When I was growing up in I went on a couple of trips. One of those trips took me to Fontana Lake and correspondingly Fontana Dam in NC. I Got to take the tour of the dam, and even as a teenager, I was fascinated by this monstrous structure. Especially the amount of water it was holding back! I’d never seen anything like it.
I Don’t know if you’ve ever been to a dam before. But on one side is this massive amount of water seemingly rising up to the top almost of the dam itself, and then on the other side, amazingly the water is significantly lower, calmer, gentler, sometimes shallow even…
When the gates to the dam were closed, holding back the water – you could wade out into the water on this second side. Walk across the rocks protruding out of the water almost right up to the dam itself. You could fish and just float around, whatever you wanted…
But get it! Those HUGE GATES were restraining massive amounts of water– directly ABOVE our heads. Had the gates opened a wall of water would have descended and swept us away to our death!
Fortunately there was a warning signal. 10 minutes before the gates were to open, the Power Co. issued a blast on a horn. At five minutes there was another blast and then at one minute there were 3 long blasts
Those blasts on the horn were the sign that danger was near! We could fish and swim and hang out and the river would be calm. But then out of the blue that horn would BLAST. And when it did we looked up because that was THE SIGN — that were in imminent danger and the coming of the waters was drawing near.
Now I want to turn a corner and draw an analogy to that scene. Because for 2000 years this Christ rejecting world has been flowing along and God been quiet & merciful, holding back the waters of His wrath for this world.
Now before I tell you my proposition, I need to clarify something with you. I’m not an expert on the Book of Revelation. However, I am going to do my best to explain to you what I believe that the passages we are studying are saying. That is, I’m going to try and help us connect the dots and hopefully, do so without taking Scripture out of context.
With that said my proposition is that on June 7, 1967 – after almost 2000 years of quiet – God sounded His alarm. He gave THE SIGN that signals that Judgments of the Great Tribulation and the return of Christ are near at hand.
NOTICE – I didn’t say “imminent” I didn’t say ANY DATE at all. I don’t know when nor do I have any clue. No one does. But, as I read Scripture and attempt to interpret some of the things in context. I have come to the conclusion that our passage today refers to events that transpired on June 7, 1967.
However, I’m just one person. You need to decide for yourselves. Not everyone will agree with me. I could be wrong. BUT…
You need to know that this core belief, that GOD has sounded the warning signal motivates me to be here with you, sharing my faith, teaching you GOD’S Word, serving you and trying to help you see that that’s what GOD wants you to be doing for others as well. It’s why I’m so passionate about seeing our children and students taught the truth of Scripture in a culturally relevant, age appropriate manner. It’s why it is so important that we take our responsibility in serving others seriously. It’s why we meet and make plans and why we Invest & Invite!
With that said, Here’s the sign found in Luke 21:24 “They will fall by the sword, and will be taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles – until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Now take a look at verse 28) “And when these things Begin to take place (began June 7, 1967) stand up, lift up your head because your redemption is drawing near!”
So now you’re probably thinking what exactly is this sign?
We’ll find out as we look at Luke 21 because in this passage Jesus actually predicts 2 events! The first is a short-range prediction that regarded the destruction of Jerusalem and was fulfilled 38 years later. The second is a long range prediction and it has to do with the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ. And, I believe we are beginning to see its realization some 2000 years later.
Let’s be perfectly honest, anybody can predict events 100’s of years into the future knowing they’ll be long dead and gone before history has an opportunity to prove them wrong. Right? So, it was essential for God’s prophets to make Short Range predictions (something that would come pass before too long in order to qualify the long range prediction.
That’s exactly what Jesus does in this text. Before he predicts a long range event about His return, & signs to proceed it, He predicts a short range prophecy, namely the destruction of Jerusalem .
(5) “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.”
Get the setting, Jesus had been teaching all day at the Temple and now He and His disciples have ascended summit of a hill. 200′ below them—is the city of Jerusalem. As they gaze over the city one thing dominates the view, Herod’s Temple. It was massive! It occupied the entire northwest corner of a plateau. It’s stones were cut from solid stone, and inlaid with pure gold. History tells us that it took 84 years to construct the entire complex!
But Jesus looks down at the complex and declares that it will be destroyed.
[6] “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every one of them will be thrown down.”
Quite a prediction! Every stone turned loose from the others! But listen, most of these same disciples lived to see its fulfillment…
38 yrs later in 70 A.D., the Romans turned on the Israelis and ordered Titus, (the Roman general), to destroy the City of Jerusalem and level the Temple.
He went in with his army and burned the city to the ground and drove the remaining Jews out and destroyed the Temple.
Actually some stones were left unmoved after the attack. But Jesus’ prediction was that every one of them will be thrown down, separated.
Remember what was in the stones? GOLD! And after a time the Romans discovered it. So they went back in and pried the stones apart to reach the gold. And when they finished not one stone was left standing on another, perfectly fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy.
Back to verse 24: “They (Jews) will fall by the sword, (did) and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations (were) Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
When Jesus said that Jerusalem would be trampled on by Gentiles, He meant that non-Israeli countries would control Jerusalem. Gentile peoples would be in charge of Jerusalem.
Was that accurate? YES!!! Beginning in 70 A.D. with the Roman conquest, Jerusalem was continuously controlled by a host of Gentile nations.
See that preposition “until”? Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles – until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled…
Until is a term of transition and the meaning of the text turns on that preposition. Jesus was saying that Jerusalem would be controlled by NON-Jewish countries and that would be the trend until something is completed. But when that trend was completed and Jerusalem was returned to Israeli control – that would be the signal that something different was beginning.
Watch what follows right on the heels of the return of Jerusalem to Israeli control.
25] There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26] Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken…
GET IT: Right now — God’s wrath against this Christ rejecting world is being restrained, But only by his MERCY God’s mercy is like a giant dam that’s holding back His fury.
27] “At that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory!” But what is the EVENT that signals that this is near?
Remember, Jesus said –there would be a trend whereby Jerusalem would be controlled & oppressed by outsiders.
History caps on: In 70 A.D. Jerusalem fell into hands of Rome. Then in
• 615 – Persians
• 637 - Caliph Omar
• 1099 – Crusaders
• 1187 – Saladin
• 1250 – Egyptian Mamelukes
• 1517 - Turks
• 1917 – Great Britain
• 39’ – 45’ 6 million dead at the hands of Hitler
But when this trend ceases that will be the sign, “…until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
And on May 14, 1948 the trend changed! Almost overnight Israel became a nation. From 70 A.D. until 1948 no Israel! Israel did not yet control Jerusalem but, incredibly, after almost 1900 years, she again became a nation.
Remember Jesus’ prediction spoke specifically about Jerusalem being under Israeli control, not just Israel. That would be the sign.
From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city. Arabs and Israelis faced each other across a barbed wire.
But in June 1967 Israel launched a preemptive strike against the surrounding Arab nations.
She sent all her planes out to sea, and came in from a unique direction, hit Egypt and Syria and knocked out 90% of the enemy aircraft before they could even get off the ground.
Israel captured:
? Golan Heights from Syria
? Gaza – Egypt
? Pushed Jordan back – beyond West Bank
And at 9:50, June 7, 1967 – Jerusalem went back Israel! On that day, the control of Gentile nations over Israel ENDED!
Jesus says: (28) “And when these things begin to take place stand up lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near!”
We don’t know when and anyone who claims they do is a liar! But I do believe the shadows are being cast… and that in the scheme of the scope of history are time is shorter now than ever before and we need to diligent to help those around us prepare by sharing the truth of the gospel with them.
Until next time I’ll be serving Him with you,
James