5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers1 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Section Overview
The cancer at the heart of Israel is evident in the behavior of the scribes (Luke 20:45–47); there is only a remnant, represented by the widow (21:1–4) pleasing to God. In an apocalyptic discourse Jesus turns to the judgment coming on Jerusalem and the temple and also predicts his future return. It is not evident from reading the discourse that the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem is separate from Jesus’ coming, but, as is so often the case in biblical prophecy, the judgment of Jerusalem becomes a type and pattern of the final days and of Jesus’ return.
People are exclaiming over the exquisite beauty of the temple, but Jesus predicts that a day is coming in which it will be leveled to the ground. Jesus is asked about when this will occur and what signs will accompany it. He warns his disciples about being deceived, since many will come claiming to be the Messiah. Even the outbreak of war will not signal that the day has come, for war, earthquakes, famines, and plagues will mark the present time. Furthermore, Jesus’ disciples must be ready for persecution in both synagogues and other government venues. They must ready themselves to bear witness to Jesus. They do not have to worry about what to say in their defense, for Jesus will give them the right words in response to accusations made against them. But the disciples must be ready to endure suffering and ostracism in order to obtain final salvation, because even family members will turn against them, and some believers will be put to death. Still, God will be with them in every instance.
Section Outline
V. Death and Resurrection in Jerusalem (19:28–24:53) . . .
C. Apocalyptic Discourse (21:5–38)
1. Prediction and Warning (21:5–19)
Response
Believe it or not, a small group of Jews—actually a small number of those from the Lubavitch sect—holds that Rabbi Schneerson was the Messiah. Most readers have probably never heard of Schneerson. He died in 1993, but a very small number of Jews still think he is the Messiah! Some expected him to be raised from the dead, but he has been dead many years now. Nor should we think that only Jews make this sort of mistake with prophecy. Some evangelicals identified the Antichrist as John F. Kennedy, the nation’s first Roman Catholic president. It was believed by some that Kennedy would do the pope’s bidding. When Kennedy was shot dead in Dallas, some people waited for this deadly wound to heal. It never happened. Ronald Wilson Reagan has also been suggested as the Antichrist. He has six letters in all three of his names. Other names that have been put forward include Henry Kissinger, Robert Kennedy, and Rush Limbaugh. And we cannot forget that, thus far, people have been 100 percent wrong in predicting when the end will come and in pointing to the identity of the Antichrist.
What is especially striking is that we are warned about the suffering that will come for Jesus’ sake, the persecution we will endure. We might think we would be celebrated and thanked for bringing a message of love and forgiveness to all people. But Jesus warns that many will oppose us, that the gospel will split families, that some of us will be killed for his name’s sake. He promises not our “best life now” but opposition and conflict. Still, the Lord promises to be with us when we suffer. He will strengthen us in the hour of our trouble, for we do not have the ability to suffer well but instead need his strength every day and every hour.