Luke 21:20-24

Applebury's Comments

Jerusalem Surrounded by Armies
Scripture

Luke 21:20-24 But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 21 Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Comments

But when ye see Jerusalem surrounded with armies.This was the sign that her destruction was at hand. And it did happen in 70 A. D. when the Roman legions surrounded the city, desecrated its holy temple, and utterly destroyed the city with a devastation the like of which had not occurred from the beginning of the world nor would ever befall another city (Matthew 24:21). The next thing like it will be the destruction of the world at the end of the age.

Then let them that are in Judea.Since this instruction was for those in Judea, it could not apply to the end of the world and the destruction that shall come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth (Luke 21:35).

For these are days of vengeance.The wrath of the Lord came upon the nation that rejected its King. Jerusalem suffered because it would not let Christ save it from impending doom (Luke 13:34-35).

and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles.As in the case of any occupied country, the people of Jerusalem must have hated the sound of marching feet as Roman soldiers moved everywhere through the streets of their city. They were eager to throw off the Roman yoke and might have been willing to follow Jesus if He had offered to lead them. We do not know the extent to which His refusal to let them make Him their king may have influenced them. We do know that they turned away from Him and finally before the Roman judge cried out, We have no king but Caesar. Because they crucified the Christ, their beloved city will be trodden down by the Gentiles until He comes again.

until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.Some assume from Paul's reference to the fulness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25) that when the full number of Gentiles will have been converted to Christ, the Jews will come again into the favor of God. There seems to be no good reason for this view, for since the Day of Pentecost all whom God invites through the gospel message to come to Him, even those who are afar off whether Jews or Gentiles, may be saved. The priority of the Jew was forfeited at the cross, but the gospel, of course, is to be preached to all men, both Jews and Gentiles, until Christ comes again.

The history of Jerusalem to this day supports the view that the city will be under Gentile domination to the end of time.