Lucas 21
George MacDonald · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 21
MacDonald - Unbelief might have argued that with a besieging army outside the walls, escape would be impossible; but God's Word never fails. The Roman general withdrew his armies for a short season, thus giving the believing Jews the opportunity to escape. (Believer's Bible Commentary) To flee to the mountains - This instruction is for those who are in Judea. Flee (escape) (5343)(pheugo) means to flee away in the sense of to take to flight in order to seek safety. To flee in the sense of to escape something, being made safe from danger by eluding or avoiding it. Flee is a command (present imperative) calling for continual obedience - keep on fleeing! To the mountains - These would be less accessible and familiar to the foreign forces and thus would be more likely to be safe havens. Let not those who are in the country enter the city - This is the opposite of the normal reaction of country dwellers who would normally flee to the protective walls of the city when an enemy was invading their land. Jesus command counteracts the prevalent logic! As an aside Jesus said many things that countered the logic of men! Eusebius a Roman historian (ad 260/265 - 339/340) describes the fleeing of the Christians from Jerusalem prior to the destruction in 70AD. There were several large scale revolts by the Jews against the Roman Empire between AD 66-135, the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73AD) being the one of interest to us and to which Eusebius alludes in the following quote: But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation (Ed: Could Eusebius be referring to Jesus' command in Luke 21? We cannot be certain, but it is possible.), vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella (in the Transjordan). And when those that believed in Christ had come thither from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men. (Eusebius Pamphilius- Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine) Arnold Fruchtenbaum elaborates on how Jesus' warning command to flee upon seeing the sign of surrounding armies Luke 21:20 was obeyed by the Jewish believers... In answer to their first question (Ed: This refers to the questions the disciples ask Jesus. Lk 21:7 was their question about the Temple He had just predicted would be razed - Lk 21:6.), the Messiah gave them the sign (Ed: They asked for a specific "sign" in Lk 21:7) that would mark the fact that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. The sign was the surrounding of the City of Jerusalem by armies. The Jewish believers were told that, when they saw this sign, they were to leave Jerusalem and Judea and flee outside the Land. This sign would mark the coming desolation of Jerusalem and, from that point on, Jerusalem will be continually "trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Lk 21:24) This prophecy was fulfilled in a very marvelous way. In the year A.D. 66, the first Jewish revolt broke out against the Romans. When the revolt first began, the Roman general in the Land, Cestius Gallus (see description of the Jewish Revolt AD 66-74), came with his armies from Caesarea and surrounded Jerusalem. The surrounding of the city marked the sign that Jesus had promised, and the Jewish believers knew that Jerusalem would soon be destroyed. Jesus had commanded the Jewish believers to desert the city when they saw this happening (Lk 21:21). However, it was impossible to do so while the Romans were surrounding the city. Then Cestius Gallus noticed that his supply lines were not secure. He did not have enough supplies to maintain an extended siege, so he lifted the siege of Jerusalem in order to go back to Caesarea. On the way, he was attacked by Jewish forces and killed (AD 67). Temporarily, the city was no longer surrounded by the armies, so every single Jewish believer was able to leave Jerusalem. They crossed the Jordan River and set up a new community of Jewish believers in the town of Pella in the Transjordan. They were joined by Jewish believers from Judea, Galilee, and the Golan. There, they waited for the prophecy of Yeshua to be fulfilled. In the year A.D. 68, a new Roman general by the name of Vespasian and his son, Titus, again besieged the city, and in the year A.D. 70, the city and the Temple were destroyed. Altogether, 1,100,000 Jews were killed in this final onslaught (Ed: As noted elsewhere this estimate which is usually attributed to Josephus is felt by a number of historians to be an exaggeration), but not one Jewish believer died because they obeyed the words of their Messiah. Since that time, Jerusalem has indeed been trodden down by the Gentiles and continues to be so to the present day. Jerusalem will not be free of Gentile nations treading upon her until the Messiah returns. With these words, the Messiah answered their first question, the sign of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. (Lk 21:7) (Ed: Lk 21:7 = "what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" - Context is Lk 21:6 = Jesus had just said "these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.") (Messianic Bible Study Collection - Logos Software) Joseph Benson (Methodist minister who wrote in mid-1700's) explained how the Jewish believers were able to flee Jerusalem even in the face of a Roman siege: It is remarkable, that after the Romans, under Cestius Gallus, made their first advance toward Jerusalem, they suddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected and impolitic manner. "This conduct of the Roman general," says Macknight, "so contrary to all the rules of prudence, was doubtless brought to pass by the providence of God, Who interposed in this manner for the deliverance of the disciples of his Son." For, at this juncture, the Christians, considering it as a signal to retire, left Jerusalem, and removed to Pella and other places beyond the river Jordan, so that they all marvelously escaped the general ruin of their country, and we do not read anywhere that so much as one of them perished. Of such signal