What does Luke 21:25-28 mean?

²⁵ And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:25-28 KJV)

The Coming of the Son of Man

He goes on to describe the fear and terror that would fill the world. There would be signs in the sun, moon, and stars—heavenly phenomena and, on earth, the sea and waves roaring in unprecedented storms and tempests (Luke 21:25). The result would be widespread fear and helplessness. Dr. Hammond understands the “nations” here to refer to Jewish regional governments—Judea, Samaria, and Galilee—all brought to their end. People’s hearts would fail from fear (Luke 21:26), as they watched events unfold. It would feel as though the whole world were falling apart.

The powers of heaven would be shaken, and with that, the very foundations of the earth would tremble. This means the Jewish political and religious systems would be completely dismantled through a series of unparalleled disasters. Jesus uses symbolic language here, but at the end of time, these things will literally happen: the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll, the stars will fall, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10, 12). As that day brought terror to the unbelieving Jews, the final day of judgment will do the same for all unbelievers.

He presents this as a kind of coming of the Son of Man: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). The fall of Jerusalem was, in a special sense, Christ’s act of judgment. His gospel could not be fully established without the destruction of the temple and the end of the Levitical system, which even many converted Jews and Gentiles still clung to until it was taken away. So this could rightly be seen as the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory—not visibly, but in judgment, with clouds and darkness around Him.

This was:

1. A proof of His first coming as Messiah. Then the unbelieving Jews would be forced to acknowledge—too late—that Jesus really was the Messiah. Those who refused to accept Him as Savior would see Him as Judge.
2. A preview of His second coming. The terror of that day was a sample of what is yet to come. If this judgment was so dreadful, what will the final one be?

He comforts His faithful disciples concerning the terrors of that day (Luke 21:28): “When these things begin to happen—when Jerusalem is surrounded and everything points to its destruction—look up. While others hang their heads in despair, lift yours in faith and hope, for your redemption is near.”

1. When Christ came to destroy the Jews, He came to rescue Christians who were being persecuted by them. Afterward, the churches had rest.
2. At the last judgment, He will deliver all who belong to Him from all their troubles. That day, which will terrify the wicked, will bring joy to believers. Even death itself brings that hope—when Christians see that day approaching, they can lift up their heads, knowing their redemption is near, and they will soon be with their Redeemer.

There is one prediction here that looks beyond the destruction of the Jewish nation and is not easy to interpret (Luke 21:24): “Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

1. Some, like Dr. Hammond, understand it to refer to the past: After being conquered, Jerusalem remained under Gentile control until many Gentiles converted to Christianity. Then, after Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the city and excluded the Jews, many Jews were converted and joined the Gentile Christians in establishing a church there, which flourished for a time.
2. Others, like Dr. Whitby, take it as a future event: Jerusalem will remain in Gentile hands until the remaining unbelieving nations accept the Christian faith and the kingdom of the world becomes Christ’s kingdom. Then all Jews will be converted, and Jerusalem will be inhabited by them again and no longer trampled by Gentiles.