Setting the World on Fire:
How Scripture Applies to our World Today
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49, NAB)
Topics:
Division & Unity (Lots of fire), Apocolypticism, Enemies & (Non)Violence, Conspiracies & Trust, Fear, Anxiety, Our Response, More?
Luke chapter 12 is our diving board - jumping off point, covers many things… Luke 12:1-3 Conspiracy theories
Luke 12:4-12 Fear (Enemies & non-violence?)
Luke 12:13-21 Security, Stability
Luke 12:22-34 Anxiety
Luke 12:35-40 Watchfulness - (Apocolypticism?)
Luke 12:41-48 Faithfulness
Luke 12:49-53 Division
Luke 12:54-56 Interpreting the Present Time
Summary of Week One (Division, Unity, Fire)
Our goal is to look at the world through a Biblical lens. Our world is often on fire and divided. Jesus brings a different sort of fire and division and unity. Jesus takes on the fiery judgment due to us for our sins, yet we too must take up our crosses to follow him. The world will be divided on whether one accepts Jesus or not. Yet, sinful divisions and fire in the world is to be expected—it is a fallen and broken world—we live in it, but are not of the world. We are called out of the world to experience the Fire of the Holy Spirit who brings us into a new world of unity and love we call the Church. Don’t put your hope and faith in the world working out things (though always try to make the world better), but instead expect and strongly work to make the Church community a place of love and unity that will draw all people into it. And by the way, the world will end in fire.
Is it the end of the world? The apocalypse?
Luke 12:35–48 (RSV2CE)
35 “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning,
36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will put on his apron and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.
38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!
39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have been awake and would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
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41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions.
45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating.
48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.”
Luke 17:28–37 (RSV2CE)
37And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
When the Pandemic ends, I guarantee the Apocalypse will happen ἀνακαλύπτω - apocalypto (root word, verb) unveil, uncover, unmask? Side note on masks: Exodus 34:29–35, 2 Corinthians 3:7–18
“Apocolypse” Verses with the Greek word (literally to unveil or uncover, usually translated “reveal” or “revelation” (18 usages)
Luke 2:32, Rom 2:5, Rom 8:19, Rom 16:25, 1 Cor 1:7, 1 Cor 14: 6, 1 Cor 12:7, Gal 1:12, Gal 2:2, Eph 1:17, Eph 3:3, 2 Thes 1:7, 1 Pet 1:7, 1 Pet 1:13, 1 Pet 4:13 Rev 1:1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place; and he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John”
Why Apocolypse, Why?
1 Corinthians 15:22–28 (RSVCE)
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection under him,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him.
28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.
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Romans 8:18–25
Romans 8:28
Ephesians 4:30
2 Peter 3:10–13
Revelation 21:1–5
When? (Only God knows)
Luke 12:46
Matthew 24:36–44
Acts 1:6–7
1 Thessalonians 5:1–3
Signs of the End
Matthew 24:1–14 and following
Romans chapter 11
Romans 11:13–16
Romans 11:25–26
2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
Apostasy…
2 Peter 3:3
1 Timothy 4:1
2 Timothy 3:1–9
Jude 18–23
Luke 18:8
The man of lawlessness, the antichrist
2 John 7–11
Revelation 13
Rebuilding the Temple?
Last hour? 1 John 2:18–23
We want the world to end
Revelation 22:17–21
2 Peter 3:11–13
2 Corinthians 5:6–10
What about private revelations?
CCC Glossary: Revelations made in the course of history which do not add to or form part of the deposit of faith, but rather may help people live out their faith more fully (67). Some of these private revelations have been recognized by the authority of the Church, which cannot accept so-called “revelations of faith” that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of Christ confided to his Church.
"It’s not the end of the world…” What is important and not so much… Mark 8:34–38
Luke 9:23–27
Romans 8:28
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Luke 12:13–21 (RSVCE) “The Parable of the Rich Fool”
13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:22–34 (RSVCE) “Dependence on God”
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.
30 For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Response
1 Thessalonians 5
Luke 12:35-49
CCC 668-682
From Thence He Will Come Again To Judge The Living And The Dead