service was this caution of our Lord to his followers!" Eric Cline has an interesting historical note on wars and Jerusalem noting that "There have been at least 118 separate conflicts in and for Jerusalem during the past four millennia—conflicts that ranged from local religious struggles to strategic military campaigns and that embraced everything in between. Jerusalem has been destroyed completely at least twice, besieged twenty-three times, attacked an additional fifty-two times, and captured and recaptured forty-four times. It has been the scene of twenty revolts and innumerable riots, has had at least five separate periods of violent terrorist attacks during the past century, and has only changed hands completely peacefully twice in the past four thousand years. (Jerusalem Besieged- From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel) Luke 21:22 Because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled: hoti hemerai ekdikeseos autai eisin (3PPAI) tou plesthenai (APN) panta ta gegrammena (RPPNPA). BGT Luke 21:22 ὅτι ἡμέραι ἐκδικήσεως αὗταί εἰσιν τοῦ πλησθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα. KJV Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. NET Luke 21:22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. CSB Luke 21:22 because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written. ESV Luke 21:22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. NIV Luke 21:22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. NLT Luke 21:22 For those will be days of God's vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. NRS Luke 21:22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. YLT Luke 21:22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all things that have been written. GWN Luke 21:22 This will be a time of vengeance. Everything that is written about it will come true. NKJ Luke 21:22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. NAB Luke 21:22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. MIT Luke 21:22 For these are days of retribution to fulfill all the things that have been written. NJB Luke 21:22 For this is the time of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. ASV Luke 21:22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. DBY Luke 21:22 for these are days of avenging, that all the things that are written may be accomplished. BBE Luke 21:22 For these are the days of punishment, in which all the things in the Writings will be put into effect. NAS Luke 21:22 because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. NIRV Luke 21:22 This is the time when God will punish Jerusalem. Everything will come true, just as it has been written. RSV Luke 21:22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. RWB Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. WEB Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. days: Isa 34:8, Isa 61:2 Jer 51:6 Ro 2:5 2Pe 2:9, 3:7 all: Lev 26:14-33 Dt 28:15-68, Dt 29:19-28, Dt 32:34,43 Ps 69:22-28, Ps 149:7-9 Isa 65:12-16 Da 9:26,27 Zec 11:1-3 14:1,2 Mal 4:1 Mk 13:19,20 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole DAYS OF VENGEANCE FOR JERUSALEM Because (hoti) (term of explanation) - Jesus is explaining why the residents are to flee Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem will not experience victory but vengeance. These are days of vengeance - "time of retribution" - NEB This describes days of divine righteous retribution for the city of Jerusalem. While the instruments of vengeance were the Roman army, their destruction of Jerusalem was not an act of chance or fate, but an act of a faithful God, faithful to fulfill His promise of punishment for Israel's rejection of her Messiah. Even as God had called King Nebuchadnezzar "My servant" (Jer 25:9), so too He would used the Roman armies of Vespasian commanded by Titus as His instrument to judge the nation of Israel. The psalmist calls God a "God of vengeance" (Psalm 94:1) Isaiah recorded that "the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion." (Isa. 34:8). Here the context is not Israel per se, but God's coming wrath against the nations (Isa 34:1) that will occur in the last days (see Rev 6:1-Rev 19:21). In order that - (term of purpose or result) The purpose of the days of vengeance is to fulfill what Jesus had previously prophesied in Lk 19:41-44+. All things which are written will be fulfilled (pimplemi) - All things refers not to every prophecy ever written but in context to the prophecy concerning Jerusalem. One might ask where were these things prophesied? If we go back a few chapters in Luke's Gospel, we encounter this prophecy from the lips of our Lord... When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you (EXACTLY LIKE THE ROMANS DID IN 70 AD), and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44+) And even in the immediate context Jesus repeated this same prophecy... And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.” (Lk 21:5-6+) Jesus' prophecy in Luke 19 and Lk 21:5-6 is then followed by a related prophecy in Luke 21:20-24. While I highly respect John MacArthur, it is seems he is placing great weight on the statement All things which are written will be fulfilled, commenting that "all things which are written were not fulfilled." I would submit that all things that Jesus prophesied in Lk 19:41-44+ and Lk 21:5-6+ were in fact fulfilled in 70 A.D. On the other hand, if one proposes as MacArthur does that Luke 21:20-24 refers to a future event such as described in Zechariah 14:2+, there is a significant problem with that interpretation. Jesus clearly stated "they will not leave in you one stone upon another," a very specific detail (which was even repeated for emphasis!) and this detail was fully fulfilled in 70 A.D. Furthermore if one compares the Zechariah 14 passage, there is absolutely no mention of the enemy throwing up a barricade and not leaving one stone upon another. In fact in Zechariah's future vision, the destruction of the city is brought to an abrupt end by the return of Messiah which will also mark the end of the times of the Gentiles, Zechariah 