When we think about Bible prophecy and the Last Days; Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 come to mind. These chapters help explain how the Last Days will unfold which ushers in the Tribulation. Yet, within this, there is an interesting account in Luke 21 that we do not find in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
It concerns the armies surrounding Jerusalem in Israel, which is only recorded in Luke 21:20. When we read this verse, the typical interpretation of it actually introduces inconsistencies between it and Matthew and Mark. I will explain, the armies are most likely not of men, but supernatural in nature.
Jerusalem Surrounded By Armies
Turn your Bible with me to,
Luke 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
I will break this verse down to help you understand it.
Jesus is telling us, when we see Jerusalem “compassed” which means “encircled” or “all around” with “armies,” then we know the “desolation” is nigh.
Jesus describes this “desolation” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 as “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.” Jesus is referring to Daniel 9:27. This verse explains, the one confirming a covenant for one week with world leaders, is the one who brings about the “desolation.”
This lets us know the “desolation” and the “abomination of desolation” are the same entity who is none other than Satan himself, the Antichrist. So we find Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14, and Luke 21:20 in agreement, except for “Jerusalem compassed with armies,” which we only find in Luke.
Let’s see what Jesus explains next.
Luke 21:21
Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
When we put these two verses together, once armies compass Jerusalem, if we are in Judea, we are to flee in order to escape the “desolation” which is “nigh.” Simply meaning, Christians should flee the area in order to avoid the Antichrist who will claim to be God.
Now, when we think about these two verses and consider armies surrounding Jerusalem, we typically think about armies of men, tanks, and so on.
But is that really what we are being told?
I do not believe so.
When To Flee Jerusalem
If we carefully read Matthew 24:15-16 and Mark 13:14, we will see “armies” are never mentioned as they are in Luke 21:20-21.
Let’s read Matthew, and then Mark together.
Matthew 24:15-16
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
The reason Jesus provided these warnings was to announce the Tribulation. To make us aware of its beginning, and for those in Judea, to flee when Satan appears. Remember, Satan will not claim to be Satan, Satan will claim to be God displaying miracles and wonders before men.
These miracles will be so convincing, that Satan will “deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles,” (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:14).
Now let’s read the same account in the book of Mark.
Mark 13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Essentially, Jesus repeated the same scenario in both of these accounts.
Jesus explained in Matthew and Mark, when we see “the abomination of desolation” which is Satan appear in Jerusalem, if we are in Judea, then flee to the mountains.
However, Jesus explained in Luke, when we see armies surrounding Jerusalem, if we are in Judea, then flee to the mountains.
There is a big difference there which seems slightly contradictory.
Think about it.
Why would Jesus tell those in Judea to flee Jerusalem when armies surround it, and then tell them to flee Jerusalem when Satan appears, which would be after the fact?
It only seems reasonable, those who live in Judea and adhere to Christ’s words would have already fled Jerusalem once armies surround it.
So why explain to flee when Satan appears as well?
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Who would be left to flee?
No one.
They would have already fled once they witnessed armies surrounding Jerusalem.
The Armies Of Luke 21:20
In light of this, we are going to read Luke 21:20 one more time to see if we can glean more from Scripture.
Luke 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The word “armies” means,
A camping ground, that is, (by implication) a body of troops: – army.
So we see the word essentially means “armies,” just as the King James Bible explains.
However, the key here is, what kind of “army” are we talking about?
As stated previously, when we read this verse, we envision armies of men, tanks, and so on. Yet, that is our own perception that we place into Scripture which potentially alters its meaning. Further, this thought is completely out of line with Matthew 24 and Mark 13, and it does not properly align the three accounts.
In my mind, there is no question, Jesus is warning us about the same event in all three accounts. Even though they do not read the same when we think of armies of men. So let’s take a deeper look into this.
If we look at the root word for “army” here, we discover it means,
Camp likeness, that is, an army, that is, (figuratively) the angels, the celestial luminaries: – host.
So we find the root word for “army” can mean “the angels.”
What angels?
What army of angels are we told about in Scripture that could possibly fit within this time sequence?
The Locust Army
In Revelation 9, we are told about a massive angelic army that will be unleashed upon the earth. These are the angels that Satan will bring with him when he is cast from Heaven to earth as Revelation 12:9 explains.
Now, let’s identify the size of this wicked angelic army.
Turn your Bible with me to,
Revelation 9:16
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Scripture explains, Satan along with an army of 200 million wicked angels will be unleashed on the earth. It seems more than likely, Jesus was referring to this army, the Locust Army in Luke 21:20.
Further, the word “nigh” in Luke 21:20 can mean, “at hand” and has been translated that way many, many times in Scripture. In fact, the ASV, RV, and other revisions of the Bible translate it that way in Luke 21:20.
Satan And His Army Brings Desolation
Our verse would then read,
When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with Satan and his army, then know that the desolation thereof is at hand. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains.
That would perfectly align with what Jesus told us in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 bringing all three accounts into perfect harmony, even tying in the events of Revelation 9.
This would remove the confusion introduced when we think about armies of men, and the apparent contradiction it introduced as we discussed.
Further, it removes a most likely false Biblical sign to watch for. After all, it makes far more sense, Biblically and or otherwise for Jesus to warn us of Satan and his army’s appearance, than to warn us of armies of men.
Remember, we are waging a spiritual war “against spiritual wickedness in high places,” (Ephesians 6:12).
Just as Satan will appear with an army, and continue adding to it by rallying the kings of the earth, (see: Why Does The Euphrates River Dry Up In Revelation?). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will appear with His own Army that will surely destroy them all, (Revelation 19:14; 19-20).