Luke 21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”
The disciples were uneducated men from the country. They had spent three years traveling the dusty roads of Israel going from one small town to another. Now they are in the capital city, Jerusalem. As the disciples were leaving the temple, a marvel of the ancient world, they are struck with its beauty how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts. Overhearing the disciples, Jesus remarks, “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”
The disciples are stunned. They can’t believe it. How can it be possible that the cornerstone of their society and nation, could be utterly destroyed? They ask Jesus two questions:
Luke 21:7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
When will this happen?
Can you give us any warning signs so that we will be prepared?
Jesus answers their questions by first giving them the warning signs that they asked for. After telling the disciples what to look for he concludes by answering their first question, When will these things be? by saying,
This generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. Luke 21:32
In other words, Jesus makes it clear the generation that is hearing his words, the generation that is alive in the first century, the apostles themselves, will witness the complete destruction of the temple.
What are the warning signs of this catastrophe?
Luke 21:8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, the time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
What were the signs of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple that Jesus wanted the disciples to be aware of?
First, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple many false teachers will arise claiming to be the Messiah. In fact, as we have seen, the Jews, misunderstanding the nature of the kingdom, had hoped that Jesus would be a political/military Messiah, overthrowing Roman rule. After Christ’s ascension into heaven many would-be military Messiahs arose, and in 66A.D. the Jews were successful in expelling the Romans from Jerusalem.
A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin… “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt.
Acts 5:34-37
Second, there would be international strife, as nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
The Roman historian, Josephus, goes to great lengths to describe how these signs were fulfilled prior to Titus’ siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. (Josephus, The Jewish War, Books 2-4)
Every city was divided into two armies encamped against one another, and the preservation of the one party was in the destruction of the other; so the day-time was spent in the shedding of blood, and the night in fear… It was then common to see cities filled with dead bodies, still lying unburied, and those old men, mixed with infants, all dead, and scattered about together; the whole province full of inexpressible calamities, while dread of still ore barbarous practices which were threatened, was everywhere greater than what had been already perpetrated.
(Josephus, The Jewish War, Books 2-4)
Third, there would be great earthquakes.
When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.
Matthew 27:51-52
Fourth, there would be famines and plagues.
Throughout the city people were dying of hunger in large numbers, and enduring unspeakable sufferings. In every house the merest hint of food sparked violence, and close relatives fell to blows, snatching from one another the pitiful supports of life… driven by fury and want, she committed a crime against nature. Seizing her child, an infant at the breast, she cried, “My poor baby, why should I keep you alive in this world of war and famine? Even if we live till the Romans come, they will make slaves of us; and anyway, hunger will get us before slavery does; and the rebels are crueler than both. Come, be food for me, and an avenging fury to the rebels, and a tale of cold horror to the world to complete the monstrous agony of the Jews.” With these words she killed her son, roasted the body, swallowed half of it, and stored the rest in a safe place.
(Josephus, The Jewish War, Books 2-4)
Fifth, there will be great signs from heaven.
They disregarded and disbelieved the unmistakable portents that foreshadowed the coming desolation; but as though thunderstruck, blind, senseless, paid no heed to the clear warnings of God…While the people were assembling for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at 3:00 A.M. so bright a light shown round the altar that it looked like broad daylight… The east gate of the inner sanctuary was a very massive gate made of brass and so heavy that it could be scarcely moved every evening by twenty men; it was fastened by iron-bound bars and secured by bolts that were sunk deep into a threshold fashioned from a single stone block; yet this gate was seen to open of its own accord…A supernatural apparition was seen. Chariots were seen in the air over the whole country, and armed battalions speeding through the clouds… When the priests had entered the inner courts of the temple they were aware of a violent commotion and din, then a voice as of a host crying, “We are departing hence!”
(The Jewish War, Books 2-4)
In fact, after receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2, Peter and the apostles were accused of being drunk. To explain what was going on, Peter stood up, and said that they were witnessing in real time, the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: wonders in the sky, the sun darkened, the moon turned to blood…
Acts 2:17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath:
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
See Joel 2:28-32
In the final days of the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit will be given to believers and the Word of God, the news of Christ’s resurrection and offer of salvation, went out across the world.
Sixth, the disciples will be persecuted and brought before kings and governors.
The angel of God said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! Acts 27:24
Seventh, and finally, Jerusalem [will be] surrounded by armies.
As the legions charged in, neither persuasion nor threat could check their impetuosity: passion alone was in command. Crowded together around the entrances many were trampled by their friends, many fell among the still hot and smoking ruins of the colonnades and died as miserably as the defeated. As they neared the Sanctuary they pretended not even to hear Caesar’s commands and urged the men in front to throw in more firebrands. The partisans were no longer in a position to help; everywhere was slaughter and flight. Most of the victims were peaceful citizens, weak and unarmed, butchered wherever they were caught. Round the Altar the heaps of corpses grew higher and higher, while down the Sanctuary steps poured a river of blood and the bodies of those killed at the top slithered to the bottom.
(The Jewish War, Books 2-4)
To help make this clear for his disciples, Jesus told another parable.
Luke 21:29 He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. 31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. 32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. 38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
When the fig tree is budding you know that summer is near. Similarly, when you see these events happening in Israel you know that Christ, sitting on his throne, is coming to judge those who rejected him. Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. For these are days of vengeance… The Jews had cried, “Crucify him, let his blood be on us and on our children.” Matthew 27:25 The Jewish religious leaders had conspired to have Christ crucified. Now forty years later, the days of vengeance were upon them.
As Christ had said: This generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. Luke 21:32
The generation that crucified their Creator, Savior, and Messiah faced the wrath of his judgment in their earthly lives.