Our Eschatological Hope
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Jesus reveals both the weal and the woe of His spectacular Second Coming, and our great eschatological hope!
Text: Luke 21:25-28
Date: 06/08/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 196
Description:
As Jesus' great discourse on the things to come continues, He turns His attention to the Eschaton-- the end of the world as we know it. After revealing some of the signs and portents that will precede His Parousia (Second Coming), in clear language He establishes the unquestionable fact of His spectacular return in power and glory. We will analyze the words of these pivotal verses, recognizing that the Eschaton will be a time of terrifying judgment for those who refuse to accept both the Lordship and grace of Jesus Christ. But for those who do believe, and have surrendered to the King of kings, the Parousia will be a time of glorious redemption, despite the calamitous eschatological events. Therefore, Christians should "show some backbone" and "lift their heads" and stand firm against the wickedness of this world-- intensifying our longing for the Return of Christ and finding encouragement in our eschatological hope.
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I. Introduction, Phil. 3:20-21; 1Pet. 2:11.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 21:25-28.
A. Context
1. The discourse on things to come.
2. The perspective of the River of Redemption, Luke 20:17-18.
B. Portents of the Parousia.
1. Signs and portents, vs. 25-26.
a. Noticing the grammar.
i. Probing the meaning of "signs".
ii. Noticing the chiastic form.
iii. The concept of Divine Judgment.
b. Signs in the heavens, vs. 25a, Matt. 24:29.
i. Graphic Old Testament imagery, Isa. 13:10; Joel 3:15; Rev. 6:12.
ii. Interpretation.
1) When all the lights go out, 2Pet. 3:10; Rev. 21:1.
2) When darkness turns to Light, Rev. 21:23; John 1:5.
3) Noticing the irony.
c. Distress on earth, vs. 25b.
i. A worldwide event.
ii. A time of great distress for the nations, 2Cor. 2:4; Rev. 6:12-16.
iii. The world perplexed, Joel 2:10.
d. Fainting and foreboding, vs. 26a, Rev. 6:16.
e. The dissolution of heaven, vs. 26b, Joel 2:10; Hag. 2:6.
f. Prelude to judgment.
2. The coming of the Son of Man, vs. 27.
a. A deeply significant event.
b. The appearance of the Son of Man.
i. Determining the subjects.
ii. A visual coming.
iii A title of Deity, Luke 5:24, 6:5, 9:22, 12:8,40, 17:24, 21:36, 22:69.
c. The divine presence.
i. When "clouds" is in the plural, Matt. 24:30; Mark 13:26; Dan. 7:13.
ii. When "cloud" is in the singular, Ex. 19:9, 40:34; Mark 9:7.
d. In power and glory, Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 19:11-16.
3. Words of encouragement and hope, vs. 28.
a. Observing the signs.
b. Finding some "backbone".
i. "Straighten up", Luke 13:11.
ii. "Raise your heads", Psa. 24:7.
c. The ultimate Redemption.
i. Looking at the words.
1) "Redemption", Rom. 8:23.
2) "Drawing near", Luke 10:8-9, 21:31.
ii. The eschatological hope, Luke 1:68, 2:38, 11:20; Matt. 24:22; Psa. 30:5.
III. Application, John 12:35.
IV. Conclusion, 1Cor. 11:26.
