Text: Luke 21:5–36
Topic: How to be ready for Christ's return

• Illustration: The day before the September 11 attacks, a fifth grader predicted the start of World War III.
• The idea of predicting the future fascinates us.
• What if I told you that Jesus Christ made an amazingly accurate prediction of a future event—one that was substantiated by three different gospel writers and later confirmed by non-believing historians?
• In Luke 21:5–36 Jesus delivers one of his better-known sermons—the Olivet Discourse—and it's all about the future.
• Jesus predicts the fall of the temple, which occurred in 70 A.D.
• The disciples want to know the times and the signs—the "when" and the "what" that will proceed this terrible event.
• Jesus' answers explain what will happen prior to the fall of Jerusalem—but also what will happen prior to his return.

• Before the temple's destruction, there will be many false Christs.
  • Illustration: There have been many false Christs in the world: Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Marshall Applewhite.
• Before the temple's destruction, there will be war.
• Before the temple's destruction, there will be natural disasters.
• Before the temple's destruction, there will be a time of persecution that will be especially difficult for those who follow Jesus.
  • Illustration: Mitchell shares the story of an Islamic man who did not accept Christ because of the cost.
• Before the temple's destruction, Jerusalem will be destroyed.
• One of the mistakes Christians often make is to associate these things with the end.
• Jesus clearly says in verse 9 that "the end does not follow immediately."
• We're still in that period, and it's not all a bed of roses.
• What do we do during these difficult times?

• Jesus insists that we should respond with wisdom and faith.
• First of all, this means that we shouldn't be misled by false Christs.
• Jesus also says we shouldn't be terrified.
• A lot of people prefer to believe that God's people will be raptured before all this happens; it's okay to believe that if you see it in Scripture, but don't believe it out of wishful thinking or feelings of terror.
• Jesus also says that we shouldn't figure out ways to defend ourselves.
• Don't prepare what you're going to say when persecution comes; God will give you irrefutable words of wisdom.
• Jesus also tells us that we shouldn't give up.
• Even if you do die, you will gain your soul; that's why he says, "By your endurance you will gain your lives [or souls]."
• Some of you are going through some real trials and testings right now; God is producing endurance.
• Christ tells the people of his day not to stay in Jerusalem.
• Sometimes Christians think that it's faithless to flee; in this situation, Jesus says it's the best thing to do, "because these are days of vengeance" and "wrath to this people."
• Part of what we're supposed to learn from the fall of Jerusalem is that God is serious about sin.

• Verses 25–36 tell us that Christ will return in an unmistakable way.
• Jesus is using apocalyptic language, much of which is borrowed from the Old Testament.
• Jesus also says his return will be marked by dismay, perplexity, and fear among the nations.
• There will be widespread panic throughout the earth.
• How different this Second Coming will be from his first!
• What do we do in light of this?

• First of all, God's people must be ready.
• We must "look up" in hope, because something wonderful is happening.
• Redemption is near, and we're about to be delivered.
  • Illustration: Mitchell describes the moment his daughter locked eyes with her groom at their wedding.
• Secondly, we must recognize the signs.
• Third, Jesus tells us that we must be alert and prayerful.
• This preparation demands a couple of things of us.
• First, we have to guard against being lulled to sleep by the things of this world.
• This includes worldly pleasures and worldly worries; both can be deadly anesthesia for the soul.
• Secondly, Jesus says we have to keep alert and pray for the strength to escape all these things he's mentioned.
• Jesus doesn't mean "escape" in terms of not having to go through them, but in the sense of standing firm against temptations.

• Illustration: Mitchell tells the story of how preparing for a marathon does not include preparing for all 26 miles—just 20. 
• Luke 21 is like the last six miles of a marathon: we know it's going to be hard, and we know that there is nothing we can do now to replicate what it will be like then.
• But Jesus has told us what to look for and how to be prepared to cross the finish line.
  • Illustration: In his poem Let Me Get Home Before Dark, Robertson McQuilkin describes finishing the race well.