Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written.
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:21-25 BSB
Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out.
The first part of this prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled in 70 AD when Jerusalem was sacked by the Romans and the temple was destroyed; Jews who believed in Jesus at this time fled to the mountains and escaped, while those who didn’t endured the terrible destruction, culminating in the dreadful siege and mass suicide at Masada recounted by Josephus.
They will fall by the sword and be led captive into all the nations
Then verse 24, “and be led captive into all the nations” was fulfilled when the Romans completely crushed the Bar Kokhba rebellion, in 136 AD, killing hundreds of thousands and exiling the rest of the Jews, selling them as slaves into the nations. From 138 AD onwards, Jews were banned from Jerusalem.
50 of their most important outposts and 985 of their most famous villages were razed to the ground. 580,000 men were slain in the various raids and battles, and the number of those that perished by famine, disease and fire was past finding out, Thus nearly the whole of Judaea was made desolate.
— Cassius Dio, History of Rome, 69.14.1-2
Since then, the gentiles trampled down Jerusalem for more than 1,800 years.
The six day war: the gentiles no longer trample Jerusalem.
On the 5th to the 10th of June, 1967, the Six Day War was fought, when an Arab coalition consisting primarily of Egypt, Syria and Jordan attacked Israel. Quite miraculously, many claim, Israel won the war in just six days.
The main effect of the six day war was for control of Jerusalem to be ceded to the Jewish state.
Before the six day war, Jerusalem was divided into Arab and Jewish quarters. After the six day war, the Jewish state of Israel had political control of Jerusalem for the first time in more than 2,500 years, since King Jehoiakim was forced into vassalhood to the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II in 607 BC.
If the culmination of the six day war was not a fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy in Luke 21:24, then I don’t know what could be. And note also that the marker of the sexual revolution in the West is the Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”, released 26th of May 1967, just eleven days before the outbreak of the Six Days War,
If anyone does not see it this way, let him ask the Lord in prayer: are my eyes blinded by a particular political, religious or theological ideology, so that I am unable to see Your hand in the events of history?
And if anyone says “the Israel of God must have an anointed Messiah in charge” - they should ask themselves - was not Israel in the time of Judges the Israel of God? They had no anointed king then; no king but the Lord. And the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 first are enfleshed, and then breathed through with the divine spirit: the return from Exile happens first.
The times of the gentiles are fulfilled
But if what I am saying is correct, it raises the question, what are “the times of the gentiles?”
I think it is an unavoidable conclusion that the Western World has rejected God on an institutional/political level and is being handed over to idolatry, bloodshed and sin (Romans 1:24-26), even while Israel regained Jerusalem 50 years ago. Did God give the Western World 50 years to repent?
Naomi Wolf’s recent substack article “Have the old gods returned?” outlines her reasons for believing that the Western World, just like the room that had been swept clean of one unclean spirit, is currently being possessed by seven evil spirits worse than the first, the spirits of the old, pre-Christian gods, Ba’al the bull god, Moloch the god of child sacrifice, and Astarte the goddess of unrestrained sexual immorality.
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26 BSB
And she also cites Sam Smith’s “Unholy” performance at the Grammys.
What is notable about this is that Naomi Wolf is a Jewish author, who can see these signs of the times happening before our eyes.
One for Israel - Jews bringing joyful tidings to Jews.
And we see One For Israel, a Jewish group! - spreading the joyful tidings that Yeshua is Messiah – in Israel, praise the Lord! - One For Israel has had millions of views of their videos challenging Rabbinic opinions, countering them with the New Testament on issues as diverse as is Jesus the Jewish Messiah?, the role of women in society and the synagogue, the treatment of women in marriage and the role of men as imitating Christ’s service and willingness to be crucified for their wives, and many other issues.
This is completely historic: it is the first time in almost 2000 years, ever since the time of the apostles, that a group of Jews has cooperated to spread the glad tidings - the evangelion - or gospel - of the Messiahship of Jesus to the Jews. There have been individual Jews who have become believers in Yeshua as Messiah throughout Christendom and who have spread the glad tidings to gentiles - the Rumanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand is a wonderful modern example, Felix Mendelssohn the 19th century composer is another great example. St Patrick also is reputed to have been Jewish, according to sixth century stories about him1.
