When Jerusalem is Compassed with Armies - Luke 21:20

The beloved physician Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples, “you shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess you your souls”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty of his book Luke shared how Jesus tells His disciples what to do, “when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies” where we read:

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

The verse reads, “And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and the time and moment” “you shall see Jerusalem” which means “you, disciples of Jesus, will observe, notice, perceive and discern Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “compassed with armies” or “surrounded, encircled, encompassed and besieged with military camps and soldiers” they should do the following. Luke shared how Jesus instructed His disciples to do the following at the time they saw “Jerusalem” surrounded and encompassed with “military camps”.

The verse continues, “... then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Luke added the words, “then know” or “at that time understand, perceive and be aware” “that the desolation thereof” which means “that the devastation, gloom and deterioration of Jerusalem” “is nigh” or “is at hand or near”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “devastation and destruction” of “Jerusalem” would be “near” when His disciples observed the “armies” surrounding it.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn what Jesus said would be the “sign” for the “destruction” of “Jerusalem”. Jesus' disciples would notice how “Jerusalem” was “surrounded and encompassed” with “military camps” and “soldiers”, and this would indicate that “Jerusalem” would be under attack and eventual “devastation”. God's desire is to “save” every person through a relationship with His Son Jesus, and when they submit themselves to Him, they can observe the circumstances surrounding “Jerusalem” like the disciples of Jesus.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".