Luke 21:20-24

It is the same context, and this version gives us a general geographical setting: Jerusalem and Judea. It talks about “the land”—the land of promise—as well as “this people.” This does not mean there will not be trouble or tribulation elsewhere, but the epicenter of the turmoil will be Jerusalem and its environs, and the “troublers” will be Gentiles.

This passage also fills in some details that tie this time of great tribulation directly to Jacob’s Trouble. Verse 24 describes death in warfare and being carried away into other nations. It also says that Jerusalem will be given over to the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. We can correlate that with Revelation 11:2, which says that the Gentiles “will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” The city will be trampled by Gentiles, and whatever worship has been taking place will be stopped.

But the verse that is almost always overlooked is verse 22: “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” The events here are the culmination, the comprehensive fulfillment, of what has been spoken of before by the prophets. And Jesus calls this time, “the days of vengeance.” This vengeance is not arbitrary, like human vengeance, but a fulfillment of divine warnings given previously.

Luke 21:21-22

Now when we put this thought of escaping together with Revelation 12, we find that in Luke 21:21-22, that the order—the command to escape—is focused on a small specific area of Judea. But, in Revelation 12, the picture is very definitely much larger in scope. Indeed, it gives the implication of the escape being worldwide, rather than just concentrated on that small area of Palestine. To where will these people flee? Lets go to the book of Luke 17:26-38 where Jesus make an enigmatic statement and, within its context, it is very interesting.

Luke 21:20-22

Jesus clearly understood that it is possible for one to be "worthy to escape all these things." That is clear, now he also said in the same chapter but earlier in verse 20:

Again, something is very clear. Not only can one be found worthy, he gave additional instructions that if one finds himself in Jerusalem, when these things are unfolding to the point where Jerusalem is about to be surrounded here by armies, then (at this critical time) one is to flee Jerusalem and go to the mountains.

Luke 21:21-23

Now here is wisdom from our Savior. If you are in Judea—flee. You should not expect God to protect you there. Wisdom dictates that we follow God's instruction and get out. God's purpose is going to be worked out somewhere else in these people's lives. He said that if you are outside the city, don't go into it—wisdom again. The reason is: "these are the days of vengeance." Now to this of course, we can attach verse 36.