14:2-4+ recording that "For I will gather all the nations (GENTILES) against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured (NOTE - NO MENTION OF A BARRICADE, NO MENTION OF STONES TORN DOWN), the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. To reiterate Jesus' twice prophesied no stone would be standing upon another, a specific prophetic detail that was fulfilled to the letter! God (Jesus) said it. That settles it, whether we understand it completely or not. Centuries before the Temple was destroyed Jehovah had declared ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. (Isaiah 44:7) Vengeance (1557)(ekdikesis from ekdikeo = from ek = out or from + dike = right, justice) is literally that which proceeds from justice. Ekdikesis means to give justice to someone who has been wronged, in the present context the One wronged being God! It means to repay harm with harm on assumption that initial harm was unjustified and that retribution is therefore called for. The judgments of God are holy and right, and free from any element of self-gratification. There is thus no element of vindictiveness or sense of "taking revenge" in the judgments of God for they are are both holy and righteous (right). Written (1125)(grapho) is in the perfect tense signifying it was written in the past and is still in effect. It speaks of permanence of the writing. To what writing Luke is referring is not clear, but there are a number of passages where God predicts vengeance on His people (cp Lev 26:14-33 Dt 28:15-68, Dt 29:19-28, Dt 32:34,43 Ps 69:22-28, Ps 149:7-9 Isa 65:12-16) For example in Leviticus 26:14-16, 31-32 God promises "But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you....I will lay waste (eremos - emptied, desolate, abandoned) your cities as well, and will make your sanctuaries desolate (exeremoo = make quite desolate, devastate); and I will not smell your soothing aromas. And I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled over it." May be fulfilled (4092)(pimplemi) means to fill full. It can refer to spatial filling (Lk 5:7; Lxx of Ge 24:16 = "filled her jar", cp Ge 21:19; filling of wells with dirt = Ge 26:15). It can refer to being filled with the Holy Spirit (John the Baptist in utero = Lk 1:23). In Lk 21:22 and Lk 1:20 pimplemi refers to fulfilled prophecy, of prediction that would surely happen. Pimplemi was used to describe the days of Zacharias' priestly service as coming to an end (Lk 1:23). In the Septuagint pimplemi is used figuratively to satisfy a need totally or be satiated (Pr 1:31). In Ge 6:11, 13 the earth "was filled (Lxx - pimplemi) with violence." In Ex 16:12 God told the children of Israel "in the morning you shall be filled (Lxx - pimplemi) with bread." In Ps 65:4 David affirms "How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, To dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied (Lxx = pimplemi) with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple." This begs a question - Do I seek satisfaction in God or in "goods"? Only one will truly satisfy my soul! (cp Ps 23:6, Ps 27:4, Ps 84:10). Liddell-Scott have some secular uses of pimplemi - to fill, discharge an office, to fill oneself a cup of wine, to get ships laden, to satiate one's desire with meat and drink, fill the plain full of your chariots, Passive - to be filled, become or be full of, to have enough of a thing. Pimplemi - 24x in 24v - NAS Usage: come(1), completed(2), ended(1), filled(18), fulfilled(1), passed(1). Matt 22:10; 27:48; Luke 1:15, 23, 41, 57, 67; 2:6, 21f; 4:28; 5:7, 26; 6:11; 21:22; Acts 2:4; 3:10; 4:8, 31; 5:17; 9:17; 13:9, 45; 19:29 Luke 21:23 Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people: ouai tais en gastri echousais (PAPFPD) kai tais thelazousais (PAPFPD) en ekeinais tais hemerais estai (3PSFMI) gar anagke megale epi tes ges kai orge tos lao touto, woe: Lu 23:29 De 28:56,57 La 4:10 Heb 9:12-17 13:16 Mt 24:19 Mk 13:17 great: Lu 19:27,43 Mt 21:41,44 1Th 2:16 Heb 10:26-31 Jas 5:1 1Pe 4:17 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole Woe (Alas! How dreadful!) (3759)(ouai) (3759 - click and select "Phonetics" to hear "ouai" pronounced) (ouai pronounced "oo-ah'ee," an eerie, ominous foreboding sound some say is like the cry of an eagle) is an onomatopoeic word (an imitation of the sound) which serves as an interjection expressing a cry of intense distress, displeasure or horror. It may convey a warning of impending disaster to the hearers. Those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days - This needs little comment, as it would be very difficult for pregnant and nursing women to flee quickly when the siege of Jerusalem occurs. Clearly those days are the days of Jerusalem's impending destruction. Jesus' disciples may have recalled His earlier warning when He declared "Behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed." (Lk 23:29). For (gar) - This term of explanation should always prompt the reader to pause and ponder what the writer is explaining. In this context Jesus is explaining why it will be so horrible for pregnant women and nursing moms. There will be great distress - As already noted, the Greek word Luke uses for distress (anagke) is different than that used by Matthew (thlipsis). It is notable that in the Septuagint thlipsis is used in Da 12:1-note which describes "a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation (of Israel) until that time." (cp Jesus' similar description in Mt 24:21). While the Greek verb anagke is used in one OT passage to describe the Day of the LORD (Zeph 1:15), it is not used by Daniel to describe the time of unique suffering that will come on Israel in the end times. Great distress is very similar to the description of the time of great tribulation Jesus predicted in Mt 24:21. As discussed the text uses different Greek verbs, but more importantly the great tribulation is distinguished by the solemn phrase "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." While Luke predicted great distress in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, Matthew predicted