt. The Event is the Abomination of Desolation – Dan. 9 Explains happens at the Mid way point of the Trib…… antichrist ….. temple …..

    2. D) Notice also that the Results of those events are Different / The Surrounding & the Destruction of the City by the Romans Results in Captivity & Dispersion

    v. 24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

  2. Where as the Event described in Matt. Launches the World into the 2nd part of the Tribulation where things intensive greatly note v. 21,22

21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

  1. "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

So what we have here are two different sermons – in Lk Jesus main emphasis is to focus on the INVASION of Jerusalem & Destruction of Temp.

  1. And then give some brief remarks concerning his second coming

  2. Where as in Matt. 24 – He is responding to the Disciples inquiry concerning this previous message on the Temple Mt.

  1. There in Matt. 24 – He speaks briefly of the events leading up the INVASION of Jerusalem & the DESTRUCTION OF the TEMPLE

  1. And then focuses primarily on the events Leading up to His Second coming !!!!!

  1. We are going to Look at Matt. 24 on Sunday nights in the not two distant future .

 

So w/ that as our Back drop lets consider the First part of this Prophecy concerning the INVASION of Jerusalem. & DESTRUCTION of TEMPLE

A) Complete works of Josephus - great insights READ V.8-11

  1. Now the events we read about here leading up to the Destruction of the Temple & Invasion… are very Similar to events recorded in Matt. 24

  1. Describing the events leading up to 2nd coming

C) NOTE: In Bible prophecy, there is often times a DUAL FULFILMENT

1) There is an IMMEDIATE and a DISTANT fulfillment

D) In these prophecies of the coming destruction of the Temple, there is also in them a future fulfillment of things that will precede His coming again.

E)Important to NOTE: The things that we will see prophesied here DID

take place prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD

 

According to Josephus, this time in history was a time of tremendous upheaval

There were many earthquakes.... He describes the famine conditions that existed in Jerusalem prior to the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman

A) He tells us that the famine was so bad that people became barbaric

The mother would take the food out of their children’s mouths

"The city was ruled by thugs at this point. They would go from house to house and look for food. They would break into a house and if there was food they would beat up the people and take the food. Many times they would torture the people to see if they had hidden any food. If the people looked healthy, they were convinced that they had to have food hidden. IF you were thin and sickly they wouldn’t bother you."

B) With famine there comes pestilence... plagues and diseases.

C) Josephus records that there was a comet that was seen for a years period of time.

  1. There was a brass gate that took some 20 men to open, and on one

occasion the people watched in awe as it opened of it’s own accord.

D) The people took these things to omens of things that were to befall them in Jerusalem. STRANGE TIME

But Jesus also predicated in Matt. 24 that some of these same things would precede His coming / Wars Earthquakes / false teachers

  1. Famine – We have seen an Increase in all these things especially in the last 50 yrs ( talk more about on Sunday)

  2. Notice what Jesus says next – v. 12-19

The Book of Acts is FILLED with the accounts of how this prophecy was fulfilled.

  1. The Christians endured INTENSE persecution... FIRST by the Jews... Acts 3-4 Peter and John before the...... Acts 7-8 The stoning of Stephen,

  1. At the hand of Saul/ RAMPAGE breathing out threats

  1. Then by the Romans... For a time in the Roman Empire it became a

    2. capital crime to confess Jesus as Lord

    1) In the first 3 centuries of the Church there were over 6 mill. martyrs.

  2. In Nero’s garden he would tie Christians to stakes and cover them with pitch and he would then use them as human torches

  1. and drive his chariot through his garden with no clothes on

D) They were thrown into arenas to be torn to pieces by lions animals and People watch it as a spectator sport.

But Jesus says: "You’re going to be persecuted...for My Name’s sake, but it will become an opportunity for you to witness

  1. Acts 4:7-13 Peter & John Before Religious Leaders – Preached gave Testimony

  2. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

  3. EXAMPLE: Stephen before the council in Jerusalem / Acts 7

  4. Paul in Acts 24 before Felix / Acts 26 Agrippa

E) Heavy Persecution but Despite that the Church grew – Because Acts 8: 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

NOTE: EVERYTIME they were brought to court, it gave them the opportunity to witness. Jesus gave them what needed to say

  1. Note Jesus still does this today – we find ourselves in Situations all the time where He comes through

  2. Counseling / Lord I don’t have a clue – He speaks

C) WITNESSING - Verses haven’t read in years suddenly start coming

to your mind !!!! AMAZING – SO GOD !!!!!