But One for Israel is bringing the good news about the Messiahship of Yeshua to the Jews. Praise the Lord!
Does Romans 11 tell us what is happening now?
It is worth reading Romans chapter 11 very carefully, because what I think we are seeing is the gentile branch being broken off because of unbelief and the Jewish branch being grafted back in. Paul is addressing the (Gentile) church in Rome, speaking about the Jewish leadership in Israel of the first century, which rejected Yeshua as Messiah:
I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come from Zion;
He will remove godlessness from Jacob.
And this is My covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you. For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone. Romans 11:11-32
What next?
Considering that two thousand years separated the beginning of Jesus’ prophecy in Luke 21 from the second part, it would be foolish in the extreme to set dates, particularly since Christ himself counseled against this (“No one knows the day and hour”, Matthew 24:36).
But we should also note that the fig tree Jesus cursed in Mark 11:12-25 and Matthew 21:18–22 probably represented the fate of the political leadership of Jerusalem at the time. Could the fig tree putting out its leaves in the passage below represent the return of the Jewish political leadership of Jerusalem in 1967?
Here is what Luke’s gospel tells us to look out for:
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:25-36
Addendum: what does this mean for you and me?
Turn to God.
The flow of lies and disinformation and the blindness of most people in the Western world concerning Jesus (Yeshua) and the general official blindness to the truth of the word of God will only worsen.
Consider that a remnant only of gentiles might remain faithful: if you are one of them keep praying that you are one of those found faithful when Jesus returns. Keep praying desperately for your family and friends to know God - for even if it was always a miracle for someone to come to Jesus it is possible now that the door is closing for those who dwell in what was once called Christendom. We must continue doing everything we can by prayer and perseverance in seeking God and repenting daily and reading the Bible and most of all trusting in God’s Fatherly love. We must continue to pray that He will love others through us and use us for the purposes of Jesus’ kingdom, even if the rest of the world is turning away, pray that some will be saved as firebrands from the fire!
Turn away from dissipation (time wasting pursuits), drunkenness and the worries of life - instead we must trust God to take care of us financially and we must put His kingdom above all other things, even at this late stage.
For Jewish people - my advice is - take hold of Yeshua your Messiah now with both hands! This may be the time of opportunity for you - don’t waste it! God is removing the veil from your eyes! Praise him, and shout “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Turn to Yeshua.
Turn to Jesus!
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32
change log
I added the paragraph about the Beatles and the sexual revolution and the paragraph about Ezekiel after sending this article out. Also tweaked the bit “let him ask himself”, changing it to “let him ask the Lord in prayer”
11 hours after posting I added the addendum.
https://news.kehila.org/st-patrick-was-a-messianic-jew/
“Of the sons of Israel Patrick was verily. But when the children of Israel were scattered by Titus and Vesapian in bondage throughout the four quarters of the world, in revenge for Christ’s blood, then did Patrick’s stock come to Brittany because St Patrick’s stock is of the sons of Israel.” Book of Leinster, p.353 of facsimile, as cited by Whitley Stokes, Tripartite Life of St Patrick, 2 Vols, (HMSO, Dublin, 1987) p.357, and a similar version of the quote found in Stokes, Life of St Patrick from the Book of Lismore (Llanerch, 1995) p.150: “The learned declare that he [Patrick] was of the Jews by origin. When vengeance was inflicted on them by Titus and Vespian, Jews were scattered throughout the world. Patrick’s original kindred came to Brittany and developed their heritage.”The Old Irish word translated as Brittany is ‘Bretnu’, which is why some believe he was from Britain.
“When Miliuc [Patrick’s slave master] saw that he was a faithful man, he bought him from the other three, that he might serve him alone. And Patrick served after the custom of the Hebrews” Marcus Losack, Saint Patrick and the Bloodline of the Grail, the Untold Story of St Patrick’s Royal Family (Nicholson & Bass, 2011) p.125
“After our Lord had died on the cross for the sins of the human race, the Roman army, avenging His Passion, laid waste Judea, and Jews taken captive were dispersed among all the nations of the earth. Some of them settled among the Amoric Britons, and it is stated that it was from them that St Patrick traced his origin.”
Fourth Life (Vida Quarta:I). Bieler, FLL, p.51
I read, have faith, and wait.