great tribulation of unprecedented proportions. If one reads Lk 21:23 and Mt 24:21 as would a little child, it seems clear that these two times of distress are different and that Luke's distress occurred in 70AD and Matthew's distress has yet to occur. The only way to avoid this conclusion is to make a futile (like a number of commentaries that fight hard against a future fulfillment of Matthew 24) attempt to make the text say something it does not say! These are serious, life and death passages, and it is hardly conceivable that a loving God would inspire a warning message that only an person with a theological doctorate could accurately interpret! Distress (318)(anagke from ana = up, again, back, renewal, repetition, intensity, reversal + agkale = arm when bent) refers to any necessity or compulsion, outer or inner, brought on by a variety of circumstances. The idea of an obligation of compelling nature (a complete obligation, a necessary thing) is dominant in Mt 18:7; Lk 14:18; Ro 13:5; 1Co 7:37; 9:16; 2Co 9:7; Philemon 14; Heb 7:12, 27; 9:16, 23; Jude 3; Lk 23:17. Anagke can be subdivided into a moral necessity (as in Mt 18:7; Heb 7:12, 27; 9:16, 23) or a spiritual necessity (Ro 13:5; 1Cor 9:16; Jude 1:3) The other sense of anagke is that of trouble, distress or hardship, the meaning intended by Luke in the present passage (Used in a a similar sense in 1Co 7:26; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:10, 1Thes 3:7). Anagke is used in the Septuagint (Lxx) in Jeremiah 15:4 to describe the judgment of God on the nation of Judah (cf Jer 9:15 where the English of the Lxx says He will feed them with trouble [anagke]). Four times in Ps 107 Israel cried out to the LORD in their trouble (thlibo = press upon) and He delivered them out of their distresses (anagke) (Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28). What a longsuffering God we serve! Zephaniah 1:15 describes a "day of trouble (thlipsis) and distress (anagke)," which is a description of the great Day of the LORD. Wrath (3709)(orge from orgaô = to teem, to swell) conveys the picture of a swelling which eventually bursts, and thus describes an anger that proceeds from one's settled nature. Orge does not refer to uncontrollable anger to which men are so prone but to God's settled indignation and controlled passionate hostile feeling toward sin in all its various manifestations. Settled indignation means that God's holiness cannot and will not coexist with sin in any form whatsoever. Orge is not the momentary, emotional, and often uncontrolled anger (thumos) to which human beings are prone. Orge is used primarily of God's holy, righteous wrath but occasionally refers to the wrath of men (Eph 4:31) To this people - Which people? In context this is specifically directly to the Jews. This distress is not global as implied in Matthew 24:21-22 but local. Luke 21:24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled: kai pesountai (3PFMI) stomati machaires kai aichmalotisthesontai (3PFPI) eis ta ethne panta kai Ierousalem estai (3PSFMI) patoumene (PPPFSN) hupo ethnon achri ou plerothosin (3PAPS) kairoi ethnon. BGT Luke 21:24 καὶ πεσοῦνται στόματι μαχαίρης καὶ αἰχμαλωτισθήσονται εἰς τὰ ἔθνη πάντα, καὶ Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἔσται πατουμένη ὑπὸ ἐθνῶν, ἄχρι οὗ πληρωθῶσιν καιροὶ ἐθνῶν. KJV Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. NET Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. CSB Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ESV Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. NIV Luke 21:24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. NLT Luke 21:24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end. NRS Luke 21:24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. YLT Luke 21:24 and they shall fall by the mouth of the sword, and shall be led captive to all the nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by nations, till the times of nations be fulfilled. GWN Luke 21:24 Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations to do this are over. NKJ Luke 21:24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. NAB Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. MIT Luke 21:24 They will fall, consumed by swords, and they will be taken captive to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until their times are up. NJB Luke 21:24 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete. ASV Luke 21:24 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. DBY Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations until the times of the nations be fulfilled. led: Dt 28:64-68 Jerusalem: Isa 5:5 63:18 La 1:15 Rev 11:2 until: Isa 66:12,19 Da 9:27, 12:7 Mal 1:11 Ro 11:25 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole Luke 21:20-24 The Terrors of the Great Tribulation, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 21:20-24 The Terrors of the Great Tribulation, Part 2 - John MacArthur Related Passage: Romans 11:25+ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; Comment - When is "until"? For help understanding the timing compare this to the timing of Israel's "partial hardening" -- When is this "partial hardening" no longer "partial" but in fact lifted by God? It is when "all Israel will be saved" (Ro 11:26) which equates with the Deliverer's return, the timing of which equates with Messiah's Second coming (gathering of the elect = Mt 24:31+, saving of Jews = Zec 12:10+, Zech 13:9+). Therefore to summarize -- the fulness of the Gentiles does not equate with the removal of the church (as erroneously stated by C I Scofield) because we know that after the removal of the church there will be a great harvest of Gentiles from every tribe, etc (a great multitude - Rev 7:9+) who are saved during the Great Tribulation (Rev 7:14+), after which the Deliverer will come and "all" Israel will be saved (2/3's will be killed and 1/3 saved). At the time all Israel is saved, obviously the partial hardening is removed. Finally, although "fulness of the Gentiles" is a different event, it does appear to correspond timewise to the termination of the "times of the Gentiles" (Lu 21:24) which also ends with the Second Coming of Christ. Jerusalem Destroyed 70 AD DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM 70 A.D. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive (aichmalotizo) into all the nations - They refers to the Jews. While it may be an exaggeration, Josephus reports that over 1 million Jews were killed when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and burned the Temple in 70AD. Josephus reports that 97,000 prisoners were taken and carried off everywhere. This is one aspect of this prophecy which would be difficult to see being fulfilled in the last 7 years of the Tribulation, for as noted above Satan does not desire to capture but to kill the Jews as the apostle John explains... “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” 13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman (ISRAEL - JEWS) who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman (ISRAEL), so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (3.5 YEARS CORRESPONDING TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION), from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman (ISRAEL), so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood (DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SATAN WANTS TO LEAD THE JEWS CAPTIVE INTO EVERY NATION - THIS IS A STRONG ARGUMENT AGAINST SAYING Lk 21:20-24 WAS NOT FULFILLED IN 70 A.D. - THE FACT IS THAT THE JEWS WERE DISPERSED INTO EVERY NATION AT THIS TIME). (Rev 12:12-15+). Some like John MacArthur believe Lk 21:20-24 was not fulfilled in 70 A.D. but will be fulfilled in the future. However, this interpretation is not compatible with the Apostle John's description of the future fate of the Jews. It is interesting that in MacArthur's commentary he gives no explanatory comment on how, when or why the Jews will be led captive into all the nations in the future. This simply would make no sense in light of Revelation 12:12-15+. Moses had prophesied this fate would befall Israel if they disobeyed Jehovah writing "Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known. 65 "And among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. 66 "So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. 67 "In the morning you shall say, 'Would that it were evening!' And at evening you shall say, 'Would that it were morning!' because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see." (Dt 28:64-67) Bob Deffinbaugh adds that "The Roman historian Tacitus states (Historiae, v, 13, 4) that the normal population of Jerusalem was 600,000 before A.D. 70. And if we bear in mind that before the investment of the city the Jews poured into Jerusalem in tens of thousands for the Passover and could not again return to their homes and thus remained in the city throughout the five months' siege, it may be understood that hundreds of thousands would perish in the over-populated city." (Jerusalem in the Last Days Luke 21:5-38) THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES Jerusalem will be trampled (pateo) under foot by the Gentiles - This prophecy is perfectly compatible with the previous description Jesus gives in Lk 21:20-24a as having been fulfilled in 70 A.D. The Gentile Romans trampled Jerusalem in 70AD and the city will continue to be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the end of this age, for in the Revelation, John writes that the Gentiles will "tread under foot the holy city for 42 months." (Rev 11:2+) It is notable that 42 months correlates with the last 3.5 years which is known as the Great Tribulation. (See Time Phrases - 3.5 years, "Time, times, half a time", 42 mo, 1260 days) Eric Cline gives us a sense of the Gentiles trampling on Jerusalem writing that "There have been at least 118 separate conflicts in and for Jerusalem during the past four millennia—conflicts that ranged from local religious struggles to strategic military campaigns and that embraced everything in between. Jerusalem has been destroyed completely at least twice, besieged twenty-three times, attacked an additional fifty-two times, and captured and recaptured forty-four times. It has been the scene of twenty revolts and innumerable riots, has had at least five separate periods of violent terrorist attacks during the past century, and has only changed hands completely peacefully twice in the past four thousand years. (Jerusalem Besieged) (Comment: Only twice has the Temple in Jerusalem been destroyed, in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and 70 AD by General Titus of Rome.) Warren
Lucas 21:20-24
MacDonald - Unbelief might have argued that with a besieging army outside the walls, escape would be impossible; but God's Word never fails. The Roman general withdrew his armies for a short season, thus giving the believing Jews the opportunity to escape. (Believer's Bible Commentary) Flee to the mountains - This instruction is for those who are in Judea. These would be less accessible and familiar to the foreign forces and thus would be more likely to be safe havens. Flee (escape) (5343)(pheugo) means to flee away in the sense of to take to flight in order to seek safety. To flee in the sense of to escape something, being made safe from danger by eluding or avoiding it. Flee is a command (present imperative) calling for continual obedience - keep on fleeing! Let not those who are in the country enter the city - This is the opposite of the normal reaction of country dwellers who would normally flee to the protective walls of the city when an enemy was invading their land. Jesus command counteracts the prevalent logic! As an aside Jesus said many things that countered the logic of men! Eusebius a Roman historian (ad 260/265 - 339/340) describes the fleeing of the Christians from Jerusalem prior to the destruction in AD 70. There were several large scale revolts by the Jews against the Roman Empire between AD 66-135, the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73AD) being the one of interest to us and to which Eusebius alludes in the following quote: But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation (Ed: Could Eusebius be referring to Jesus' command in Luke 21? We cannot be certain, but it is possible.), vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella (in the Transjordan). And when those that believed in Christ had come thither from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men. (Eusebius Pamphilius- Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine) Arnold Fruchtenbaum elaborates on how Jesus' warning command to flee upon seeing the sign of surrounding armies Luke 21:20 was obeyed by the Jewish believers... In answer to their first question (Ed: This refers to the questions the disciples ask Jesus. Lk 21:7 was their question about the Temple He had just predicted would be razed - Lk 21:6.), the Messiah gave them the sign (Ed: They asked for a specific "sign" in Lk 21:7) that would mark the fact that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. The sign was the surrounding of the City of Jerusalem by armies. The Jewish believers were told that, when they saw this sign, they were to leave Jerusalem and Judea and flee outside the Land. This sign would mark the coming desolation of Jerusalem and, from that point on, Jerusalem will be continually "trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Lk 21:24) This prophecy was fulfilled in a very marvelous way. In the year A.D. 66, the first Jewish revolt broke out against the Romans. When the revolt first began, the Roman general in the Land, Cestius Gallus (see description of the Jewish Revolt AD 66-74), came with his armies from Caesarea and surrounded Jerusalem. The surrounding of the city marked the sign that Jesus had promised, and the Jewish believers knew that Jerusalem would soon be destroyed. Jesus had commanded the Jewish believers to desert the city when they saw this happening (Lk 21:21). However, it was impossible to do so while the Romans were surrounding the city. Then Cestius Gallus noticed that his supply lines were not secure. He did not have enough supplies to maintain an extended siege, so he lifted the siege of Jerusalem in order to go back to Caesarea. On the way, he was attacked by Jewish forces and killed (AD 67). Temporarily, the city was no longer surrounded by the armies, so every single Jewish believer was able to leave Jerusalem. They crossed the Jordan River and set up a new community of Jewish believers in the town of Pella in the Transjordan. They were joined by Jewish believers from Judea, Galilee, and the Golan. There, they waited for the prophecy of Yeshua to be fulfilled. In the year A.D. 68, a new Roman general by the name of Vespasian and his son, Titus, again besieged the city, and in the year A.D. 70, the city and the Temple were destroyed. Altogether, 1,100,000 Jews were killed in this final onslaught (Ed: As noted elsewhere this estimate which is usually attributed to Josephus is felt by a number of historians to be an exaggeration), but not one Jewish believer died because they obeyed the words of their Messiah. Since that time, Jerusalem has indeed been trodden down by the Gentiles and continues to be so to the present day. Jerusalem will not be free of Gentile nations treading upon her until the Messiah returns. With these words, the Messiah answered their first question, the sign of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. (Lk 21:7) (Ed: Lk 21:7 = "what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" - Context is Lk 21:6 = Jesus had just said "these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.") (Messianic Bible Study Collection - Logos Software) Joseph Benson (Methodist minister who wrote in mid-1700's) explained how the Jewish believers were able to flee Jerusalem even in the face of a Roman siege: It is remarkable, that after the Romans, under Cestius Gallus, made their first advance toward Jerusalem, they suddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected and impolitic manner. "This conduct of the Roman general," says Macknight, "so contrary to all the rules of prudence, was doubtless brought to pass by the providence of God, Who interposed in this manner for the deliverance of the disciples of his Son." For, at this juncture, the Christians, considering it as a signal to retire, left Jerusalem, and removed to Pella and other places beyond the river Jordan, so that they all marvelously escaped the general ruin of their country, and we do not read anywhere that so much as one of them perished. Of such signal service was this caution of our Lord to his followers!" Eric Cline has an interesting historical note on wars and Jerusalem noting that "There have been at least 118 separate conflicts in and for Jerusalem during the past four millennia—conflicts that ranged from local religious struggles to strategic military campaigns and that embraced everything in between. Jerusalem has been destroyed completely at least twice, besieged twenty-three times, attacked an additional fifty-two times, and captured and recaptured forty-four times. It has been the scene of twenty revolts and innumerable riots, has had at least five separate periods of violent terrorist attacks during the past century, and has only changed hands completely peacefully twice in the past four thousand years. (Jerusalem Besieged- From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel) Luke 21:22 Because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled: hoti hemerai ekdikeseos autai eisin (3PPAI) tou plesthenai (APN) panta ta gegrammena (RPPNPA). days: Isa 34:8, Isa 61:2 Jer 51:6 Ro 2:5 2Pe 2:9, 3:7 all: Lev 26:14-33 Dt 28:15-68, Dt 29:19-28, Dt 32:34,43 Ps 69:22-28, Ps 149:7-9 Isa 65:12-16 Da 9:26,27 Zec 11:1-3 14:1,2 Mal 4:1 Mk 13:19,20 Because - (term of explanation) Jesus is explaining why the residents are to flee Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem will not experience victory but vengeance. These are days of vengeance ("time of retribution" - New English Bible) - While the instruments of vengeance were the Roman army, their destruction of Jerusalem was not an act of chance or