Part of our problem is that we don’t understand apocalyptic literature. It is not a genre that exists anymore. And we also have these so called End of Times prophets jumping out of the woodwork professing to be eschatological experts. Just listen to them and they will expound the symbols. And here is where it gets interesting. They expound the symbols as if they were literal predictions. I am not an expert. I am not an End of Times prophet. But symbols are not intended to be taken literally. They are symbols. And apocalyptic literature, though not a current genre, was a popular genre among the ancient Jews. And like most genres it followed some consistent formulas. Apocalyptic literature employed symbols to speak of the breaking in of Yahweh into the present age. Symbols were used because how else do you explain the workings of Yahweh? Was the destruction of Babylon merely history or was it Yahweh laying down a divine smack down? It was a shaking of the heavens event. History speaks of it differently. Ah, but history doesn’t know everything.
I am confident that Luke 21:25-28 is still about the destruction of Jerusalem and specifically the destruction of the Temple. Verse 32 seems to confirm it. But people will do some time warping interpretations here; believing Luke to be bouncing back and forth between the destruction of the Temple and the second coming of Christ. Well, hmm. Is this a linguistic tennis match? I don’t think so. It is apocalyptic literature. The destruction of Jerusalem will be an historic event, but that doesn’t give us the whole picture. It is judgment of God; it is Yahweh breaking into this present age with a divine smack down. Take some time and read Isaiah 13. I’ll wait. Isaiah 13 is about God’s judgment against Babylon. Similar language is used. The sun and the stars will be darkened. The whole world will be punished. The heavens will tremble and the earth will be shaken from its place. What is interesting about this is that it doesn’t match history at all. When the Persians (called the Medes in Isaiah) came to Babylon, the Babylonians just gave up. Well, that doesn’t sound like heaven trembling events, does it? The history is wrapped in symbol so that we can see a different story; the story of Yahweh breaking into the present evil age. History may speak of a quiet transition of power. But that is not the real story. The real story is that God shook the heavens and the earth; made the celestial lights go dark; and judged the whole world.
In verses 25-26 there is an a-b-b-a pattern to these signs: heavens, earth, earth, heavens. Just like in English, the word “signs” points to something which points to something. From these symbols in the heavens and the resulting response on the earth, you should be able to see something. This is the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. This is most likely a reference to Daniel 7:13-14 which refers to the Son of Man riding up to the Ancient of Days and receiving dominion, glory and a kingdom. So, is this about the second coming? But there is passage after passage that speaks of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God and reigning from the time of his resurrection until the culmination of all things. Not to mention that sometimes Yahweh is represented as coming on a cloud in judgment. This is a recognizable symbol of coming judgment; of the breaking into our reality. The destruction of the Temple is not merely history.
When these things begin to take place, the disciples are encouraged to straighten up; and lift up their heads. While the world is perplexed and fainting from fear, the disciples stand up with courage. You see a similar shift from Isaiah 13 on into chapter 14. Babylon will be destroyed with heaven and earth shaking symbolism, but God will have compassion on Israel. Jerusalem will be destroyed with heaven and earth shaking, people fainting in fear and perplexity, roaring of seas symbolism, but the disciples can stand up because redemption is drawing near. The word “drawing near” can mean temporally or spatially. As Yahweh of old, Jesus will break into the present age. This is about judgment and redemption.
The destruction of the Temple was not merely history. It was that, but it was also something more. It was the Son of Man breaking into this present age to judge and redeem. Sometimes we need to see more than what history can tell us. As scary as world events can be, you have redemption in Christ. When others are fainting with fear, stand up, lift your head and rejoice. Stand up when the heavens are shaken. Stand up when the hearts of men fail. Stand up! You have been ransomed. Nothing to fear here. Stand!