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MAY 2
I would fly away and be at rest.
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Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness.
Selah 21:24 the times of the Gentiles. This expres-
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I would hasten my escape sion is unique to Luke.It identifies the era from
From the windy storm and tempest.” Israel’s captivity (ca. 586 B.C.to Babylon; see
2Kin. 25) to her restoration in the kingdom
Proverbs 15:14
(Rev. 20:1–6). It has been a time during which,
14 The heart of him who has understanding in accord with God’s purpose, Gentiles have
seeks knowledge, dominated or threatened Jerusalem. The era
But the mouth of fools feeds on has also been marked by vast spiritual privi-
foolishness. leges for the Gentile nations (see Is.66:12;Mal.
1:11; Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10).
Luke 21:20–38
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded fear and the expectation of those things which
by armies, then know that its desolation is are coming on the earth, for the powers of the
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near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to heavens will be shaken. Then they will see
the mountains, let those who are in the midst the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power
of her depart, and let not those who are in the and great glory. Now when these things
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begin to happen, look up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption draws near.”
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Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at
the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are
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21:20 Jerusalem surrounded by armies. A
comparison with Matthew 24:15,16 and Mark already budding, you see and know for your-
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13:14 suggests that this sign is closely associated selves that summer is now near. So you also,
with “the abomination of desolation” (see when you see these things happening, know
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Matt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27; 11:31). This sign of that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I
Jerusalem under siege was previewed in A.D. say to you, this generation will by no means
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70, but awaits its fulfillment in the future. pass away till all things take place. Heaven
and earth will pass away, but My words will by
no means pass away.
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country enter her. For these are the days of 34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your
vengeance, that all things which are written hearts be weighed down with carousing,
may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that
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pregnant and to those who are nursing babies Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will
in those days! For there will be great distress come as a snare on all those who dwell on the
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in the land and wrath upon this people. And face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and
they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be pray always that you may be counted worthy
led away captive into all nations. And Jerusa- to escape all these things that will come to
lem will be trampled by Gentiles until the pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on
moon, and in the stars; and on the earth dis- the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the
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tress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the morning all the people came to Him in the
waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from temple to hear Him.
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DAY 2: How did the Philistines attempt to stop the plague?
“The priests and the diviners”(1 Sam.6:2) of the Philistines were summoned to figure out how
to appease God so that He would stop the plague.They understood that they had offended God.
Their diviners decided to rightfully appease His wrath by sending the ark back to Israel. These
pagans recognized their sin and the need for manifest repentance, which they did according to
their religious tradition by means of a “trespass offering” (v. 3) to compensate for their trespass of
dishonoring the God of Israel.It was their custom to make models of their sores (and the rats which
brought the plague),in hopes that the deity would recognize that they knew why he was angry and
remove the evil which had fallen upon them (v. 4).
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