It does not seem to me that
Luke 21:20-23 parallels Matthew 24:9-31, for the following reasons:-
1. Matthew used the Greek word
thlipsis in Matthew 24:9, which is
the same word used in Matthew 24:21 where the reader (and Jesus' audience) are being told about
the intensity of the tribulation (thlipsis) that is being prophesied about by Jesus
(megas thlipsis). I'm going to come back to something very important about this in a moment.
2. Luke
does not use the same word to describe what he is talking about
in Luke 21:20-23, where Luke records Jesus’ prophecy regarding the
distress that was to come upon the people of Jerusalem, and mentions this period as coming about
as a result of God’s wrath:
"But woe to those who are with child, and to those suckling in those days! For there shall be great
distress (ἀνάγκη anánkē) in the land and wrath (ὀργή orgḗ) on this people."
3. I think it's noticeable that Matthew does not use the word
"wrath" anywhere from Matthew 24:9 to Matthew 24:31, because
that whole passage is joined together into one long sentence by the words "and", "therefore", "but", "for",and "then"; and if you look at the Greek words, the English translation of each Greek word which
joins the entire passage into one long statement about one and the same period of tribulation, is accurate.
4. What is also noticeable is that if Matthew 24:9-31 is indeed
one long statement about one and the same period of tribulation (which
the text and and
the Greek words used to join sentences together, certainly implies), then it cannot possibly be talking about the same thing Luke is reporting Jesus as prophesying in
Luke 21:20-23.
5.
Luke 21:24-28 are more difficult verses (for me), because verse 24
is so similar to Revelation 11:1-2 and Revelation 13:10:
Luke 21
24 And
they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be
led away captive into all nations.
And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the nations is fulfilled.
Revelation 11
1 And a reed like a rod was given to me. And the angel stood, saying, Rise up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it.
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it was given to the nations.
And they will trample the holy city forty-two months.
In Revelation 13 we have the words,
9 If any man has an ear, let him hear.
10 He
who leads into captivity will go into captivity. If anyone will
kill with the sword, he must be killed by a sword.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The above is hardly "the patience and faith" of the unbelieving Jews who were led away captive in 70 A.D, so comparing the above verses in the Revelation with Luke 21:24, I find it difficult to
assume that Luke 21:
24 is talking about
what happened to the Jews immediately following the events of A.D 70, especially when I consider this
alongside the fact that Luke also said the following:
Luke 21
8 And He said, Take heed that you are not deceived, for
many shall come in My name, saying, I AM! Also, The time has come! Do not go after them.
9 But when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for all these things must first occur, but the end is not at once.
10 And He said to them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 And great earthquakes shall be in different places, and famines and plagues. And there shall be terrors and great signs from Heaven.
12 But
before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.
13 And it shall return to you for a testimony.
14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer.
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And
you shall be betrayed also by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends. And they will cause
some of you to be put to death.
17 And you shall be
hated by all for My name's sake.
18 But there shall not a hair of your head perish.
19 By your patience you will gain your souls.
MARKAN SANDWICH IN LUKE'S GOSPEL TOO?
Without
assuming anything, I believe it's
possible that Luke
opens with recording what Jesus said about
the close of the Age, interrupts the discourse with what will happen with THAT Jerusalem that still existed as part of the kingdom of Judea when Jesus was prophesying, and then
closes with what he started off with.
Still, I don't
assume anything because Luke chapter 21:5-28 is a difficult passage to interpret CORRECTLY (though many, many Christians
believe they have it all worked out, and in its proper historical or future setting).