The passage
      v5-6. The temple was completely rebuilt from 19BC to 64AD. It was massive, consisting of white limestone with gold and silver inlay. Josephus, a Jewish historian of the time, said it looked like a snow-capped mountain. It was totally destroyed during the conquest of Jerusalem by the Romans.
      v7. The disciples ask what "sign" will herald the destruction of the temple and when will this occur. In Matthew's gospel they also ask about the end of the age. Jesus goes on to answer their question about "signs", but not about the "when".
      v8-11. Natural calamities and political upheaval are signs of the age, not of the end. The disciples are not to be led astray by false messiahs using such signs to prove their messianic credentials ("I am he" = the coming messiah).
      v12. During (rather than "before") the signs of the age, believers will be persecuted.
      v13-15. This will be a time of testimony (gospel proclamation) for believers. Disciples will be given the words that are both wise and powerful, for they are Jesus' words. Mark, in 13:11, refers to the Holy Spirit as the source of these words.
      v16-18. Although persecuted and killed, even at the hands of family members, "not a hair of your head will perish" - a promise of spiritual protection, cf.12:4-7.
      v19. Endurance shows that a disciple is truly grafted in Christ through faith. The believer who endures shows that the word was not sown in shallow ground, cf.8:13.
      v20 In Mark's parallel passage, 13:14-20, the end-times flavour is heightened, while in Luke the oracle is tied to the historic destruction of Jerusalem. In typical prophetic fashion, a word concerning the destruction of Jerusalem also applies to the end of the age, to Armageddon.
      v21. In the day of tribulation, believers will need to take a low profile.
      v22. The day is a day of punishment (vengeance) upon the wilful apostasy of God's people Israel. Of course, in the last day, this "vengeance" will be directed at the church. As the scriptures remind us, "judgement begins with the household of God."
      v23-24. Josephus tells us that some one million people died in the Roman assault upon Jerusalem in 70AD. God's hand will remain on Israel until "the times of the Gentile's are fulfilled." The sense of this phrase has been hotly debated over the years, but it probably just means "until the triumph of the Romans over Jerusalem is complete", Joseph Fitzmyer.

The signs of the end
      Jesus reveals to his disciples that he will be taken from them, but will return. During the interim, believers must not to be taken in by false messiahs announcing particular dates for the end of the age, or claiming some special power. Nor should they get overly concerned by political strife or natural disasters. People are always using these events as predictive signs, but they are nothing more than the death-pangs of a dying world.
      These signs of the age serve as a time for testimony. During this time the church is to witness to Christ in gospel proclamation. The message we have to proclaim is both powerful and self-authenticating - Spirit empowered. The Lord has given us the content of the message and even in the most difficult of circumstances, faithful testimony will achieve its end.
      There is one particular sign which will herald the end day. This is the sign of the abomination of "desolation". This sign, said Jesus, will herald the end of the Restored Kingdom of Israel, but also the end of the Present Spiritual Kingdom. For the Restored Kingdom, the "abomination of desolation" was the move, by Rome, against the Israelite rebellion in 68AD, the siege of Jerusalem and its destruction in 70AD.
      It is hard for us to visualize what this end-sign will entail, but we can be sure that when these "tribulations" finally come upon the world, we will recognize them and so be able to hide from that terrible day. Somehow the believers in Jerusalem, during the rebellion, knew that the "abomination of desolation" was upon them, and so they fled to the safety of Pella in Transjordan.
      In our age, the "desolation" will most likely involve a concerted persecution of the church at the time of the revealing of the Antichrist. All we can say is that we will know when that day is upon us.

      These notes proceed on the assumption that Biblical prophecy is layered. The Biblical prophets usually direct their words to a particular immediate situation, yet it is quite clear that their words often push beyond this situation. When interpreting the passage, commentators will argue over whether the words concern the immediate present, or are still to be fulfilled in the future. In truth, Biblical prophecy brings with it a depth of perspective. It will address the immediate situation, but the immediate situation is often a poor reflection of a future reality. The prophecies of Jesus are classic examples of this feature. Here in Luke, Jesus is speaking specifically about the destruction of Jerusalem, yet his words also push well beyond 70AD to the last days - the present day onward to the Great Tribulation and Armageddon.
      The layered nature of prophecy can best be understood by observing how the kingdom of God has been realized throughout human history. Initially, the kingdom was revealed as a historic entity (the kingdom of Israel), then restated as a prophetic hope, then poorly represented in the restored kingdom of Israel (ending in 70AD), realized / inaugurated as a spiritual reality in Christ, and soon to be complete in the kingdom of heaven. The words of an Old Testament prophet may be fulfilled as a historic reality in the restored kingdom, but his words also apply to the spiritual kingdom "now", and the "not yet" heavenly kingdom to come.
      For further reading see "Gospel and Kingdom: A Christian Interpretation of the Old Testament", Graeme Goldsworthy. See also notes on The Kingdom of God

v5
      tinwn legontwn "some of his disciples were remarking" - certain people speaking. Genitive absolute participle, which usually forms a temporal clause; "when some were speaking", NRSV. The "some" are possibly the disciples (see Mat. & Mk.), as NIV, although not stated in the Gk.
      peri + gen. "about" - concerning.
      oJti "-" - that. Introducing indirect speech: "some said [that] it has been decorated ..." Tense of the original statement is retained in the Gk., but not translated. "Some of them were talking about the temple and the beautiful stones and votive offerings which adorned it", TNT.

