Luke 21:20

20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.

Luke 21:20 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 21:20

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies
The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions read, "with an army"; that is, with the Roman army, as it was by the army which Titus Vespasian brought against it, and besieged it with:

then know that the desolation thereof is nigh;
signifying, that there would be no deliverance to be expected, as when the Assyrian army under Rabshakeh appeared against it; but that whenever the Roman army besieged it, its destruction might be looked upon as inevitable; nor was the siege raised until it was destroyed, which was about four years after.

Luke 21:20 In-Context

18 But not a single hair from your heads will be lost.
19 Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.
20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.
21 Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills; those who are in the city must leave, and those who are out in the country must not go into the city.
22 For those will be "The Days of Punishment,' to make come true all that the Scriptures say.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.