RIDING THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER
by Richard M. Davis
ICE BREAKER
Have you ever ridden a roller coaster or watched others riding one? How did the peaks and valleys of the
roller coaster affect those riding it? Close your eyes and see if you can feel the ratcheting gears of the track
as the coaster ascends to the top of a peak. Then, describe your feelings as it seems the bottom falls away
and the coaster drops out of the sky toward the depths of the valley below! What does it do to your
stomach? How does it affect your grip on the bar in front of you?
The experience of a roller coaster well describes the emotional ride experienced by the people of Israel at
the time of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. The somber mood that Jesus displayed as He lamented the future destruction
of Jerusalem affected the disciples immensely. They were facing difficult days ahead. They had come from the
emotional high of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the emotional low of looming disaster. Chapter twenty-
one of Luke, along with chapters twenty-four and twenty-five of Matthew, reveals Jesus’ descriptions regarding the
future of the nations, the Jews, and the church.
We should seriously consider the cost of rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. Because of their rejection of
Jesus, the Jews as a people have suffered terrible persecution and hatred; they have been driven from one area of
the earth to another for centuries. Millions of them have been martyred, beaten, imprisoned, and miserably
mistreated. Other nations that have rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior have been denied the blessings that
come with the Lord’s approval. However, God has blessed the church as it fulfills the great commission.
Luke 21:5-7, 20-33, NIV
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts
dedicated to God. But Jesus said,
6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be
thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take
place?”
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country
not enter the city.
22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.
23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the
land and wrath against this people.
24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea.
26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Why was Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple so shocking to His Jewish
audience? To the natural eye, the Temple appeared to be practically indestructible. Though the Temple of
Jesus’ day lacked some of the splendor of Solomon’s Temple, still it was impressive. Josephus wrote that
the stones were white and strong, fifty feet long, twenty-four feet broad, and sixteen feet thick.
How did the people react to Jesus’ shocking pronouncement of doom upon their beloved Temple?
They began asking Jesus questions regarding this terrible future time. Among many questions, they asked
Jesus three fundamental ones:
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1. When will the destruction of the Temple take place? The destruction would occur in A.D. 70.
2. What will be the sign of Jesus’ coming? In verses five through thirty-one in Luke chapter twenty-one, Jesus
gave many signs of the end times. False Christs, wars and rumors of wars, the alignment of nations against each
other, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes are among these signs. Bible scholars have termed these as the
beginning of sorrows.
3. What will be the sign of the end of the age? Prophets of gloom and doom have set dates for the end of the
world numerous times, but no one knows the day or hour of that great event (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33).
Jesus warned us on at least four different occasions not to be deceived. The church age will definitely end when
the Lord appears in the clouds and the trumpet of God sounds. The interval between the rapture of the church and
the Millennium will be a time of severe testing for the inhabitants of the earth, especially for the Jews. At the end of
the thousand-year reign of Christ, the devil will be loosed for a little season. Then the earth will be renovated by fire,
which will end the earth in its present state. Following this firestorm will come the new heaven and the new earth.
It appears there are three divisions of people on the earth according to how God deals with each group.
I Corinthians 10:32
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
The Jews, the people of Israel, are descendants of Abraham, and they comprise one of the three groups.
All other people of the earth are Gentiles (in Scripture, often translated “the nations”). However, there is
also a third group that consists of all people who have repented of their sins, have been baptized in Jesus’
name, and have received the Holy Ghost; these people comprise the church, whether they are Jews or
Gentiles.
From which of these three groups of people did the Son of Man, Jesus, descend? Jesus was a Jew—
a descendant of Abraham through the tribe of Judah.
During the lifetime of Jesus, Jerusalem was under the rule of Rome, and its inhabitants desired
relief from Rome’s tyrannical government. How did this influence most of the Jewish people against
Jesus? The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would deliver them from the oppression of Rome. Even
the disciples of Jesus expected Him to free the land of Israel and establish their independence at that time.
They all misunderstood the purpose of the Messiah, and hence, the purpose of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:6
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel?
None of the Jewish people were prepared for Jesus to establish a spiritual kingdom—the birth of a
church. Consequently, most of the Jews rejected Jesus, and their rejection and crucifixion of Him brought
harsh judgment upon them as a people. The cry, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” brought them
great anguish.
How did this affect the future of the Jewish people? Their future was not a pretty one as was later
revealed by the horrible siege of Titus in A.D. 70. In 1948, Israel was re-established as a nation. Their ability
to survive since that time has been nothing short of miraculous, but they are greatly hated by the
surrounding countries and they live under constant duress. Knowing the end from the beginning, Jesus
predicted Jerusalem’s future with unerring accuracy as He spoke of its being surrounded by armies.
Jesus looked over the city and wept over the peace they could have known.
Luke 19:41
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Do the Jewish people still suffer today as a result of their rejection of Jesus? Yes. The missed
opportunity to receive Jesus as their Messiah continues to cost them dearly. The nations around Israel
continue to hate them with vengeance as Jesus predicted. They live in continual fear of homicidal bombers.
