Transcript

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 21 NET, Ch. 22 HCSB

Associate Producer

Anonymous, Michael Haner

Podcast Introduction

Today is Gospels Saturday. We’ll read Luke 21-22. I’m calling this episode “Any Time Now?”

Comments on Luke 21

In Luke 21, Jesus makes the statement concerning the Temple, that not one stone will be left on another. He prophesied the destruction that would take place 40 years later. In his account of this same conversation that Jesus had with his disciples, Matthew is more complete in what Jesus said, because it is more apparent that Jesus was also talking of His ultimate return at the end of the age.

So the disciples asked Jesus when these things would take place, and He gave them signs to look for.

And since I was a teenager, I have heard the question, “Are we in the end times?” And I’m sure that question has been asked countless times since Jesus was resurrected. 

Let me answer this way. Pastor Chuck Smith, the man who founded Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, fervently believed that Jesus would return before the end of his life. He wrote a book on the subject, explaining the reasons for his belief. I remember going to an event at the Anaheim Convention Center (I’m pretty sure that was the venue) where Pastor Chuck spoke about it. He made a great argument, and many people agreed with Chuck and believed that Jesus would be coming before 1980. 

Well, here we are on March 19, 2022. We’re still here. Jesus didn’t return in 1980, and Pastor Chuck went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2013. By the way, Chuck was always very careful to say that “No man knows the hour”. He was not predicting Jesus’ return, he was merely stating that he believed that Jesus was coming soon. I believed it then, and I believe it now. Jesus is not late in returning. He will be on time. But I believe it can be at any moment.

So my answer to the question of are we in the end times is, “I believe that we are. I believe that many things that must happen before Jesus’ return have happened. However, I have learned not to be dogmatic about prophetic events. God is sovereign. Jesus said, ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ (NIV) If Jesus doesn’t even know, how can I?” I’ll add this: I can imagine Jesus sitting on the edge of His throne, next to the Father, “Saying, now Father? Now?? Surely the time has come!”

What do YOU think?

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The Team

Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise: Transcript Correction
Michael Haner: Podcasting: 2.0 Chapters
Scott Snider: Show Art
Jason Paschall: Show Art
Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney: Newsletter Publisher

Transcript

Download .txt file.

Transcript corrected by Sister Denise

Steve Webb 0:00
Are we in the End Times?

Steve Webb 0:09
It’s the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, and podcasting since 2000… When? Yeah, 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. It’s Gospel Saturday and our reading today will be Luke 21 and 22. I’m calling this episode “Any Time Now?” Before we get started, let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word. And we thank you for telling us what to expect before Jesus comes back. Teach us today as we read. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen. Okay, Beloved, are you ready? Let’s get started.

Steve Webb 0:46
Luke, chapter 21. Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.” Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” So they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?” He said, “Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them! And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense. For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth. But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.” So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives. And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.

Steve Webb 4:57
Luke, chapter 22. The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was drawing near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death, because they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Him over to them. They were glad and agreed to give him silver. So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them when the crowd was not present. Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so we can eat it.” “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked Him. “Listen,” He said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.” So they went and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you. But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me! For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing. Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves. You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” “Lord,” he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!” “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know Me!” He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said. Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws. Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment.” “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “Enough of that!” He told them. He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. When He reached the place, He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.” While He was still speaking, suddenly a mob was there, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, He healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? Every day while I was with you in the temple complex, you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour — and the dominion of darkness.” They seized Him, led Him away, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. When a servant saw him sitting in the firelight, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with Him too.” But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know Him!” After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too!” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with Him, since he’s also a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating Him. After blindfolding Him, they kept asking, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” And they were saying many other blasphemous things against Him. When daylight came, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought Him before the Sanhedrin. They said, “If You are the Messiah, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.” They all asked, “Are You, then, the Son of God?” And He said to them, “You say that I am.” “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”

