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We can learn from Christ’s description of the Age (Luke 21:8–19)
The dangers Jesus warned of are what His church has faced from the beginning. There have always been deceiving teachers, persecution, and disasters. But what He says is that each of these areas will increase and intensify as Christ’s Coming draws near.
• There will be religious deception (Luke 21:8). “Be not deceived!” is Christ’s admonition to us, and we must take it to heart. Jesus is warning that even God’s people will be in danger of being deceived. Satan has always been a counterfeiter. He has led people astray for centuries. His plan is to deceive minds and blind hearts (2 Cor. 4:1–6; 11:1–4, 13–15). Deception
Of course, it includes the originators or propagators of all the false cults which have arisen throughout the course of the age, beginning with the first century. We have witnessed the rise of many in the last hundred years, especially those with the label, “Made in America,” like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, Christian Science, and others. These are outwardly Christian in language and activity but their basic message is anti-christian, rejecting the true Christ. Any person or organization which purports to be Christian in its outward aspects, but whose message is actually opposed to the Christian faith is an antichrist. It is the rise of these groups our Lord predicts.
What a peril to the faith they have proved to be.
• There will also be global distress (Luke 21:9–11). “Be not anxious!” is Christ’s admonition to us, and we must take it to heart. Sometimes you find people keeping track of the earthquakes that have occurred in recent years. Others list all the wars and attempted invasions. They seem to overlook the fact that Jesus said that wars, earthquakes, pestilences, and famines by themselves are not signs of His soon return. These things have been going on throughout the history of the world. The disasters will just get closer and stronger as His coming draws near.
• There will be religious persecution, public (Luke 21:12–15), and personal (Luke 21:16–19). “Be not afraid!” is Christ’s admonition to us, and we must take it to heart. Jesus always promised that His children would suffer (John 15:18–16:4, 32–33), and Paul said it is part of being a believer (2 Tim. 3:12). But the persecution in the end times will be part of a final holocaust and countless multitudes (Revelation 7:9-14) will give their lives for Christ.
• There are no signs for Christ’s Coming for His Bride, the Church. The events Jesus describes in Luke 21 are not signs of His soon return. All of these problems have been going on for centuries. However, as the coming of the Lord draws near, these things will multiply and intensify. All believers, no matter what their position may be on the timing of Christ’s coming–need to heed His three admonitions: “Don’t be deceived! Don’t be afraid! Don’t worry!”
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.
I will—Know God’s Word so I won’t be deceived.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.