The Destruction of Jerusalem, Part 2

Hello everyone.

Today, we will continue our exegesis of Luke 21, and the discussion of what Jesus had to say about the destruction of Jerusalem.  Here is my translation of vrses 20-28:

20 But when you see the armies surrounding Jerusalem, then know that its desolation is near.  21 At that time, those who are in Judea should run to the mountains.  Those who are in the city need to leave, and those outside of the city should not enter it. 22 Those days of punishment are the fulfillment of everything that has been written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days, because there will be great trouble throughout the land, with much anger toward these people. 
24 People will fall to the edge of the sword.  Others will be taken as captives into all nations.  Jerusalem is going to be trampled on by Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles reaches fulfillment. 
25 There will be signs in the Sun, Moon and stars, and the nations of the Earth will be distressed, anxious about the sounds of the sea and the waves.  26 People will faint in fear and dread of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28 So when these things begin, stand up and hold your heads up, because your redemption is drawing near. 

Up to this point in his discourse Jesus has told them of persecutions to come and that they should remain faithful.  Now he starts talking about the sign that they had asked for.  

In the discourses in both Matthew and Mark, Jesus uses the term "the abomination that causes desolation."  Luke does not use this term, merely the Greek word έρημὠσις (erēmōsis), that can be translated as 'desolation.' The Greek-English Lexicon of New Tesament Words defines the word as "the state of being made uninhabitable, devastation, destruction, depopulation."  Jesus is prophecying about a time when the temple would destroyed and the city of Jerusalem would be left largely uninhabitable.  According to Luke, the sign of this will be that the armies (of Rome) will surround the city.   

Jesus makes this prophecy.  Here is a short history lesson of what happens:

Jesus is the Messiah, but he wasn’t the Messiah that many in Jerusalem were looking for. They expected a Messiah that drive out the Romans and restore Israel to its former glory.  Since Jesus made no effort to do that, many didn’t buy in. So decades later those people are still looking for the Messiah.  Summing up the war between Rome and the Jews goes something like this: In 66 AD, an insurrection begins in Judea.  Rome responds by declaring war.  The initial success of the Jews leads many to come forward claiming to be the Messiah.  Many do buy in to these false Messiahs, now because that is what the Messiah is supposed to do.  

Then in 68, Nero dies and Vespasian is called back to Rome, where he becomes the new emperor, and his son Titus takes over the army and surrounds Jerusalem.  Then they come in and destroy, killing indescriminately. 

Jesus is warning his apostles about something that many of them would live to see. In verse 21, he says, "At that time, those who are in Judea should run to the mountains.  Those who are in the city need to leave, and those outside of the city should not enter it." In other words, he is saying, that when they see the armies surrounding Jerusalem, "Get Out!"  Jerusalem was not the place to be when this time of judgment came.  

In verse 22, Jesus makes it clear that the city would be punished.  Luke records the Greek words ἡμέραι ἐκδικήσεως (hēmerai ekdikēseōs).  This means "days of punishment"  According the Greek-English Lexicon, the Greek word ἐκδικήσεως can be defined as 1. meting out justice. 2. retaliation for harm done, or vengeance.  3. penalty inflicted on wrongdoers, or punishment.  Using this word here would indicate that Jerusalem would be receiving Divine judgment for its rejection of God's Messiah. Jesus indicates that that this judgment will also fulfill the Scriptures, as the OT often indicates that kind of covenental unfaithfulness has dire consequences. 

Verse 23 and 24 indicates the depths of this punishment.  There is going to be great distress on the land.  It will a particulary terrible time for women who are pregnant or nursing.  Many will be killed by the Romans, and many others will be taken into captivity, and dispersed throughout the Empire.  Gentiles would trample the city and the temple.  In 70 AD, this is exactly what happened. 

Starting in verse 25, Jesus' message seems to turn toward end time prophecies.  His message turns very apocalyptic.  He talks about signs in among the stars, Sun and Moon, and worldwide distress and anxiety.  Things will be so intense that people are just fainting due to the fear and the dread that accompany human existance.  

It is in this atmosphere of worldwide panic, that the Son of Man will return on a cloud with power and glory.  Jesus has often refered to himslef as the Son of Man, referencing Daniel 7:14, where The Son of Man is given authority, glory, sovereign power and an everlasting kingdom. 

He finishing to his disciples, that in those days of fear and dread, they should hold their heads up, because they can know that thier redemption is near.  In times when all of the world is panicked, those that belong to Jesus have no reason to do that.  He will take care of those that are His.