v6
      tauta "[as for] what [you see here]" - these things [which you see]. The temple complex. "Yes, you can gaze on all this today, but ..", Phillips.
      kataluqhsetai (kataluw) fut. pas. "will be thrown down" - detached from its place. "Will be utterly demolished", Barclay.

v7
      Matthew's two-part 2nd question "what will be the sign of your coming and [what will be the sign] of the end of the age", is, to say the least, very interesting. Rather than assuming "your coming" as the second "coming" of Christ, we need to remember that divine judgment is properly described as a "coming" of the Lord. Stein seeks to argue that Christ's coming in judgment on Jerusalem is for Matthew, a type of Jesus' coming at the end of the age." Type it is, but Stein may be reading too much into Matthew's intention. Anyway, for Luke, the focus is on the destruction of the temple / Jerusalem, although "these things" may have a wider meaning, see below. "What will be the sign when they [these things] are going to happen", Barclay.
      didaskale (oV) voc. "teacher" - A rather general term, possibly indicating that, as far as Luke is concerned, these "certain people" were not disciples.
      legonteV (legw) pres. part. "they asked" - [they questioned him] saying. Redundant attendant circumstance participle, left untranslated as NIV.
      pote "when" - when [will be these things]. The "when" is an obvious question, but Jesus doesn't answer it.
      to shmeion (on) "the sign" - [what (will be)] the sign. Obviously, the sign heralding "these things."
      oJtan + subj. "-" - whenever [are about]. Forming an indefinite temporal clause.
      tauta "they" - these things. The "these things" are still referring to the destruction of the temple / Jerusalem. Marshall argues that the destruction of the temple is properly associated with the end of the age, so "these things" rightly encompass all that is associated with the coming day of the Lord. Bock notes the plural, arguing that more than the destruction of the temple is intended, although the plural most likely refers to the dislodged stones and the votive offerings of the temple, v6. As pointed out in the notes above, Jesus, in prophetic mode, is quite able to address the issue of the destruction of the temple / Jerusalem in 70AD, and do so in the terms of "the desolating sacrilege", while at the same time see beyond an immediate fulfilment of his words to a far greater fulfilment.
      ginesqai (ginomai) pres. inf. "to take place" - to become, be. Complementary infinitive, complementing the verb "about".

v8
      mh planhqhte (planaw) pas. subj. "that you are not deceived" - you should not be deceived, led astray. Possibly a hortatory subjunctive expressing a negative command, "be careful, don't be fooled", NCV. Most translators treat is as forming a noun clause, as NIV, usually "look out that ...", or "look out not to be misled", Berkeley. For the subjunctive with verbs of fearing etc. see Wallace 477.
      eleusontai (ercomai) fut. "will come" - "Appear on the scene", TH.
      epi tw/ onomati mou "in my name" - under/upon the name of me. Not Jesus' actual name, but rather his persona. Possibly claiming to be Christ resurrected, Marshall, although better either claiming to be "the Christ / messiah", ie. claiming Jesus' office, Nolland, or claiming Jesus' authority, ie. claiming to speak/act in his name, Plummer. "Many will come claiming that they are my representatives", Barclay.
      legonteV (legw) pres. part. "claiming" - saying. "Pretending", Nolland.
      egw eimi "I am he" - I am. As above, options such as "I am [the Christ]", NCV, are offered, although rather than "I am he / the one", possibly "I am here" = "I'm here to reveal the secret, namely, the time ..."
      hggiken (eggizw) perf. "[the time] is near" - has drawn near. Probably here in a temporal sense, "about to happen", although for Jesus, "at hand" means "is presently impacting upon."
      mh poreuqhte (poreuomai) aor. subj. "do not follow" - do not go [after them]. Hortatory subjunctive. The "end is near" message, popularized by apocalyptic preaches in the name of Christ, should be ignored. Life will go on with its usual bumps and humps, and such (wars and rumors of wars, v9-11, persecution, v12-19) are not signs of the end.