  1. Apologetics are great – but I have had situations where I have never studied something – question asked - He gives answer

 

Some here also face the family conflicts that Jesus is describing here

  1. In those days If you became a Christian, your family would disown you..... Sometimes they would even have a funeral.

  2. They would even turn in their own family members to be arrested.

  3. Some of you have experienced that type of Behavior from Your Families

 

NOTICE what Jesus promised them

A) You WILL suffer and be persecuted

B) NOTICE what Jesus did NOT promise them/ He didn’t say :

"If you follow Me, life will be so great... Health and wealth and prosperity.... Everyone will love you"

C) Learn this LESSON:

  1. As a child of God you are NOT immune all the kinds of agony that

anyone in the world can suffer

2) As a child of God you will suffer at the hands of a Christ rejecting world

3) As a child of God you will experience SPIRITUAL pain/ Hated for His sake / Hated me they are going to hate You ( Some hated no other reason

4) As a child of God there will be painful experiences that I do NOT understand... That will be IMPOSSIBLE for me to understand

D) Not going to be a BED OF ROSES /

The reason why so many people want a PAINLESS Christianity is

because they think that this earth is heaven

  1. Nothing can be further from the truth... this world is the closest thing to

    2. hell you can find without going there

  2. Jesus Promise v.18 "But not a hair of your head shall be lost.

  1. Does that mean they might put me to death but not a hair of my head will perish?

C) Understand Big Picture

Jesus said: Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jesus said: John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,

D) So You might DIE but you will NEVER PERISH/ that is Jesus Promise

 

Next Jesus reminds them in Luke 21:19 "By your patience possess your souls. NIV19 By standing firm you will gain life.

A) PATIENCE = Cheerful endurance

B) The hardest thing for me is to be patient when there’s trouble.

1) When everything’s going great, I have NO problem with patience

But when trouble comes up, then I want deliverance NOW

C) TWO view points

  1. It deals with eternal salvation.. Not an EARNING but a persevering

    2. in faith even to death

  2. It deals with not allowing trials to rip you off/ Both are Biblical

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Keep a Quiet Heart –

 

Jesus gives 3 admonitions 3 words of Instruction in this section v.9

  1. v.8 Don’t Be Deceived – Know what You Believe – not ripped off by

    2. false teachers / false concepts / Devil –

  2. Sometimes the Tendency in adversity – Joni Erickson – Only had faith

2nd v.9 Don’t be Terrified – Don’t be Afraid - Fear is greatest enemy of our faith

  1. Jesus Reminds in the face of Adversity – Don’t Fear !!!!

3rd – Not as Direct but – v.18 – Jesus saying – Don’t Worry –

  1. People often Worry about – Persecution – would I be able to stand ?

  2. It is true that Persecution does – weed out the Chaff & Expose the Phony – but in all the Accounts I have read – (FOXES & OTHERS)

  1. The Lord gives His People supernatural – ability to Stand firm in the mist of Persecution

  1. I Believe that He will do the Same for us – Should Persecution occur /

  1. Radical testimony to the World the Boldness w/ which Christians are able to stand in times of Persecution

 

Rap up - v.20-24

  1. Now Jesus is Describing exactly what would happen 37 ½ yrs later in A.D. when Titus would come to Jerusalem

  2. City Surrounded 1.1million Jews Killed – rest Dispersed

C) Throughout the Old testament God WARNED the nation of Israel that IF

they forsook the true and living God that they would be dispersed

Lev 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen,

Deu 28:64 64 "Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known; wood and stone.

Jer 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

Jer 30:11 11 For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.'

Time and again the Lord made these declarations that the Jews would be driven out of the nation, thus Jesus makes this statement

  1. So Jesus says that the nation will be scattered until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled

  2. The times of the Gentiles refer to time of Gentile Domination & occupation in Jerusalem

  1. The times of the Gentiles began in 607 B.C. when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian Empire

  1. Continued through the Roman Era – then in A.D. – Titus INVASION – the nation seemed Destroyed 1.1million Killed – rest Gone

    2. 1) Few that were Left were made slaves / MASADA

  2. So for 2000 yrs Israel seized to Exist – but in 1948 the nation was reborn

  1. Never happened before – Ever met a Babylonian or an Assyrian ?

 

So In 1948 the nation was reborn – but the city of Jerusalem was only Partially in the Control of the Jews / Divided w/ Arabs /

  1. Street that was no man’s land – guns on both sides

  2. But in June of 1967 – during six day war – Jews regained control of Jerusalem – times of the Gentiles completed

    3.  

  3. Notice v. 25 Signals the Beginning of a New thought – after the times of the Gentiles are Completed – Something radical happens

  1. Jesus describes here the events leading to 2nd Coming

  1. So now that the TIMES OF THE GENTILES are COMPLETED – the time that we are currently Living in OVERTIME

  1. Everything has happened that needs to Happen in order for the Lord to Return accept the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH –

  1. that is what we are waiting for !!!!!

 

Now in Romans 11:25 Paul says something very Interesting

  1. For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

There is a difference between the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES and the TIMES OF THE GENTILES and we should NOT confuse the two

 

FULNESS OF THE GENTILES = a reference to those gentiles that are to be saved that constitute the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ.

  1. God KNOWS exactly who are going to be saved.... Who the LAST person is that is going to surrender to Jesus Christ....

  2. The LAST gentile to be saved. The Lord will THEN rapture His Church and He will begin to deal once again with Israel as a nation.

  1. I wish I knew WHO the LAST gentiles are and that they would give

their lives to Jesus.

 

  1. TIMES OF THE GENTILES = The domination of gentiles over Jerusalem. That time seems to have been ended in JUNE 1967

  1. and the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES should be following quickly.