Although the nations around Israel have not succeeded in destroying Israel, the hatred continues to exist.
Knowing the harm that deception can bring, Jesus warned against allowing anyone to deceive us.
God came in the flesh to reveal the heavenly Father and His name, but most of the inhabitants of
Jerusalem would not receive Him. Instead, they branded Him as an impostor and they crucified Him. When
the Antichrist comes in his own name, Israel will receive him as the real Christ. Paul described him as “that
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man of sin” who will be a master at practicing “all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” (See II
Thessalonians 2:3-12.)
What will happen after the nation of Israel accepts the Antichrist as their Messiah? At the beginning
of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will enter into a covenant with Israel and others for one week, which
represents seven years. (See Daniel 9:27.) Halfway through this period, he will break his covenant and turn
his wrath against Israel. The suffering and misery of the Jews will then intensify greatly.
Will any Jews survive this horrible time? Although the nation of Israel miserably failed by not accepting
Jesus and His teachings, a remnant will survive the Tribulation and God will miraculously deliver them.
Revelation 7:4 reveals that 144,000 will be sealed as servants of God, preserving them from the terrible
punishment of the Antichrist. At the height of the persecution, many residents will leave Judea and flee into
the mountains. However, God will protect them from the wrath of their enemy. Mothers with small children
will find the journey difficult to make and will pray that it will not be during the winter. Their flight will happen
so suddenly that they will be unable to take provisions with them.
At the most critical time of their struggle, the Lord will intervene when He appears with His army,
the church, to defeat the armies of the Antichrist. (See Zechariah 14:1-15; Revelation 19:11-21.)
Zechariah 14:1-15
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the
women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off
from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the
mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very
great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall
flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall
come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at
evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and
half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and
inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the
tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem;
Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,
and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay
hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered
together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall
be in these tents, as this plague.
It is essential that Christians understand the timing of the prophecies that pertain to the Jews. Since we are
the wild olive branch that was grafted in, our role will be complete prior to God’s dealing again with the
Jews as a nation.
Romans 11:25
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
What about the third group of people called the church? Who is this group? The church consists of
the redeemed, blood-washed, born-again people of God, whether they are Jew or Gentile. The word
“church” comes from the Greek word ecclesia, which means “the called out ones.”
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Those who are “called out” will one day be “called up.” Jesus described the sudden translation of the
born-again person as being an event without prior notice, which appears instantly like a flash of lightning. It
will be worldwide, and the change will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (I Corinthians
15:52).
I Thessalonians 4:17
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.
These truths from Scripture afford great comfort to those who have repented of their sins, been baptized in
Jesus’ name for the remission of sins, have received the Holy Ghost, and who continue to walk with Christ
in humble submission, obedience, and holiness of heart and spirit. The church bears a great responsibility
to clearly proclaim the New Testament plan of salvation. Only those who are born again of water and Spirit
will be ready to meet the Lord in the air as members of the raptured bride of Christ.
The sad truth is that the lost will remain behind to face the horrors of the Tribulation. Only in Christ Jesus
is there true redemption and deliverance from the dark days ahead for this world. How much difference
does it make whether one is taken or left behind at the time of the Rapture? Much! When these frail,
corruptible bodies put on incorruption and death is swallowed up in victory, all will be well for the
redeemed. To miss all that Jesus provides for His bride in eternity will be a calamity of tremendous
proportions, but to face life on the earth after the church is gone will be equally catastrophic.
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus shared with the disciples a preview of things to come for the Jews, the
church, and the Gentile nations. From our vantage point, we are able to understand that the church is at its
finest and closing hours. Everyone will be affected by the rapture of the church one way or another; it is
our responsibility to be sure that we are ready and included among that number. As part of the bride of
Jesus Christ, we have a wonderful future that we should guard zealously.
CLOSING CHORUS
We’ll be caught up to meet Him in the air,
We’ll be caught up His blessedness to share;
Very soon He will come to take His people home,
And we’ll be caught up to meet Him in the air.
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RIDING THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER
by Richard M. Davis
Luke 21:5-7, 20-33, NIV
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts
dedicated to God. But Jesus said,
6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be
thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take
place?”
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country
not enter the city.
22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.
23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the
land and wrath against this people.
24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea.
26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
I Corinthians 10:32
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
Acts 1:6
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel?
Luke 19:41
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Zechariah 14:1-15
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the
women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off
from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the
mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very
great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall
flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall
come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at
evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and
half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
5
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and
inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the
tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem;
Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,
and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay
hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered
together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall
be in these tents, as this plague.
Romans 11:25
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
I Thessalonians 4:17
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.
CLOSING CHORUS
We’ll be caught up to meet Him in the air,
We’ll be caught up His blessedness to share;
Very soon He will come to take His people home,
And we’ll be caught up to meet Him in the air.
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