Steve Webb 12:14
In Luke 21, Jesus made a statement concerning the Temple that not one stone will be left on another. In doing that he prophesied the destruction that would take place forty years later. And in Matthew’s account of this same conversation, he was a bit more complete in what Jesus said, because it’s more apparent there that Jesus was also talking of his ultimate return at the end of the age. So the disciples naturally asked Jesus when these things would take place, and he gave them signs to look for. And since I was a teenager, I’ve heard this question, “Are we in the End Times?” And that same question has undoubtedly been asked countless times since Jesus was resurrected. Well, I’ve got the answer. Are you ready? Well, let me answer it this way. Pastor Chuck Smith, the man who founded Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa fervently believed that Jesus would return before the end of his life. He wrote a book on the subject explaining his reasons for that belief. And I remember going to an event I believe it was at the Anaheim Convention Center where Pastor Chuck spoke about it. He made a great argument. And many people agreed with Chuck and believed that Jesus would be coming before 1980. Well, here we are on March 19, 2022. We’re still here. Jesus didn’t return in 1980, and Pastor Chuck went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2013. By the way, Chuck was always very careful to say that “No man knows the hour.” He wasn’t putting a date on Jesus’ return. He was just stating that he believed that Jesus was coming very soon. I believed it then and I believe it now. Jesus is not late in returning. He’ll be on time. But I believe it can be at any moment. My answer to the question of “Are we in the End Times?” is I believe we are. I believe that many things that must happen before Jesus’ return, have already happened, but I’ve learned not to be dogmatic about prophetic events. God is sovereign. And Jesus said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Well, if Jesus doesn’t even know when he’s coming back, how can I? I will add this though. I can imagine Jesus sitting on the edge of his throne right now next to the Father saying, “Now, Father? Now? Surely the time has come!” Well, what do you think? Do you think it’s soon or do you think it’s still a long time off? Let me know. Call the Lifespring Family Hotline at +1-951-732-8511 or send a boostagram with your comment or go to comment.lifespringmedia.com. Tomorrow will be Epistle Sunday and we’ll begin the book of 1 Thessalonians with chapters 1 through 3.

Steve Webb 15:17
We have two Associate Producers to thank today. Anonymous sent in $33.33 as their weekly donation with this note, “Keep up God’s work.” Well, thank you, Anonymous. I intend to for the foreseeable future. God bless you. And Michael Haner sent in his weekly $7.77 Stryper donation in addition to doing the chapters for each and every episode. Michael truly provides the value-for-value trifecta: time, talent, and treasure. Thank you, Michael. God bless you. Boostagram. Fountain user with the username ending in 2558 sent a 500 sat boostagram saying, “Thank you!” Well, thank you. I appreciate it. God bless you. And Lifespring Family Berean Brother Howie sent in a 500 sat boost as well. Thank you, Brother Howie. God bless you. And this is cool. The Lifespring! One Year Bible is hanging in there at the number six spot of Fountain’s Top 50 supported shows. So thanks to all of you who are supporting the show using one of the modern podcast apps. Look at your podcast app right now. Do you see a boost button? Well, if you don’t, you’re using an old-fashioned app, an antique. Well, you know, antiques are kind of nice to have around. The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I have a few in our house that we’ve inherited. But let’s face it, many if not most antiques don’t have all the features that their modern replacements have. That’s especially true for podcast apps. There are a ton of new features in the apps that you can find at Podcastapps.com, chapters, transcripts, some podcasts do live shows, and the new apps can notify you when the show is recording live. And of course, you can stream value and send boosts and boostagrams. And there’s even more features than that. Why don’t you go ahead and try out a new app from Podcastapps.com? I like Podverse and Fountain but there are lots more to choose from. Give one of them a try or two of them. Hey, collect ’em all! And if you’d like to help support the show with dollars, that’d be great too. Here’s where you can do that.

Steve Webb 17:19
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Steve Webb 17:23
I will thank you and I believe God’ll bless you.

Steve Webb 17:32
Tomorrow is Sunday, and that’ll be our next time of prayer requests and praises here on the show. So please call in your prayer request or your praise at 951-732-8511, or go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. I’ll put you on my personal prayer list, and of course, we’ll pray together on the show. Prayer.lifespringmedia.com. Thanks to Sister Denise, Michael Haner, Scott Snider, Jason Paschall, and Sister Brittaney – the team. Jason Paschal did today’s show art. God bless each one of you. And thanks to today’s Associate Producers, Anonymous, and Michael Haner, and the Lifespring family members who stream those sats and send boosts for helping to make this episode possible. And, Beloved, thank you for inviting me along with you today. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye.

James Cooper 18:24
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Transcribed by https://otter.ai