In the darkness of the war on terrorism - and all wars which rage all over the world - Luke 21 gives us a clear message of hope. This chapter gives further evidence that: God is in control, the Bible is true and that Jesus will return to solve these humanly unsolvable problems.

Why We Can Trust Luke 21

The events recorded in this chapter are also found in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. To be recorded three times must mean that they are very important, and very relevant to us.

Jesus' disciples had just asked him some earth-shattering questions:

• "What shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world" (Matthew 24 v3)

They were basically asking Jesus when he was going to set up his kingdom which he had spent the previous three years preaching about: "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand". They knew that one day their world would come to an end, and they wanted some signs so that they could be ready for it.

Jesus gave them a very clear sign, which was fulfilled to the letter only forty years after his crucifixion:

"Some spoke of the temple.... and he [Jesus] said... the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Luke 21 v 5,6).

This prediction was fulfilled precisely and terrifyingly in AD 70 when the Romans raised the temple in Jerusalem to the ground. As it burned, the gold - with which it was adorned - melted, and the soldiers separated each stone to extract the gold. So Jesus was right, not one stone was left on another. The photo (above right) is the Arch of Titus in Rome; it shows Roman soldiers carrying away the temple treasures. (The Western Wall - sometimes known as the Wailing Wall - which we can see in Old Jerusalem today, is a support wall of the outer courts, not part of the actual temple itself.)

More Predictions Fulfilled

Jesus then went on to predict the persecution of the Christians (v 12 -19), and the fall of Jerusalem (v 20 - 22) and the scattering of the Jews into all nations. This all happened exactly as he said:

• The Christians were persecuted by Nero, pictured left,
• The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70,
• They also scattered the Jews throughout the slave markets of the world.

What Jesus said, then, can be trusted.

What Jesus Said Did Happen and Will Happen

Jesus' message is not all doom and gloom. He went on to say:

"Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (v24).

A "Gentile" is anyone who is not a Jew. Again, Jesus' words are accurate, Jerusalem has been in possession of non-Jewish nations from the Turks and the British to the Palestinians.

But Jesus talks of a time when Gentile rule shall cease: "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled". In 1967 the Jews once again took control of Jerusalem. Today it is the centre of the problem between the Israelis (Jews) and the Palestinians, as it is a holy site to both Muslims and Jews.

When will the "times of the gentiles" come to an end?

Jesus goes on to answer this question, that there will be more signs when this is about to happen. These signs describe the situation which we are now in after the recent terrorist attacks:

"And there shall be signs... upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity... Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world" (v26).

Isn't this exactly what we see around us? Everyone is now frightened of the consequences of the military action which the U.S. and her allies will take. That word "perplexity" actually means no way out. That is the situation we are in. Humanly speaking there is no way out.

Jesus Will Solve the Problem of Terrorism

When we see these things which the Lord Jesus spoke of - and we do - he victoriously announces:

"And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near!" (27, 28).

The things which have happened recently then, are further proof that Jesus will return to solve all problems of our world. He will solve the problem of to whom Jerusalem belongs - Jew or Arab - because it belongs to him (Luke 1 v 32, 33). He will bring the times of the Gentiles to an end.

Jesus is coming to establish a wonderful kingdom of peace. He gave us these predictions to give us hope and comfort in these times of trouble, but he also wants us to be ready for his return by being baptised and waiting faithfully for him (Mark 16 v16).

And Finally

Please read Luke 21 for yourself. It contains much more than is written here - and it really is a message of hope, which can be trusted!

This crisis - like the Gulf War - may blow over, but not for long. One day, maybe soon, Jesus will be here. Let's try to be ready. We finish with Jesus' plea to us:

"..keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24 v 42).