v9
      In verses 9-19 Jesus identifies the normal ongoing state of affairs on earth, affairs which could easily be used as signs of the end of the age by apocalyptic preachers.
      oJtan + subj. "when [you hear]" - Forming a temporal clause.
      akatastasiaV (a) "revolutions" - confusions, insurrections, uprisings.
      mh ptohqhte (ptoew) subj. "do not be afraid" - do not fear. Hortatory subjunctive. "Do not be scared", Moffatt.
      dei + the inf. "must [happen]" - [to happen, become, be] is necessary. Infinitive subject of the verb "happen", the subject of the infinitive is the acc. "these things." These events are the necessary "birth pangs" as Mark calls them, the ongoing troubles prior to the end.
      alla "but" - Adversative. The end does not follow on from such events, they are not signs of the end; "but the end does not come immediately after this", Cassirer.
      to teloV "the end" - Given the context, the end is the end of the temple / Jerusalem, the "desolation", v20, but as noted above, the end of the temple probably images an even greater "end".

v10
      egerqhsetai (egairw) fut. pas. "[nation] will rise against [nation]" - will be raised up against. cf. 2Chron.15:6. "Nations will go to war against one another", CEV.

v11
      apo ouranou (oV) "[great signs] from heaven" - Probably cosmic activity, eg. lunar eclipse. "Mighty portents from the sky", Rieu.

v12
      pro + gen. "before" - before, above. Most commentators argue for a temporal sense (even though both Matthew and Mark have no temporal indicator), although primary importance, "above", is more likely, "even greater than all these troubles, they will lay hands ...."
      paradidonteV (paradidwmi) pres. part. "they will deliver you" - handing over. The participle is probably modal, expressing the manner in which the action of the verb "persecute" is accomplished; "they will persecute you, [by] handing you over to the courts and dragging your before kings ..." Also possibly an attendant circumstance participle identifying action accompanying the verb "persecute"; "they will persecute you and hand you over to the courts and drag you before kings .."
      apagomenouV (apagw) pres. pas. part. "you will be brought [before kings]" - being led away. A rather awkward use of the participle here, but obviously serving to align with "handing over", even though it agrees with uJmaV, "you" and not the participle "handing over."
      eJneken tou onomatoV mou "and all on account of my name" - because of the name of me. Possibly "for my sake", "on my account, but probably better, "because of the confession of me which you make", Nolland, or simply "because of your connection (association) with me", Barclay.

v13
      apobhsetai (apobainw) fut. "this will result" - it will turn out, result.
      uJmin "in your" - for you. Dative of advantage.
      eiV marturion "being witnesses to them" - toward a testimony. Possibly of the gaining of a good reputation by suffering persecution bravely as an innocent, "it will have as a result, a testimony", Hartman, or more likely, of testifying to those who persecute, "this (your sufferings) will be your chance to tell people about your faith", CEV.

v14
      oun "but" - therefore. Here expressing result. "Determine therefore, not ...", TNT.
      qete (tiqhmi) aor. imp. "make up [your mind not to worry beforehand]" - place, put [in the heart of you]. "Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves", CEV.

v15
      uJmin "you" - to you. Dative of advantage, "I give for your advantage .."
      stoma (a atoV) "words" - mouth. "The power of speech", Plummer.
      oi antikeimenoi (antikaimai) pres. part. "adversaries" - [which] the ones being opposed [to you]. Participle as a substantive; "opponents", TNT.
      antisthnai (anisthmi) aor. inf. "to resist" - [will not be able] to resist. Complementary infinitive, completing the sense of the verb "be able." So also, "to contradict." The opponents "will find no words in which to answer, and will be unable to refute what the disciple have advanced", Plummer. Obviously, being able to give testimony to Jesus in the face of persecution is not the means of evading that persecution, but rather is the means of communicating the gospel.

v16
      uJpo + gen. "by" - by. Instrumental. As Jesus has pointed out, he brings division.
      qanatwsousin (qanatow) fut. "they will put [some of you] to death" - they will put to death [out of you]. The agents are unidentified. Certainly, in ancient societies people had more opportunity to take the law into their own hands, but the sense here may be to hand over to the courts for the judge to "sentence to death." Possibly best not to identify the agents; "Some of you will even be killed", CEV.

v17
      uJpo + gen."[all men]" - [you will be hated] by [everyone]. "Everyone", in the sense of universal, seems a bit of an exaggeration, although "everywhere" works; "you will be hated everywhere", Phillips. Nolland suggests "all sorts of people", even all sorts of human associations, eg. families, synagogues, social groups ....
      esesqe misoumenoi "will hate" - you will be hated. Future periphrastic: future verb to-be + the pres. part. This construction possibly serves to express the durative (ongoing) nature of the persecution.
      dia "because [of me]" - because of, on account of [my name]. For "my name" see v12. "Because of your association with me."

