20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 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. ~ Luke 21:20-24
Today's text gives some detail to the period of time between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. Most refer to this period as "the Tribulation," but nowhere in the Bible is it called that. The Lord Jesus refers to the last half of that period as "a time of great tribulation," but nowhere is it called "the Tribulation."
In Daniel 9:24-27 we are given a prophecy that covers a four hundred and ninety year period of time. "The tribulation" is the last seven year period of time of that prophecy. Four hundred and eighty-three years of that four hundred and ninety year prophecy has been accounted for already. The final seven years is yet to begin and it will be characterized by religious deception, natural catastrophe, and the persecution of those who refuse to worship the Antichrist.
In v.20 we read, "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near." The people on earth during the seventieth seven of Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 9 will know that the end is near when Jerusalem is surrounded by enemy armies.
Then in v.21-22 we read, “21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.” Some say this prophecy was fulfilled when Titus went into Jerusalem to destroy it in 70 A.D., but the language used here in v.21-22 does not lend itself to that interpretation.
In a parallel passage, in Matthew 24:15 we read, “When you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.” Clearly, the Lord Jesus is identifying the middle of the Seventieth Seven or "the Tribulation." Because in Daniel 9:27 we read, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
At that time, the people on the earth will know that they are at the mid-point of the Tribulation when the abomination of desolation happens.
Then, at the end of the Tribulation, three and a half years after the abomination of desolation, according to Matthew 24:29, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man appears in the sky.
In Daniel 9:27 we read, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week.” This is the Antichrist who will make a covenant or a pact with Israel. He will become, at that point, the protector of Israel who is yet to believe in the Lord Jesus. The Antichrist offers himself as the protector of Israel because Israel is opposed by the entire hostile world. He makes a covenant with Israel for a seven year period. Then, in the middle of that seven year period, he will put a stop to sacrifice that had begun with the ratifying of the covenant.
Obviously, the temple will be rebuilt. The sacrificial system of Judaism will be restored. The Jews will begin offering sacrifices again. It will be at that time, the Antichrist will offer himself as the protector of Israel. He will not labeled the Antichrist, he will be known as the man of peace, a great world leader of peace. Then, in the middle of that seven year period, he will put a stop to their sacrifices, and create what is called the abomination which makes desolate. This is what our Lord is referring to in Matthew 24:15.
In Revelation 13:15 we read, "The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed."
The Antichrist will set up his image in the temple and the people will be forced to worship him. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 we read, “3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” This is Paul's description of the abomination of desolation.
Now, back to our text of Luke 21:23-24 which reads, “23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 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.”
It’s going to be more difficult for pregnant women and women who have nursing babies. Obviously they can’t move as fast because they will be encumbered. There will be great distress upon the earth and the wrath of Satan will be executed upon all who oppose him.
These events will begin at the midpoint of the seven year Tribulation. Jerusalem will be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles. But, only until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The end of the times of the Gentiles is concurrent with the day of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.
The Tribulation will be awful, therefore, we must be bold in sharing the faith with others, now. I suggest that you pray a lot before sharing the gospel with someone. Then, be faithful to tell them about your story with God, interspersing the gospel in the conversation. Make it as natural as you can, in hopes they receive the free gift of salvation from the God of the Bible who loves them dearly.
