ASCENDING TO JERUSALEM
Luke 19:28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
This was an actual, personal, literal, physical appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ going into Jerusalem. And in Acts 1:11, we read: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Therefore there will be an actual, personal, literal, physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his highest degree of glory to the earth, for the new Jerusalem. (Rev. 3:12, 21:2).
Consider these verses: Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. History does not move in a straight line. History moves in a spiraling circle. It is ever repeating, but always fulfilling, until it comes to its point in breaking into eternity. But the problem is that mankind has no remembrance of former things. So history is not the problem. The problem is that mankind has no recollection of history. Each generation always thinks, because life is yet unexperienced by them, it must be new as it happens in their lives.
But the christian is not so. He has powerful ministries at work to keep him apprised of what the issue really is, as the rest of the population remains under the delusion of the image of the beast. Listen at all the provisions for the true church’s awareness in her awakened condition. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The true church has the Holy Spirit and a Spirit provided ministry to keep her in a proper awakened remembrance! 2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
And of course, one of the two ordinances our Lord left for us to observe – the Lord’s Supper, is also for remembrance! Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
All these shall enable the true christian to rejoice in heart, no matter what the circumstances of life! Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Let us attempt to see the ‘repeatings’ of history from this first entrance of our Lord into the Jerusalem of his day, and those similar things in his soon coming.
First let us notice Matthew 21:10,11. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And as all the city was moved in that day, so it shall be at his future coming! Every eye shall see him, and the entire church shall then, due to the revelation of his Holy Person in his highest glory, be made like him. Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Judas even had a verbal contract with the Pharisees to betray the Lord to them in the absence of the multitude (Luke 22:6). But he was not able to keep that part of the deal. For the multitudes even came with him to witness the betrayal! Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. And no atheistic insistence shall hinder the entirety of the human race from seeing the Lord of Glory as he appears the last time.
And then in John 12:19 we read, behold, the world is gone after him. And so shall it be upon his return! Literally, the whole world, from Adam unto the very last child born on earth, shall be raised to stand before him! John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Also we read of a very great multitude that was with him. Some were already IN Jerusalem, while some came WITH him from Bethany and the raising of Lazarus. John 11:55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
Matthew 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Therefore we read the same concerning his next actual, personal, literal appearing. For some shall be brought with him, who have died and been in eternity. But some shall be alive on the earth, like those already in Jerusalem, and shall go out to meet both him and them. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Next we see that there were those in Jerusalem at that time who were questioning his coming. John 11:56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? And this shall also be done in the time before his final coming. 2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
There are those who have been so sure of the time of His coming that they have actually set a date. And, obviously, they have all been wrong. But we know exactly when he will come! It will be at a time when the world has no belief in his coming! Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Then there was not the spiritual understanding that there would be after the effect of his coming to physical, earthly Jerusalem for the last time. John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
And so it shall be after the Lord comes again. The revelation of his glory, no more just the glory as Mediator, but the glory as of God all in all, (1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.); shall bring forth a greater understanding within the beings of the glorified saints like never before! 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And we see in that 1 John 3:2 verse, listed above, it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. The Apostle Paul speaks then of our mortality being swallowed up of life! 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Lastly, there was an ending of our Lord’s sufferings and death for the fulfillment of the accomplished redemption and salvation. Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
And at the coming of our Lord there will be an ending of the provision for salvation for all eternity. Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. That last phrase means, without any more provision for the cleansing for another sin, but fulfilling the salvation of all his elect Bride in glorification!
There is now an urgency concerning the provision of salvation, dear Readers. Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
But then, no more mercy for the salvation of another sinner! Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Pastor Gene Breed November 28, 2014