v18
      ou mh apolhtai (apollumi) aor. subj. "not .... will perish" - may by no means perish. Subjunctive of emphatic negation, "will never ever perish." Of course, many believers have been martyred over the years, cf. v16, so what is the point of this promise? i] The promise may be literal, Luke, cf. Acts, holds to "the reality of divine protection in the midst of extreme difficulty", Nolland; ii] The promise concerns spiritual preservation, "your souls will be absolutely safe", Plummer; iii] Possibly, but unlikely, "no harm will befall you without the Father's permission", Geldenhuys; iv] The promise may refer to the safety of the Christian church as a whole, rather than of the safety of individual members. Probably a spiritual sense is intended, "although put to death not a hair will perish", Ellis, so Stein etc. Of course, some disagree, eg. Fitzmyer. "The disciple who is allied to Christ is secure (eternally secure in Christ) - despite persecution and the threat to physical life", Bock.

v19
      en + dat. "by" - in. Instrumental, as NIV, although locative is possible = "in the sphere of"; "in steadfastness you will gain possession of your souls", Berkeley.
      kthsasqe (kataomai) aor. imp. "you will gain" - gain, acquire, obtain. The NIV follows the variant kathsesqe fut. ind.; "you will participate in eternal life", Marshall, not "you will preserve your earthly life", Schweizer. Metzger suggests that the aor. imp. is more likely original, "save your souls by means of / in the sphere of steadfastness." Surely in the sense of "a steadfast faith", following the spiritual sense of v19, rather than "a steadfastness in the face of persecution."

v20
      Luke now records his take on the "desolating sacrilege", explicitly tying it to the destruction of Jerusalem. The Roman suppression of the rebellion was severe, with some one million people losing their lives. It is recorded that the Christian community left the city and retreated to Pella, and this in fulfillment of these verses, cf. Eusebius. As outlined in the introductory notes, we are best to understand this prophecy, as with all prophecy, in the terms of layered fulfilment. As the Lord's hand was not stayed from rebellious Israel, so, in the great falling away, his hand will not be stayed from the Christian church. May the Lord spare us in the day of tribulation.
      oJtan + subj. "when [you see]" - Forming an indefinite temporal clause, as NIV.
      kukloumenhn (kuklow) pres. pas. part. "being surrounded" - being surrounded, encircled. As of a siege. The participle forming an adjectival clause, modifying the noun "Jerusalem"; "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies." Possibly a touch inceptive, "about to be surrounded by armies"; "on the point of being surrounded", TH.
      stratopedwn (on ou) "armies" - Possibly "military camps." oJti "that" - Here introducing a noun clause.
      hJ erhmwsiV (iV ewV) "desolation" - devastation. "Abomination of desolation / desolating sacrilege", Matt. & Mk., cf. Dan.12:11.

v21
      tote "then" - "At that time those who are in Judea must flee to the hills, .......", Barclay.

v22
      oJti "because" - Expressing cause/reason.
      hJmerai (a) "this is the time" - days [these are of vengeance]. Emphatic position.
      ekdikhsewV (iV ewV) gen. "of punishment" - of vengeance, punishment. A descriptive genitive. The "time of vengeance" - doom for a city in rebellion against God, cf. Hos.9:7, (Jer.51:6, of Babylon).
      tou plhsqhnai (pimplhmi) aor. pas. inf. "in fulfillment" - to be fulfilled. Articular infinitive which may form a consecutive clause, expressing result, "with the result that", or final clause, expressing purpose, "in order that"; "so that everything the scriptures say will come true", Barclay. Probably better forming a noun clause in apposition to "punishment"; "these are the day of retribution, [the days during which] / (namely when) all that stands written in the scriptures is to find its fulfilment", Cassirer.
      panta adj. "of all" - all, every. Here functioning as a substantive, "everything", subject of the infinitive "to be fulfilled" and therefore, accusative; "that all may be fulfilled", Meyer.
      ta gegrammena (grafw) perf. pas. part. "that has been written" - the things having been written. The participle is forming an adjectival clause, "which is written"; "that is written in the scriptures", Moffatt.

v23
      ouai "how dreadful it will be" - woe. Expressing sudden danger, TH. "Alas", Rieu.
      en + dat. "in [those days]" - in. Possibly "during", "it will be an awful time", CEV.
      taiV en gastri ecousaiV "for pregnant women" - to the ones in the belly having. Dative of disadvantage. The participle "having" is adjectival, "for those who have a child in the womb / who are pregnant."
      anagkh (h) "[great] distress [in the land]" - need = distress, calamity [on the earth / in the land]. "Great indeed will be the misery in this land", Fitzmyer.
      orgh (h) "wrath" - wrath, anger [to this people]. Expressing judgment on the people of Israel, ie. divine wrath. "Great" probably also applies to the "wrath".
      tw/ law/ toutw/ "against this people" - for this people. Dative of disadvantage. "God's wrath will descend on the people", Barclay; "everywhere in the land people will suffer horribly and be punished", CEV.