fate, but an act of a faithful God, faithful to fulfill His promise of punishment for sin. Even as God had called King Nebuchadnezzar "My servant" (Jer 25:9), so too He would used the Roman armies of Vespasian commanded by Titus as His instrument to judge the nation of Israel. The psalmist calls God a "God of vengeance" (Psalm 94:1) Isaiah recorded that "the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion." (Isa. 34:8). Here the context is not Israel per se, but God's coming wrath against the nations (Isa 34:1) that will occur in the last days (see Rev 6:1-Rev 19:21). Vengeance (1557)(ekdikesis from ekdikeo = from ek = out or from + dike = right, justice) is literally that which proceeds from justice. Ekdikesis means to give justice to someone who has been wronged, in the present context the One wronged being God! It means to repay harm with harm on assumption that initial harm was unjustified and that retribution is therefore called for. The judgments of God are holy and right, and free from any element of self-gratification. There is thus no element of vindictiveness or sense of "taking revenge" in the judgments of God for they are are both holy and righteous (right). In order that - (term of purpose or result) The purpose of the days of vengeance is to fulfill what God has previously decreed. All things which are written will be fulfilled - God said it. That settles it, whether we understand it or not. If it has not come to pass, then we can rest assured it will because as Joshua with some of his last words reminded Israel "Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass" (Joshua 21:45) and "not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; ALL have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed." (Josh 23:14). Unfortunately for Israel the "all things" includes not only the wonderful promises (many of which are yet to be fulfilled) but also the righteous judgments (as in Lk 21:22)! This phrase "all things which are written will be fulfilled" is the most difficult to resolve if one interprets Luke 21:21-24 as past fulfilled prophecy. I will agree that this suggests an end time destruction of Jerusalem. Written (1125)(grapho) is in the perfect tense signifying it was written in the past and is still in effect. It speaks of permanence of the writing. To what writing Luke is referring is not clear, but there are a number of passages where God predicts vengeance on His people (cp Lev 26:14-33 Dt 28:15-68, Dt 29:19-28, Dt 32:34,43 Ps 69:22-28, Ps 149:7-9 Isa 65:12-16) For example in Leviticus 26:14-16, 31-32 God promises "But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you....I will lay waste (eremos - emptied, desolate, abandoned) your cities as well, and will make your sanctuaries desolate (exeremoo = make quite desolate, devastate); and I will not smell your soothing aromas. And I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled over it." May be fulfilled (4092)(pimplemi) means to fill full. It can refer to spatial filling (Lk 5:7; Lxx of Ge 24:16 = "filled her jar", cp Ge 21:19; filling of wells with dirt = Ge 26:15). It can refer to being filled with the Holy Spirit (John the Baptist in utero = Lk 1:23). In Lk 21:22 and Lk 1:20 pimplemi refers to fulfilled prophecy, of prediction that would surely happen. Pimplemi was used to describe the days of Zacharias' priestly service as coming to an end (Lk 1:23). In the Septuagint pimplemi is used figuratively to satisfy a need totally or be satiated (Pr 1:31). In Ge 6:11, 13 the earth "was filled (Lxx - pimplemi) with violence." In Ex 16:12 God told the children of Israel "in the morning you shall be filled (Lxx - pimplemi) with bread." In Ps 65:4 David affirms "How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, To dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied (Lxx = pimplemi) with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple." This begs a question - Do I seek satisfaction in God or in "goods"? Only one will truly satisfy my soul! (cp Ps 23:6, Ps 27:4, Ps 84:10). Liddell-Scott have some secular uses of pimplemi - to fill, discharge an office, to fill oneself a cup of wine, to get ships laden, to satiate one's desire with meat and drink, fill the plain full of your chariots, Passive - to be filled, become or be full of, to have enough of a thing. Pimplemi - 24x in 24v - NAS Usage: come(1), completed(2), ended(1), filled(18), fulfilled(1), passed(1). Matt 22:10; 27:48; Luke 1:15, 23, 41, 57, 67; 2:6, 21f; 4:28; 5:7, 26; 6:11; 21:22; Acts 2:4; 3:10; 4:8, 31; 5:17; 9:17; 13:9, 45; 19:29 Luke 21:23 Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people: ouai tais en gastri echousais (PAPFPD) kai tais thelazousais (PAPFPD) en ekeinais tais hemerais estai (3PSFMI) gar anagke megale epi tes ges kai orge tos lao touto, woe: Lu 23:29 De 28:56,57 La 4:10 Heb 9:12-17 13:16 Mt 24:19 Mk 13:17 great: Lu 19:27,43 Mt 21:41,44 1Th 2:16 Heb 10:26-31 Jas 5:1 1Pe 4:17 Woe (Alas! How dreadful!) (3759)(ouai) (3750 - click and select "Phonetics" to hear "ouai" pronounced) (ouai pronounced "oo-ah'ee," an eerie, ominous foreboding sound some say is like the cry of an eagle) is an onomatopoeic word (an imitation of the sound) which serves as an interjection expressing a cry of intense distress, displeasure or horror. It may convey a warning of impending disaster to the hearers. Those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days - This needs little comment, as it would be very difficult for pregnant and nursing women to flee quickly when the siege of Jerusalem occurs. Clearly those days are the days of Jerusalem's impending destruction. Jesus' disciples may have recalled His earlier warning when He declared "Behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed." (Lk 23:29). For - This term of explanation should always prompt the reader to pause and ponder what the writer is explaining. In this context Jesus is explaining why it will be so horrible for pregnant women and nursing moms. There will be great distress - As already noted, the Greek word Luke uses for distress (anagke) is different