LUKE 21:20–28, THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN

LUKE 21:20–28, THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
HOPEFUL FAITH IN THE MIDST OF JUDGMENT AND COSMIC SHAKING

Introduction
As Jesus approaches his Passion, he speaks candidly about coming upheavals: the fall of Jerusalem, times of suffering, and even cosmic disturbances that shake heaven and earth. His words are sobering, yet not meant to paralyze us with fear. He interprets history in the light of God’s plan, showing that tragic events do not mean God has abandoned his people. Instead, they are part of a larger story that leads to final redemption. Jesus teaches his disciples how to respond when the world seems to fall apart: with discernment, prudence, and above all, hope anchored in his coming as the Son of Man in glory.

Bible Passage (Luke 21:20–28)
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

Background
Jesus first speaks about a concrete historical event: the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by foreign armies. This happened in A.D. 70 when Rome surrounded the city, leading to immense suffering, death, and exile. Luke’s community likely knew this tragedy as a recent or living memory. Jesus interprets it as a time of judgment and the fulfillment of Scripture—not to say that God has abandoned his people, but to show that God remains sovereign even through painful consequences of sin and rejection. He then widens the horizon beyond that event to the “times of the Gentiles,” a period in which Jerusalem remains under non-Jewish control and the Gospel spreads among the nations. Finally, he speaks of cosmic signs and his own coming as the Son of Man, using imagery from the prophets to describe the final revelation of God’s kingdom.

Opening Life Connection
We know what it means to watch a “Jerusalem” in our life fall: a marriage that breaks down, a vocation that seems to collapse, a parish or institution shaken by scandal or decline. On the global level, wars, natural disasters, pandemics, and social upheavals can feel like our world is surrounded by “armies,” with no safe way out. In such times, it is easy to be overwhelmed by fear, confusion, or despair. Jesus’ words invite us to see these experiences not as random disasters, but as occasions to cling more deeply to God, to discern when to flee danger, when to remain faithful under pressure, and above all, to live in hope that our story ends not in ruin but in redemption.

Verse-by-Verse / Phrase-by-Phrase Reflection
Jesus begins: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.” He gives his disciples a concrete sign. The holy city, symbol of God’s presence, will face destruction. This is a shock: places we assume are secure can be shaken. Yet Jesus does not say this to terrify, but to prepare: faith does not deny harsh realities; it faces them with God.

“Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city.” Sometimes fidelity to God means staying firm; at other times it means prudently withdrawing from danger. Here, the instruction is clear: do not stay and fight a doomed battle; flee. Trusting Jesus can mean letting go of what we thought we had to defend at all costs.

He explains: “for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled.” This is not arbitrary cruelty. Israel’s long history of refusing prophets and rejecting the Messiah has consequences. Yet even punishment is framed within God’s faithfulness: Scripture is being fulfilled, meaning God is still in charge and his plan continues.

“Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days” expresses Jesus’ compassion. In times of crisis, the most vulnerable suffer most. He does not speak coolly about judgment; he feels the pain it causes, especially for those least able to protect themselves.

“They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles.” Many will die; others will be scattered among nations. This echoes earlier exiles in Israel’s history. Even today, many people experience exile—physical or emotional—through war, persecution, or broken relationships.

“And Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Here Jesus signals that this situation will last for a while. The “times of the Gentiles” suggests a long phase in God’s plan when the Gospel goes out among the nations and Jerusalem’s full restoration awaits a future moment. We live in this missionary time, between judgment and final restoration.

Then Jesus lifts our eyes from history to the cosmos: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay.” Heavenly bodies, normally steady and predictable, appear shaken. Symbolically, this means that systems we relied on—political, economic, cultural—lose stability. Nations feel confused and powerless, like sailors caught in a storm.

“People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Fear can be so intense that it becomes literally deadly. When the “powers of the heavens” (the spiritual or cosmic forces that seem to govern life) are disturbed, people feel everything slipping out of their control.

And yet, in that darkest moment: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” This is the heart of Christian hope. The same Jesus who was humiliated on the cross will be revealed as Lord of history. “Coming in a cloud” evokes God’s presence in the Old Testament and the vision of Daniel where the Son of Man receives everlasting dominion. Our future is not a faceless end, but an encounter with a Person—the risen Christ.

Finally, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples’ attitude: “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” While others are crushed by fear, believers are called to stand up and look up. “Stand erect” suggests dignity and trust, not arrogance. “Raise your heads” means looking beyond immediate chaos to the approaching Redeemer. “Redemption” is liberation from all evil, sin, and death—what every Christian heart longs for. We are not waiting for ruin, but for rescue and fulfillment.

Jewish Historical and Religious Context
To Jesus’ Jewish listeners, Jerusalem and its temple were the heart of religious life. The idea that foreign armies would surround and destroy the city sounded like a return of the horrors of Babylon’s conquest centuries earlier. Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel had interpreted such catastrophes as judgment for infidelity to the covenant. Jesus stands in that prophetic line, but now as the Messiah himself, whose rejection intensifies the seriousness of the moment. The phrase “times of the Gentiles” reflects Jewish hopes that, after a period of Gentile dominance, God would restore Israel and establish his universal kingdom. The cosmic imagery—signs in sun, moon, stars—is drawn from prophetic writings that used such language to describe God’s decisive acts in history, such as the fall of empires or the coming of the Day of the Lord. The “Son of Man coming in a cloud” is a direct allusion to Daniel 7, where a human-like figure is exalted by God above all earthly kingdoms.

