All Empires Fall
A Sermon on Luke 21:5–19
Introduction
Next Sunday, we will celebrate Christ the King Sunday, one of my favorite Sundays on the church calendar. On this day, we loudly and clearly affirm what we should be celebrating every day: that Jesus Christ is King and Lord, and everything else is not. But that is next Sunday. Today, we face a different subject.
Our Gospel reading this morning is Luke 21, where Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. While the destruction of the Temple is among the most theologically significant events in human history, Jesus’s prediction is not the most fertile ground for pastoral or homiletical reflection in the New Testament. By that I mean: although the destruction of the Temple is hugely important, the passage does not immediately offer the same kind of “go and do likewise” application that many other Gospel readings provide.
Some people view Luke 21 and its parallels in Mark 13 and Matthew 24 as practically important because they claim Jesus begins his speech by discussing the Temple’s destruction, but then quickly moves on to discussing his second coming and the end of the world. For various reasons—which we don’t have time to examine here—that view is flawed. This position is especially true in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus’s historical reference is explicit.
Luke writes:
“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:5–6)
And a little later, just beyond our reading:
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it” (Luke 21:20–21).
I assure you, if space and time as we understand them are ending, fleeing the city and heading to the mountains will not benefit you.
So Jesus is not discussing future end-times. Instead, he predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and tells his disciples what to expect as that day nears. That information was definitely useful to them, but for us—since the event Jesus warns about happened almost two thousand years ago—it’s not as directly relevant.
And yet, as a lead-up to Christ the King Sunday, there is still something significant for us here.
Judgment Comes to the House of God
The Old Testament clearly teaches that the Lord will judge all the nations of the earth. This is what God was meant to do when he returned to Zion. Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 are clear: God will judge the nations and establish his kingdom—and his people—over them all. This promise was Israel’s hope, certainly in the first century but also long before. They hoped that God would act on their behalf by judging the nations—the four beasts of Daniel 7—and vindicating and exalting the Son of Man, the “saints of the Most High.”
All four Gospels affirm that this is what is happening in Jesus’ ministry: YHWH is returning to Zion. The kingdom of God has come, and that means the stone cut from the mountain without human hands is about to strike the foot of the idolatrous statue—the symbol of all who pledge allegiance to empires instead of God’s kingdom—and topple it.
Jesus’s startling claim, however, is that Jerusalem—and even its Temple—will not escape this judgment. Remember that in Daniel 7, the four beasts trample the people of God until God acts and vindicates the one like a Son of Man. Now Jesus, throughout his ministry, says in effect: “I am the Son of Man”—Jesus’s favorite self-designation—“and you are one of the beasts. I am the stone, and you have become one of the kingdoms of this world that will be judged and crushed by the kingdom of God.”
The point is clear. If any nation could expect to stand while all others fell, it was Israel and Judah. If any city could expect to be spared when the Lord acted to save his people, it was Jerusalem. If any temple could hope to survive the fiery purge of God’s judgment, it was the Jerusalem Temple. And yet:
“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6).
Next Sunday, we will boldly declare that Jesus Christ is Lord and everything else is not, but today we bear witness to a lesser but related truth: all empires fall.
All Empires Fall
There is no empire and no nation that will not come under God’s judgment.
There is no empire and no nation that will stand when the rock of the kingdom of God smashes against its feet.
There is no empire and no nation that will not crumble while the Son of Man is lifted on the clouds to the right hand of God.
So you have a choice. You can swear allegiance to the empires of this world and spend your life on that which does not, cannot, and will not last. Or you can swear allegiance to Christ and his kingdom and spend your life on that which will endure from this age to the age to come.
Stewardship and What Really Lasts
And frankly, this is why I struggle to preach sermons on stewardship. With the pledge cards going out this past Friday, I am supposed to stand here and discuss stewardship, throwing out numbers like 10%. But the truth is that Christ demands far more than ten percent of who you are, how you spend your time, and how you spend your money.
All empires will fall.
All nations will crumble.
Everything we think matters so much now—if it is not of the kingdom of God—will one day waste away forever.
So when you consider how you manage all that God has entrusted to you (your time, treasure, and talents), I want you to ask yourself whether you are using them on things that will be torn down until not one stone is left upon another, or whether you are investing in the stone that becomes a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Most of us invest our time, treasure, and talents in things that will not last. God is calling you to something better.
All empires fall, but the kingdom of God endures forever.
Amen.
Life Group Guide
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather together today, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive what you want to teach us through your Word. Help us to be receptive to your Spirit’s leading and to see clearly the difference between the temporary kingdoms of this world and your eternal kingdom. May our discussion today draw us closer to you and to one another, and help us to understand more deeply what it means to live as citizens of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s one thing you collected or were really interested in as a child that you thought would last forever but eventually lost interest in or gave away?
Key Verses
Luke 21:5–19
Daniel 2
Daniel 7
Questions
Why do you think Jesus’ prediction that the Jerusalem Temple would be destroyed was so shocking to his listeners?
What does it mean that Jesus identified himself as the ‘Son of Man’ from Daniel’s prophecy, and how did this challenge the religious leaders of his time?
Fr. Michael says ‘all empires fall.’ What are some examples of empires or kingdoms from history that seemed permanent but eventually crumbled?
What are some modern ‘empires’ or systems that people put their trust in today that might not be as permanent as they seem?
How can we practically distinguish between investing in earthly kingdoms versus God’s kingdom in our daily lives?
Fr. Michael challenges the typical 10% stewardship model, suggesting Christ demands more. How do you respond to this idea?
What does it look like to live as citizens of God’s kingdom while still being responsible members of our earthly communities?
How does knowing that God’s kingdom is eternal change the way we should approach our careers, relationships, and life decisions?
Life Application
This week, take inventory of how you spend your time, money, and energy. Identify one area where you’ve been investing heavily in something temporary or worldly, and make a specific change to redirect that investment toward God’s eternal kingdom - whether through serving others, deepening your relationship with God, or supporting kingdom work.
Key Takeaways
Jesus predicted the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple as a historical event, not an end-times prophecy.
All earthly empires and nations will eventually fall under God’s judgment
Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man from Daniel’s prophecy, bringing God’s kingdom while warning of judgment
We must choose between investing our lives in temporary earthly kingdoms or God’s eternal kingdom
True discipleship requires more than 10% - it demands our whole lives be oriented toward God’s kingdom
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the King whose kingdom will never end. Help us to live each day with the reality that all earthly empires will fall, but your kingdom endures forever. Give us wisdom to invest our time, talents, and treasure in things that have eternal value. Strengthen our resolve to serve you wholeheartedly, not just with a portion of our lives, but with everything we are and have. May we be faithful citizens of your kingdom, living as lights in this world while we await your return. In your holy name we pray, Amen.