Luke 21:20

When you shall see surrounded by an army, etc. After he described what was to come in general, and also the persecutions of the Church itself, here he describes what is to come concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, by which is understood the tribulation that …

Hitherto our Lord had been speaking of those things which were to come to pass for forty years, the end not yet coming. He now describes the very end itself of the desolation, which was accomplished by the Roman army; as it is said, And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed, &c.

But when you shall see Jerusalem surrounded by an army, then know that her desolation is near. Thus far these things which were to be for forty years, with the end not yet coming; here the very end of the desolation, which was made by …

Now the Lord speaks most clearly about the captivity of Jerusalem. Therefore I think that the words "but before all these" (Lk. 21:12) should be understood thus: before the famine and pestilence, and the other calamities that will occur at the time of the end …

), the Roman armies; and, when they saw this, they might conclude that its desolation was nigh, for in this the siege would infallibly end, though it might be a long siege. Note, As in mercy, so in judgment, when God begins, he will make an end.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,....

The subject of the verses before us, is the capturing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans. It was fit and right that this great event, which wound up the Old Testament dispensation — should be especially described by our Lord's mouth. It was fitting that the last days of that holy city, which had been the seat of God's presence for so many centuries — should receive a special notice in the greatest prophecy which was ever delivered to the Church. We should mark in this passage — our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect knowledge.

The subject of the verses before us, is the capturing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans. It was fit and right that this great event, which wound up the Old Testament dispensation — should be especially described by our Lord's mouth. It was fitting that the last days of that holy city, which had been the seat of God's presence for so many centuries — should receive a special notice in the greatest prophecy which was ever delivered to the Church. We should mark in this passage — our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect knowledge. He gives us a fearful picture of the miseries which were coming on Jerusalem. Forty years before the armies of Titus encompassed the city — the dreadful circumstances which would attend the siege are minutely described. The distress of weak and helpless women — the slaughter of myriads of Jews — the final scattering of Israel in captivity among all nations — the treading down of the holy city by the Gentiles — are things which our Lord narrates with as much particularity as if He saw them with His own eyes! Foreknowledge like this is a special attribute of God. Of ourselves we "know not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1.) To say what will happen to any city or kingdom in forty years from the present time — is far beyond the power of man. The words in Isaiah are very solemn, "I am God — and there is no other. I am God — "and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times — what is still to come. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:9, 10.) He who could speak with authority of things to come, as our Lord did in this place — must have been true God as well as true man. The Christian should continually keep this perfect knowledge of Christ in mind.