Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 21 : 8-19 "NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM..." Luke 21:10"
Day 260 – Luke 21
Text: Luke 21 : 8-19
“NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM…” Luke 21:10
As Jesus looked into the future, He saw that the world would have much unrest. Yes, there would come a time when God would bring an end to all things. But before that great day, the nations of the world would constantly fight against each other.
How do we understand this statement of Jesus? Let us be careful that we do not misapply these words out of context. Let us consider the following thoughts:-
1. The fact is that nation has always risen against other nations! From the Babylonians to the Romans who ruled the world in the days of Jesus, kingdom had risen against other kingdoms! Jesus was confirming that this scenario would not change much. War cries would never cease!
2. If anything at all, as The Day of the Lord approached, there would be further escalation of wars and commotions. The idea conveyed is that there would be many more countries that would be engaged in warfare!
THE PROPHECY OF JOEL CONCERNING WAR IN THE END TIMES
Joel was one of many prophets that preached on the theme, “The Day of the Lord”. In his prophecies, he made some startling statements. Our understanding of the prophetic ministry of Joel would help us understand the prophetic statements of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Important goals of the prophet
“Blow the trumpet in Zion.
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming…”
Joel 2:1
a) What did the prophet Joel seek to do when he prophesied concerning “The Day of the Lord”? His goal was to wake up the inhabitants of the land. He sought to do a wake-up call for Israel! This was what Jesus sought to do as well, when He pronounced the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem!
“For the Day of the Lord is great and terrible;
Who can endure it?
‘Now therefore,’ says the Lord,
‘Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful…”
Joel 2:11-13
b) Joel sought to turn the hearts of Israel back to the Lord! He sought to preach about the terrible events of The Day of the Lord so that the inhabitants might turn to God in repentance. He was not guilty of using scare tactics! He was just proclaiming the fact that The Day of the Lord would be “great and terrible” indeed! Jesus also sought to teach Israel the same truth. He wanted to see Israel repent from its sinful ways!
“Proclaim this among the nations:
‘Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
Beat your ploughshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.”
Assemble and come, all you nations,
And gather together all around….
Let the nations be wakened,
And come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down; for the winepress is full,
The vats overflow–
For their wickedness is great.”
Joel 3:9-13
Joel’s prophecy concerning the End Times was one of war. We may say that Jesus summarized what Joel prophesied concerning the Day of the Lord. There was no necessity for Jesus to repeat what had already been prophesied.
Of course Jesus also knew the prophecy of Joel. This ancient prophet was right when he prophesied war. The language of Jesus was a little different. His words were lots more powerful and striking. “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”(Luke 21:10).
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THE PROPHECY CONCERNING WAR IN THE END TIMES?
Let us heed the words of the prophet Joel. Let us turn to the Lord while we may. Let us turn to the Lord with all our hearts. Let us return to the Lord. When evil times come, and they will, we would then find that,
“The Lord will be a shelter for His people,
and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16