Jesus said the gates of hell will not destroy His Church (Matthew 16:18). He was not talking about a building. People are the Church. Let’s look at Luke 21:5-19 and discuss fear and enduring to the end.
Not One Stone
Luke 21:5-6 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.”
Jesus predicted the Temple would be destroyed. It lasted over 500 years. God closes spiritually worthless buildings. Jesus’ prediction came right after he had praised a widow for her very generous contribution to the temple fund, the proverbial widow’s mite. Church buildings are not the "forever" part of church life.
The majesty of a large church service and the healing intimacy of a small church are unsurpassed. Large churches are not the norm and not always successful. A few ancient churches were large. Usually, they were small and scattered. Jesus is more impressed with the grandeur of a faithful heart.
God may destroy what we have built for our own good. The Temple once serving a good purpose but it became a distraction. The Gospels help us realize how ignorant we are of God’s perspective. The important thing in gaining perspective is to sit at the feet of the Master.
A tour guide once remarked that St Peter's Basilica cost most of northern Europe. Built by financial corruption, indulgences, it is a monument to sin and arrogant pride in the Church. Our traditions and structures can become monuments to our own sin and conceited arrogance which God must eventually destroy.
Jesus spoke of a permanent Temple. People are that house of God (Ephesians 2:18-20). We are the living stones (1 Peter 2:4-6) in a spiritual temple. Our hope is in a permanent structure being built by Jesus Christ. If we build with him we will not be disappointed.
Don’t be Deceived
Luke 21:7-9 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?” 8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
Let’s not be deceived by wild claims about the end times. Let’s not be frightened. In the midst of calamity and destruction, let’s stand firm on God’s foundation: Jesus, the prophets and apostles, the whole Bible. End-time theories make us lazy. Real Christianity involves steadfastness in the midst of uncertainty.
An Occasion for Testimony
Luke 21:10-13 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 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. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
Many Christians live in GREAT tribulation in dozens of countries today, fellow Christians face North Korean labor camps and death, Saudi Arabian imprisonment, deportation, torture and death, Afghani kidnapping and killing, Iraqi home burning, abduction and murder, Somali abduction and murder with no religious freedom. Let us pray for them.
Every generation since the cross has thought that theirs was the last generation and none of them was right. Jesus encouraged us not to worry about being overly prepared but to put our faith in him. Worry and doubt distract us from the important job of spreading the gospel message.
Patient Endurance
Luke 21:14-19 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.
By patient endurance, we will gain our lives. Martyr means testimony, a witness. 50 countries persecute Christians according to Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs. Fake gospels contradict the reality of giving in self-sacrifice. God certainly does provide material blessings along with suffering. Jesus encouraged us to stand firm.
There are 4 predominant schools of prophecy: preterists (ancient fulfillment), historicists (fulfilled through history), futurists (to be fulfilled) and idealists (symbolic or spiritual fulfillment). The symbolic view can include all other views. Here we can see elements fulfilled in 70 AD and some more completely fulfilled only at Christ’s return.
Someday this earth will pass away. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. Our church buildings will be gone. False predictions and false gospels will be exposed. To God, the only important things are you and me. Have we learned to possess our souls? Are we trusting God with patient endurance, and gaining eternal life?
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Readings
1st Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25
Isaiah 65:17-25 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
20 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them.
24 “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the Lord.
Thus ends the reading from Isaiah 65.
This chapter of Isaiah offers a vision of a world with a wonderful future, a future that is at peace. In this new world God will not simply defeat enemies but transform their relationships. “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
2nd Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6
Isaiah 12:1-6 And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
The word of the Lord.
This is Isaiah’s song of praise to the Lord for His salvation. Isaiah thanks God for replacing His anger with mercy. That happens in Jesus Christ. Rather than fear we trust God. God will again grant Israel an “exodus” from “slavery.” Jesus is the “Living Water.” Eternal life begins now.
3rd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
The Word of God for the people of God.
Paul instructs the Christians in Thessalonica on the importance of work and avoiding the creation of an “idle class” either on welfare but able to work or wealthy and not working. Neither is God’s intent for humanity. Never get tired of doing good works.
Luke 21:5-19 in Rhyme
Then, as some spoke of the temple
Adorned with stones so beautiful
And gifts to God dedicated
With which it was decorated
He said, “These things which you are beholding
The days will soon be unfolding
In which not one stone shall be left
On another, but thrown to rest.”
So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher
When will these things be a feature?
And what sign will there be when these
Things are about to take place please?”
He said: “Take heed you’re not deceived.
In My name heaps will be received
Saying, ‘I’m He,’ and, ‘The time’s near.’
Don’t go after them, when you hear.
When you hear of wars and tumults
Don’t waver; expect such results
But the end won’t come right away.”
And then He had some more to say
“Nation will rise against nation
Also kingdom against kingdom
There will be terrible earthquakes
In various places outbreaks
And famines, plagues and fearful sights
Also great signs from heaven’s heights
Before all these things come to pass
They’ll lay hands on you and harass
In the assemblies and prisons
You’ll be before rulers and kings
For My name’s sake you’ll testify
Don’t plan ahead what you’ll reply
I’ll give you a mouth and wisdom
Foes can’t fight with criticism
You’ll be betrayed by your brothers
By parents, friends and relatives
And they’ll even kill some of you
And for My name’s sake they’ll hate you
You won’t lose a hair on your head
Stand firm and win your life instead.”
