The chronology of events found in Luke 21:5-36 can be divided into four sections: [a] The End is not yet; [b] The destruction of Jerusalem; [c] The End is near; [d] Be ready.
[A] The End is not yet (:5-19)
Jesus points out that the coming destruction of Jerusalem and its temple would set the stage for the countdown to His Second Coming, but before that event believers would receive certain signs to indicate that the stage was being set. The signs that Jesus spoke of would begin to occur before AD 70 and would continue on until the very end, yet none of theses signs mean that the “end” is now.
1. False Christs will appear: “And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” (:8).
This verse probably has a twofold application. Firstly, it refers to the fact that many people will arise claiming to be Christ and declaring that the world was soon to come to an end. Secondly, False teachers would come declaring that Jesus is Christ, but really they are deceivers with motives other than for edification.
Both of these began soon after Jesus ascended into Heaven and continue down until the present day. It is a sign for all believers of all generations until the Lord returns.
2. Wars: “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (:9-10).
The Roman world was becoming more and more difficult to govern, because of this conflicts between nations and ethnic groups would arise. This is another element of the Lord’s prophecy that would continue until the Last Days. Wars and commotions are signs of things getting worse nationally and internationally as we near the Second Coming of Christ, but of and in themselves they would not bring about the end of the world.
3. Earthquakes, famines, disease, terrifying sights: “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (:11).
Jesus gives theses signs to show that the beginning of the end has begun. These would increase as His return got nearer. In Matthew 24:8 Jesus calls them “the beginning of sorrows”.
4. Persecution: “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls” (:12-19).
After the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, these things immediately began to happen. Though Scripture does not tell us so, it is very likely that the disciples would remember the Lord’s words and would know that the destruction of the temple was not too far away as their persecution intensified.
Persecution is applicable to all believers of all ages, one only has to read about the persecution of believers by both the Caesars and the Popes to know this is true. In fact in verse 17 we read “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” and in Matthew 24:9, “hated of all nations” which proves the progressive nature of the persecution Jesus said would come; “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
[B] The Destruction of Jerusalem (:20-24)
Here Jesus is speaking of the coming events of 70 AD. Everything in this section, except for the final statement of verse 24, relates entirely to the believers at the time of the fall of Jerusalem.
1. Armies will surround Jerusalem: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (:20). These armies were led by Titus who finally overthrew Jerusalem and destroyed the temple after a long siege. [Some commentators see a double application here; one for 70 AD and another for the Battle of Armageddon or the Last Battle. Personally I do not think that is what the Lord intended. This section is of past historical significance rather than being futuristic].
2. What believers must do: “Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (:21-22). Jesus warns His followers not to even think about returning to the city once the destruction has begun but to escape to safer locations.
3. The devastation will be terrible: “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people” (:23). Jesus’ use of the word “land” pinpoints the trouble as being in Israel rather than the world. The effect of the Roman invasion would be felt by every Jew living throughout the whole country. This was part of the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the Jews for rejecting their Messiah - “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:37-38).
4. The dispersion of the Jews: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations” (:24a). Here Jesus speaks of “they” rather than “ye” as in verse 20. Those who had rejected Christ will have been unlikely to follow the Christians to safety, but instead those who were not killed would be led away captive. Here Jesus is obviously referring to the ‘Diaspora’ since they would go into “all nations”. This means that they would be nationless. In essence Israel would cease to exist until the final days of world history leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.
5. The Times of the Gentiles: “and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (24b). Jerusalem would be owned by Gentiles until Jesus comes again. Even the name of the country was changed to Palestine until the Jews reclaimed the Land in 1948. Yet Jerusalem is still trodden down by Gentiles ( the partition of the City into Jewish, Moslem, and Christian sectors as well as much of the land in control of Islam). This situation will continue until the Lord comes to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
[C] The End is Near (:25-33)
These signs speak directly of the time immediately prior to Christ’s return, but they must include history from the Destruction of Jerusalem until the Millennial Reign of Christ.
1. Cosmic Signs: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (:25-26). Dramatic changes in world weather patterns will exist in the Last Days, these are the Lord’s forecast of His soon return. The world will become increasingly fearful about the possibility of devastation caused by approaching comets and meteorites. It will appear as though the entire universe is falling apart. Though some atmospheric disturbances have been seen historically, what Jesus is describing is on a scale much higher than them.
2. The Budding of the Fig Tree: “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand” (:29-30). The Fig Tree is symbolic of Israel. Such budding means that Israel would be a signal to the final generation that the Lord’s coming was near. When Israel became a nation again in 1948 she fulfilled this part of Christ’s prophecy. Luke adds an interesting point here concerning “all the trees”. This very likely refers to the fact that so many nations have returned to their ethnic roots in the past few years (Russia, Serbia, Eastern Europe, and even with devolution in our own country.
3. The End is near: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh … Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away … For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (:28,32-33,35). These signs are special to the final generation that will be living leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. Many will loose faith and give themselves over to worldliness, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (:34-35). These signs will all be filled within a generation. It should be noted that the word ‘generation’ is used in various ways in Scripture. Though it can mean specific years (i.e. 40), it more often refers to people in the sense of ethnic groups or spiritual conditions (Matthew 13:34, 23:33). With this in mind we can see that the rapture will take place before the Millennial Reign of Christ. This is probably what Jesus was referring to in verse 36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”. Therefore faithfulness is needed to be part of the “escape”. Every prophetic sign that relates to the years preceding the Millennium must be fulfilled before Christ returns.
4. Christ’s Return: “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory … Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (:27,36). It is of great interest that Luke records the words of the angel at the ascension of Christ. He writes, “Which also said, 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” (Acts 1:11). In his gospel he reveals that Jesus will come exactly the same way as He left. The angel asked, “Why are you looking up?” Indicating that the time of His return was not yet. Jesus says to those living in the Last Days, “Look up” (:28) because He would soon return when His people see the prophecies being fulfilled. Last Day believers must be especially alert and prayerful since so much deception will abound.