Luke 21:25 describes end-time tribulation signs that are still future.
Luke 21:25 speaks of signs in the sun, moon, and stars, distress of nations with perplexity, and roaring seas. Les Feldick teaches these verses shift from the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem in the preceding verses to the coming Tribulation period, when God's wrath is poured out.
Luke 21:25 — This verse directly lists the future signs and worldwide distress the question asks about.
Luke 21:24 says: "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." Then Luke 21:25 declares: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring." Verse 26 continues: "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." The text itself moves from the Gentile domination of Jerusalem to cosmic and earthly upheaval described as "coming on the earth."
Les Feldick teaches that Luke 21:23-24 are not about the final Tribulation but about the Roman invasion under Titus in 70 AD. The clue is that the Jews fall by the sword and are led away captive into all nations—something that will not happen at Armageddon. Then verse 24 ends with Jerusalem being trodden down of the Gentiles "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." After that time factor, verse 25's signs come into view. Les describes Luke 21:25 as "primarily indicative of the tribulation period" and connects it to God's wrath being poured out. He also sees current world turmoil as the beginning of the stage being set for the final seven years.
Les Feldick is emphatic that those verses describe the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, not the final Tribulation. His reasoning: at the end of the Tribulation, Israel will not be dispersed into the nations; they will enter the kingdom. But Luke 21:24 says the Jews will fall by the sword and be led away captive into all nations. That was fulfilled under Rome. The next word, 'until', signals a time gap before the next events appear.
Les explains 'perplexity' as nations having problems with no answers—the world is full of it. He points to wars and turmoil in places like Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Yugoslavia and says the whole world is in turmoil. In his view, these are not the Tribulation itself, but the beginnings of the stage being set for the final seven years.
Les quotes Luke 21:25 and says it is in accord with Old Testament prophecies and Revelation 18 because God's wrath is being poured out. He reads verses 25-26 as primarily indicative of the Tribulation period. He also notes that Matthew 24 is the tribulation events and that we will see everything start roaring before the Tribulation comes—so what we see now is the beginning of these conditions.
Why the Old Testament Never Mentions the Church Age
Now this is Bible study. My land, this is just plain Bible study. This isn't denominational doctrine or anything like that. This is just showing you what the Scripture says. Joel chapter 2, verse 28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that is after His rejection and so forth, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.
Luke 21:25 Quoted as Future Wrath
Les quotes Luke 21:25 and says it describes signs in the sun, moon, and stars, distress of nations, and the sea and waves roaring, because God's wrath is being poured out.
Distress of Nations as Modern Turmoil
Les defines 'perplexity' as governments facing problems with no answers and cites current global turmoil as the beginning of these conditions.
70 AD vs. End Times
Les uses Luke 21:23-24 to show the siege of Titus in 70 AD because the Jews were led away captive, making the following verse 25 future.
Prophecy Fulfillment and the 'Until'
Les notes the word 'until' in Luke 21:24 indicates a time when Gentile domination of Jerusalem will end, setting up the future events that follow.
Tribulation Beginnings
Les says Luke 21:26 is primarily indicative of the Tribulation period, but we are seeing the stage set for the final seven years.
Titus' Invasion Foretold
Les shows Jesus foretold the Roman destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, confirming that Luke 21:24 was fulfilled historically before the future signs of verse 25.
The 'Until' Time Gap
Les explains the 'until' in verse 24 means a future period after the times of the Gentiles, after which the next events—including the signs of verse 25—will come on the scene.
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.
This verse establishes the 70 AD destruction and the 'until' that leads into verse 25.
Luke 21:25: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Directly answers the question by listing the future signs.
Luke 21:26: Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Continues the description of future events coming on the earth.
No, according to Les Feldick it is primarily indicative of the Tribulation, which is still future. The preceding verses describe the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem, but verse 25 shifts to end-time signs.
Les teaches it means nations have problems with no answers. He points to worldwide turmoil as a beginning of these conditions.
Verse 24 says Jerusalem will be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Les explains that after that time factor, the next events—including the signs of verse 25—will come on the scene.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Mentions the Church Age