Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be destroyed, its people killed by the sword and led away captive into all nations, and the city itself trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Les Feldick identifies this as the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in 70 A.D., not Armageddon or the end of the Tribulation. The clue is the dispersion of the Jews into all nations—something that will not happen at Christ's return, when Israel goes into the Kingdom. The word 'until' shows that Gentile domination of Jerusalem is temporary and will end when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 21:23-24 — Jesus speaks of distress and wrath upon the people of Israel, then explicitly predicts death by the sword, captivity among all nations, and Gentile treading of Jerusalem until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
In Luke 21, Jesus announces that these will be 'days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled' (Luke 21:22). He then warns of 'great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people' (Luke 21:23). The direct prediction follows in verse 24: 'And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled' (Luke 21:24 KJV). The text records a three-part prophecy concerning Jerusalem: its inhabitants will be killed by the sword, they will be carried away captive into every nation, and the city itself will be under Gentile control for a limited period—until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Les Feldick teaches that the predictions in Luke 21:23-24 were fulfilled in 70 A.D., when the Roman general Titus besieged and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. He identifies the phrase 'led away captive into all nations' as the decisive clue: at the end of the Tribulation and at the Second Coming, Israel is not going to be dispersed into the nations—they are going into the Kingdom. Therefore the verse describes the first-century fall of Jerusalem, not Armageddon (Clips 1, 2, 4, 5). Les also draws attention to the word 'until' in Luke 21:24. Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles for a set time, and that time will end when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Clips 3, 5). He traces the times of the Gentiles back to Nebuchadnezzar's taking of Jerusalem, noting that the city has remained under Gentile dominion for the most part ever since and will continue to be until Christ returns (Clip 6). In addition, Les points out that Luke 21 begins with the 70 A.D. destruction and the dispersion of the Jews, and then moves on to foretell the end-time events—the seven-year Tribulation, which Jeremiah calls the time of Jacob's trouble (Clip 7).
Les says the casual reader of Luke 21:24 automatically thinks of Armageddon or the return of Christ, but that is not the case (Clips 2, 6). His key clue is the dispersion: 'they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations.' At the end of the Tribulation and at the Second Coming, Israel will not be led captive into all nations—they will go into the Kingdom. So this prediction points to Titus' great invasion and destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. (Clips 1, 5).
Les teaches that the 'times of the Gentiles' is the long period during which Jerusalem is 'trodden down of the Gentiles'—under the heavy boot of Gentile armies. He emphasizes the time word 'until': it does not put a day on it, but it guarantees that there is coming a time when the Gentiles will no longer tread the streets of Jerusalem (Clip 3). Les says these times began when Nebuchadnezzar first took Jerusalem, and Jerusalem has been under Gentile dominion for the most part ever since; it will remain so until Christ returns (Clip 6).
Yes. Les points out that in Luke 21 Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jew—the 70 A.D. event—but then 'He comes right back and everything is foretelling the end time' (Clip 7). This end-time material corresponds to the seven years of Tribulation, which Jeremiah calls the time of Jacob's, or Israel's, trouble (Clip 7).
Why Is Israel Blind? The Mystery of Romans 11 Explained
For how long? For a season, see? Not for the rest of his days, but for a time. Now, what's the picture of? The nation of Israel. Everywhere Paul and Barnabas and later Paul and Silas went in their missionary journey, who was their chief opposition? The Jews, see? And he came down to Thessalonica, and Paul even says that the dishonorable women withstood him.
The 70 A.D. Clue
Les shows that Luke 21:24 describes Jews of Jerusalem falling by the sword and being led away captive into all nations—a clue that points to Titus' invasion in 70 A.D., not the end of the Tribulation, because at the end of the Tribulation the Jews are not led captive.
Not Armageddon
Les corrects the common assumption that Luke 21:24 refers to Armageddon; he identifies the event as Titus' siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., and highlights that Jerusalem would be under the heavy boot of Gentile armies until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Time Word 'Until'
Les emphasizes the word 'until' in Luke 21:24—Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles only until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, and there is coming a time when Gentiles will no longer tread the streets of Jerusalem.
Jesus Foretold the Destruction
Les shows that in Luke 21 Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem by the Roman armies of Titus, demonstrating that He knew everything before it happened.
The Dispersion Distinguishes 70 A.D.
Les explains that the dispersion of the Jews into all nations proves this is not Armageddon, since at the Second Coming Israel will go into the Kingdom; he also notes that 'until' introduces a time factor that will end Gentile domination of Jerusalem.
From Nebuchadnezzar to Christ's Return
Les teaches that the times of the Gentiles began with Nebuchadnezzar taking Jerusalem and that Jerusalem has been under Gentile dominion ever since, remaining so until Christ returns—this is when Gentile treading of Jerusalem comes to an end.
Luke 21: 70 A.D. Then End Times
Les says that in Luke 21 Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jew, and then moved on to foretell the end time—the seven years of Tribulation, Jeremiah's time of Jacob's trouble.
Luke 21:22: For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Jesus announces that these will be days of vengeance, fulfilling all that is written—the setting for the specific predictions about Jerusalem.
Luke 21:23: But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
The warning of great distress and wrath upon the land and people of Israel, immediately before the sword-and-captivity prediction.
Luke 21:24: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The key verse answering the question—a threefold prediction: death by the sword, captivity among all nations, and Gentile treading of Jerusalem until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He identifies the Jews falling by the edge of the sword and being led away captive into all nations with Titus' invasion and destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. The clue is that at the end of the Tribulation the Jews will not be led captive into all nations, so this verse does not describe the end time.
Les teaches that the word 'until' introduces a time factor. Jerusalem is under Gentile domination only for a set period, and when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, the Gentiles will no longer tread the streets of Jerusalem. Les connects this ending to the return of Christ.
Yes. Les notes that Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews in Luke 21 even before He was crucified, telling them it would happen within just a little while.
Yes. Les says that after foretelling the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews, Jesus goes on to foretell the end time—the seven years of Tribulation, which Jeremiah calls the time of Jacob's, or Israel's, trouble. So Luke 21 covers both the first-century judgment and future end-time events.
Watch the Teaching: Why Is Israel Blind? The Mystery of Romans 11 Explained