We believe this verse refers primarily to the time just before Jesus' return. According to Revelation 19:11-21, Jesus will return with "the armies of heaven following him" to defeat the armies surrounding Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has figured prominently into God's plan for his people going back to Abraham's time (approx. 2000 B.C.). Genesis 14:18-20 tells us that the King of Salem (the original Bible name for Jerusalem) visited Abraham following Abraham's rescue of his nephew, Lot. The text also tells us that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, who is also identified as "priest of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." So from the time of this very first mention of Jerusalem, it is a city closely associated with God.
Jerusalem eventually became a Jebusite city before being captured by King David around 1000 B.C. (2 Samuel 5:6-10). David allowed the captured Jebusites to live and even to continue owning property. Eventually, the Jebusites either died off or intermarried with others so that they ceased to exist as a distinct people. Long before that time, however, David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah and turned it into a place of sacrifice (see 2 Samuel 24:18-25). That place became the place upon which Solomon's Temple was built, the place we now know as "the Temple Mount" in Jerusalem, where the al Aqsa Mosque stands.
After Solomon built and dedicated the Temple in 967 B.C., the Lord warned him and the people against turning away to follow other gods: "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsake the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them--that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' (2 Chronicles 7:19-22).
This warning turned out to be prophetic. The people of Israel and their kings eventually did turn away from the Lord, prompting the Lord to send them into captivity under Nebuchadezzar for 70 years (2 Chronicles 36:15-21). In describing this judgment, the Bible associates the 70 years with the land finally being able to enjoy its sabbath rests (see 36:21). The implication is that Israel, among other things, had ignored the sabbath-year rules for 490 years, leading to a "sentence" of 70 years of captivity.
It is in this judgment that we see two things: (1) God dealing with Israel on the basis of a 490 year span of time; and (2) God dealing with Israel on the basis of 70 units of time (in this case, the units of time are years, thus 70 years of captivity).
Now, as it relates to the prophecy in Luke 21 regarding armies surrounding Jerusalem, it is necessary to turn to the Book of Daniel. In Daniel 9:24-27, we find yet another reference to God dealing with Israel in terms of 70 units of time (in this case, the units of time are 7 years each) over a total span of 490 years. This prophecy is popularly known as "the seventy 'weeks' of Daniel". The original Bible word translated "week" literally means "seven". We understand now that each "seven" stands for a "week" of seven years; thus, seventy "weeks" of seven years each or a total of 490 years.
We know that Daniel's prophecy centers on Jerusalem because Daniel is told in 9:24 the "seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city..."; in other words, for Jewish people and for Jerusalem. We know the prophecy is describing endtime events because of the six-fold purpose of all that is to happen: (1) to finish transgression; (2) to put an end to sin; (3) to atone for wickedness; (4) to bring in everlasting righteousness; (5) to seal up vision and prophecy; and (6) to anoint the most holy. All of these are ultimate, final purposes of God for Israel (and none of them have happened yet, by the way).
So, in telling Daniel, what to expect after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God lays out a plan of 490 more years of judgment on Israel and Jerusalem. According to the rest of the passage, these years will be divided into three segments: (1) the first 7 "sevens" or 49 years; (2) the next 62 "sevens" or 434 years; and (3) the last "seven" or 7 years.
We know the first two segments, a total of 69 "sevens" or 483 years have already been fulfilled historically (see the chart, which you can click to enlarge). The date marking the beginning of the first 7 "sevens" is fixed in history as 445 B.C., the year of Cyrus' decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Interestingly enough, if you count forward from that date to the time of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, you get exactly 483 years or the exact time frame when the prophecy says "the Anointed One will be cut off."
After the first 69 "sevens", it appears there is a break in time of unknown duration before the final "seven" begins. That break is called "the Church Age". This is the age in which we now live. We do not know exactly when it will end; however, we know it will end when God brings "the times of the Gentiles" to a conclusion (see Romans 11:25-27). When that day comes, the final period of "seven" will begin. And that period, we believe, will end with the armies surrounding Jerusalem just as Jesus said.
In the meantime, as we near the end of the Church age, it is not surprising to see animosity toward Israel and Jerusalem building among the nations. More about this on Sunday!
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