Luke 21:20

The Desolation of Jerusalem

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

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 Even a hair of your head will never perish!

19 By your patient endurance you will gain your lives.

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those {inside it} must depart, and those in the fields must not enter into it,

22 because these are days of vengeance, [so that] all the things that are written can be fulfilled.