“They will fall
By the edge
Of the sword.
They will be
Taken away
As captives
Among all the gentile nations.
Jerusalem
Will be trampled on
By the gentiles,
Until the time
Of the gentiles
Was fulfilled.”
καὶ πεσοῦνται στόματι μαχαίρης καὶ αἰχμαλωτισθήσονται εἰς τὰ ἔθνη πάντα, καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔσται πατουμένη ὑπὸ ἐθνῶν, ἄχρι οὗ πληρωθῶσιν καιροὶ ἐθνῶν.
Only Luke has this unique saying of Jesus. Jesus said that these people would fall by the edge of their swords (καὶ πεσοῦνται στόματι μαχαίρης). They would be taken away as captives among all the gentile nations (καὶ αἰχμαλωτισθήσονται εἰς τὰ ἔθνη πάντα). Jerusalem would be trampled on by the gentiles (καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔσται πατουμένη ὑπὸ ἐθνῶν), until the time of the gentiles was completed (ἄχρι οὗ πληρωθῶσιν καιροὶ ἐθνῶν). Falling by the edge of the sword meant death. It is not clear what is meant by this time of the gentiles. Perhaps this was when the foreign armies, the Roman army invaded and overwhelmed Jerusalem in 70 CE. Luke seemed to tie the end times to the fall of Jerusalem. What do you think the end of the world will be like?