Catholic Tradition and Teaching
The Church understands this passage as having a double horizon: a near one (the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70) and a final one (the end of the world and Christ’s return). The Catechism teaches that before Christ comes again, the Church will pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many and involve religious deception and persecution. Yet this trial will not be the ultimate defeat of good; rather, it will precede God’s final victory. The “times of the Gentiles” are seen as the current era, during which the Gospel is preached to all peoples and the Church lives in hope of Christ’s return. Catholic tradition strongly warns against trying to calculate dates or interpret every disaster as a sure sign of the end. Instead, it emphasizes constant readiness, trust in God’s providence, and commitment to evangelization. The promise “your redemption is at hand” feeds Christian hope: we look forward not to annihilation, but to the renewal of creation and the resurrection of the dead.

Historical or Saintly Illustration
Christians living during the destruction of Jerusalem and later persecutions under Roman emperors experienced firsthand what Jesus describes. Many early martyrs, like those killed in the Colosseum, faced public terror and hatred, yet went to their deaths with hymns and prayers on their lips. In more recent times, Christians under totalitarian regimes—whether in Nazi concentration camps or Communist prisons—have reported a similar inner strength and peace in the midst of fearsome external events. Their testimonies show that when the world is shaken, Christ can still give his disciples the grace to “stand erect and raise their heads,” confident that their true life is safe in him.

Application to Christian Life Today
Today we are bombarded with news of wars, natural disasters, epidemics, and social unrest. Some react with panic, others with denial, and still others with a fascination for apocalyptic theories and conspiracies. Jesus calls us to a different path. Personally, we are invited to cultivate a steady trust in God’s providence: using prudent means to face dangers, but refusing to let fear dominate our hearts. We can ask ourselves: when I hear of global crises, do I retreat into anxiety, or do I turn to prayer and acts of charity? In our families, we can help children and vulnerable members face a scary world by grounding them in God’s love and promises. In our parishes, we can focus less on speculative timelines and more on helping each other persevere in faith, especially those who feel shaken by scandals or suffering. In society, we are called to be signs of hope and compassion, caring for victims of disasters and conflicts, showing that God has not abandoned the world.

Eucharistic Connection
At every Mass, we are placed in the tension of this passage: we recall Christ’s sacrifice, experience his real presence, and proclaim that he will come again in glory. When we say, “We await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” we echo Jesus’ call to stand erect and raise our heads. The Eucharist is our daily “redemption at hand”: Christ comes to us now under humble signs to strengthen us for the final coming. As we receive him, he becomes the firm center that cannot be shaken, even when everything else trembles. From the altar, we are sent into a troubled world as witnesses that history is not heading toward absurdity, but toward a meeting with the Son of Man who loves us and will make all things new.

Messages / Call to Conversion

1. When your “Jerusalem” is shaken—through personal or global crises—turn first to Christ, not to fear or speculation, and ask him to show you how to respond.

2. Avoid being absorbed by apocalyptic anxiety or curiosity; focus instead on everyday fidelity to prayer, sacraments, and works of mercy.

3. Let trials become occasions of witness: when others despair, show by your words and actions that your hope is anchored in Christ.

4. Strengthen your perseverance by staying close to the Eucharist, Scripture, and a supportive Christian community, so that you can “secure your life” in God.

5. Live in joyful expectation of Christ’s return, so that when the world trembles, you can stand erect and raise your head, confident that your redemption is near.

Outline for Preachers

• Background within the Gospel: eschatological discourse in the temple; historical destruction of Jerusalem; widening to cosmic and final horizons

• Life connection: personal and communal “falls of Jerusalem”; global crises; human reactions of fear, denial, and speculation

• Key verses and phrases explained: “Jerusalem surrounded by armies”, “time of punishment”, “times of the Gentiles”, “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars”, “powers of the heavens will be shaken”, “Son of Man coming in a cloud”, “stand erect and raise your heads”, “your redemption is at hand”

• Jewish historical and religious context: meaning of Jerusalem and temple; prophetic language of judgment and restoration; Daniel’s Son of Man; expectation of Gentile times

• Catholic teaching and tradition: double horizon (A.D. 70 and end times); final trial of the Church; mission to the nations; warning against date-setting; emphasis on hope and perseverance

• Saintly or historical illustration: early martyrs, or Christians under modern persecution, who stood firm and hopeful in times of great tribulation

• Application to life today: personal trust in God amid crises; family catechesis on hope; parish focus on perseverance; Christian witness of calm and charity in public fear

• Eucharistic connection: Mass as foretaste of redemption; proclamation of Christ’s coming; Eucharist as unshakable center and strength for living in troubled times