Luke Chapter 21

The thing is to notice that those approximately three and one-half years was the time for the “vengeance” of God upon the rebellious Judahites. I do not want to get into a study of the book of Revelation, but understand that the book of Revelation is also dealing with the “vengeance” of Yahweh upon those same people for their persecution and murder of most of the apostles and prophets.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled

” [Rev. 6:9-11].



Again, let me remind you that this is not a study of the book of Revelation. But, since it was necessary to bring it in, relative to the avenging of the blood of the apostles and prophets, that vengeance belonged to Yahweh and that our text in Luke 21:22 speaks of that day of the “vengeance” of God in the middle of the last half of the first century AD, we will just note a couple of verses that show, without doubt, that the vengeance of Yahweh that came on the unbelievers, happened very soon after that verse was written by John. Look at the first three verses of Revelation and see if you can honestly get 2,000 years (and counting) into the book of Revelation.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand”

[Rev. 1:1-3].

Someone asked me about twenty years ago if I was honest enough to consider that a thing that I had believed until I was 53 years old, just might be wrong. I told him that I thought that I considered myself to be honest and would try hard, but that what I had believed for so many years would be very, very difficult on which to change my mind. I found out that I was that open-minded and did eventually change my mind.

Now, I ask you the same question. I know what is preached in this world. I know that people speak constantly and emphatically that the things in Revelation are either coming to pass now in the 21st century or yet sometime in our future (close or distant). Are you open-minded enough to consider that the things in the book of Revelation happened in the first century AD, shortly after it was written (and that it is not going to happen again in our generation or future generations)?

Look carefully at the first three verses in Revelation again. It was God (yes, Yahweh!) who said that the things in the book of Revelation would happen “soon” after it was written in the first century AD. It was Yahweh again who said that the TIME was AT HAND! Did the Almighty God lie about it or did the events happen in that first century? The question to each of us is: “Are we honest enough to consider that what we have been taught about the book of Revelation being for us and future generations is incorrect, and that the things therein really did ‘shortly come to pass’ and that the time element was “at hand” in the first century AD? Do you think that “shortly to come to pass” and “at hand” really means 2,000 years or more into the future? The answers that we give will show whether we are honest or dishonest – not only with ourselves but with God Almighty Himself. We must open our minds and accept what God has said, not necessarily what man has taught us or what we have believed all of our lives. So, the question again, that we must ask ourselves, is, “How honest am I?” [CONTINUED TOMORROW]