than that used by Matthew (thlipsis). It is notable that in the Septuagint thlipsis is used in Da 12:1-note which describes "a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation (of Israel) until that time." (cp Jesus' similar description in Mt 24:21). While the Greek verb anagke is used in one OT passage to describe the Day of the LORD (Zeph 1:15), it is not used by Daniel to describe the time of unique suffering that will come on Israel in the end times. Great distress is very similar to the description of the time of great tribulation Jesus predicted in Mt 24:21. As discussed the text uses different Greek verbs, but more importantly the great tribulation is distinguished by the solemn phrase "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." While Luke predicted great distress in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, Matthew predicted great tribulation of unprecedented proportions. If one reads Lk 21:23 and Mt 24:21 as would a little child, it seems clear that these two times of distress are different and that Luke's distress occurred in 70AD and Matthew's distress has yet to occur. The only way to avoid this conclusion is to make a futile (like a number of commentaries that fight hard against a future fulfillment of Matthew 24) attempt to make the text say something it does not say! These are serious, life and death passages, and it is hardly conceivable that a loving God would inspire a warning message that only an person with a theological doctorate could accurately interpret! Distress (318)(anagke from ana = up, again, back, renewal, repetition, intensity, reversal + agkale = arm when bent) refers to any necessity or compulsion, outer or inner, brought on by a variety of circumstances. The idea of an obligation of compelling nature (a complete obligation, a necessary thing) is dominant in Mt 18:7; Lk 14:18; Ro 13:5; 1Co 7:37; 9:16; 2Co 9:7; Philemon 14; Heb 7:12, 27; 9:16, 23; Jude 3; Lk 23:17. Anagke can be subdivided into a moral necessity (as in Mt 18:7; Heb 7:12, 27; 9:16, 23) or a spiritual necessity (Ro 13:5; 1Cor 9:16; Jude 1:3) The other sense of anagke is that of trouble, distress or hardship, the meaning intended by Luke in the present passage (Used in a a similar sense in 1Co 7:26; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:10, 1Thes 3:7). Anagke is used in the Septuagint (Lxx) in Jeremiah 15:4 to describe the judgment of God on the nation of Judah (cf Jer 9:15 where the English of the Lxx says He will feed them with trouble [anagke]). Four times in Ps 107 Israel cried out to the LORD in their trouble (thlibo = press upon) and He delivered them out of their distresses (anagke) (Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28). What a longsuffering God we serve! Zephaniah 1:15 describes a "day of trouble (thlipsis) and distress (anagke)," which is a description of the great Day of the LORD. Wrath (3709)(orge from orgaô = to teem, to swell) conveys the picture of a swelling which eventually bursts, and thus describes an anger that proceeds from one's settled nature. Orge does not refer to uncontrollable anger to which men are so prone but to God's settled indignation and controlled passionate hostile feeling toward sin in all its various manifestations. Settled indignation means that God's holiness cannot and will not coexist with sin in any form whatsoever. Orge is not the momentary, emotional, and often uncontrolled anger (thumos) to which human beings are prone. Orge is used primarily of God's holy, righteous wrath but occasionally refers to the wrath of men (Eph 4:31) To this people - Which people? In context this is specifically directly to the Jews. This distress is not global as implied in Matthew 24:21-22 but local. Luke 21:24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled: kai pesountai (3PFMI) stomati machaires kai aichmalotisthesontai (3PFPI) eis ta ethne panta kai Ierousalem estai (3PSFMI) patoumene (PPPFSN) hupo ethnon achri ou plerothosin (3PAPS) kairoi ethnon. led: Dt 28:64-68 Jerusalem: Isa 5:5 63:18 La 1:15 Rev 11:2 until: Isa 66:12,19 Da 9:27, 12:7 Mal 1:11 Ro 11:25 They - The Jews Will fall by the edge of the sword - While it may be an exaggeration, Josephus reports that over 1 million Jews were killed when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and burned the Temple in 70AD. Will be led captive into all the nations - Josephus reports that 97,000 prisoners were taken and carried off everywhere. Moses had prophesied this fate would befall Israel if they disobeyed Jehovah writing "Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known. 65 "And among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. 66 "So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. 67 "In the morning you shall say, 'Would that it were evening!' And at evening you shall say, 'Would that it were morning!' because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see." (Dt 28:64-67) Led captive (163)(aichmalotizo from aichme = a spear + halotós = to be taken or conquered) was a military term which mean to take captive as a prisoner or be led away captive. Bob Deffinbaugh adds that "The Roman historian Tacitus states (Historiae, v, 13, 4) that the normal population of Jerusalem was 600,000 before A.D. 70. And if we bear in mind that before the investment of the city the Jews poured into Jerusalem in tens of thousands for the Passover and could not again return to their homes and thus remained in the city throughout the five months' siege, it may be understood that hundreds of thousands would perish in the over-populated city." (Jerusalem in the Last Days Luke 21:5-38) Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles - The Gentile Romans trampled Jerusalem in 70AD and the city will continue to be tread under foot by Gentiles until the end times for John writes that the Gentiles will "tread under foot the holy city for 42 months." It is notable that 42 months correlates perfectly with the last 3.5 years that is known as the Great Tribulation. (See Time Phrases - 3.5 years, "Time, times, half a time", 42 mo, 1260 days) Warren