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.