“When These Things Begin”

"When These Things Begin"

(A Message to the Multitude)

(Preached Sunday Morning, August 23, 2020)

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

(Luke 21:28)

Introduction

“In a dingy apartment building, insulated by layers of hanging rugs, the last family on Earth huddles around a fire, melting a pot of oxygen. Ripped from the sun’s warmth by a rogue dark star, the planet has been exiled to the cold outer reaches of the solar system. The lone clan of survivors must venture out into the endless night to harvest frozen atmospheric gases that have piled up like snow.

“As end-of-humanity scenarios go, that bleak vision from Fritz Leiber’s 1951 short story “A Pail of Air” is a fairly remote possibility. Scholars who ponder such things think a self-induced catastrophe such as nuclear war or a bioengineered pandemic is most likely to do us in. However, a number of other extreme natural hazards—including threats from space and geologic upheavals here on Earth—could still derail life as we know it, unraveling advanced civilization, wiping out billions of people, or potentially even exterminating our species.” (Julia RosenJul. 14, 2016, et al. “Here’s How the World Could End-and What We Can Do about It.” Science Magazine, AAAS, the Science Society, 31 July 2018, www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/here-s-how-world-could-end-and-what-we-can-do-about-it.)

I. Look down!

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

A. “When?”

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said,

“Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 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.’

“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

“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.

“And they asked him, saying,

“Master, but when shall these things be?” (Luke 21:1-7a)

B. What “things” did he predict would “begin?”

“And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said,” (Luke 21:7b-8a)

False Religion Multiplying: “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.” (Luke 21:8)
War and Terrorism: “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.” (Luke 21:9)
National and Cultural Tensions: “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:” (Luke 21:10)
Increased Major Earthquakes Popping Up All Over the World: “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,” (Luke 21:11a)
A Global Lack of Food: “Famines.” (Luke 21:11b)
Worldwide Pandemics: “Pestilences.” (Luke 21:11c)
Scary Things [in nature?] Happening Throughout the Earth: “and fearful sights” (Luke 21:11d)
Astronomical Scientific Predictions Finally Coming to Pass: “And great signs shall there be from heaven.” (Luke 21:11e)
Christian Persecution and Subsequent Revival of Christianity on a Scale Like Never Before in History: “But before all these, 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. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.” (Luke 21:12-13)

C. What things have “come to pass?”

All nine of them; all checked off. Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check! All nine of these predictions given by the Lord Jesus Christ have come to pass. Yes, all of it! But… just to make sure that you and all of mankind really gets it, and never forgets it;

Never forgets it – throughout all of the prophesied, soon to come, 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth, and
Never forgets – throughout all of time and eternity to come;

Just to make sure… all nine (9) of “these things” are continuing, today and tomorrow, and are in fact increasing, rising… gradually higher every day.

II. Look up!

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

A. “When” is “then?”

Now! “Then” is now!

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

B. What will you see when you “look up?”

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

C. What will you see when you “lift up your head?”

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7)

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:9)

III. Look beyond!

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

A. Redemption from what?

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)

B. Redemption from who?

“And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 136:4)

C. Redemption for you?

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)

Conclusion:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4-5)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)

OUTLINE:

“When These Things Begin”

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)