TRV
Translation
King James Version
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Complete Jewish Bible
When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”
Berean Standard Bible
When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
American Standard Version
But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
World English Bible Messianic
But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
And when these things beginne to come to passe, then looke vp, and lift vp your heades: for your redemption draweth neere.
Young's Literal Translation
and these things beginning to happen bend yourselves back, and lift up your heads, because your redemption doth draw nigh.'
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Commentary on Luke 21 verses 20–28
20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
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.
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.
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;
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.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Having given them an idea of the times for about thirty-eight years next ensuing, he here comes to show them what all those things would issue in at last, namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter dispersion of the Jewish nation, which would be a little day of judgment, a type and figure of Christ's second coming, which was not so fully spoken of here as in the parallel place (Mt. 24), yet glanced at; for the destruction of Jerusalem would be as it were the destruction of the world to those whose hearts were bound up in it.
I. He tells them that they should see Jerusalem besieged, compassed with armies (Luk 21:20), the Roman armies; and, when they saw this, they might conclude that its desolation was nigh, for in this the siege would infallibly end, though it might be a long siege. Note, As in mercy, so in judgment, when God begins, he will make an end.
II. He warns them, upon this signal given, to shift for their own safety (Luk 21:21): "Then let them that are in Judea quit the country and flee to the mountains; let them that are in the midst of it" (Of Jerusalem) "depart out, before the city be closely shut up, and" (as we say now) "before the trenches be opened; and let not them that are in the countries and villages about enter into the city, thinking to be safe there. Do you abandon a city and country which you see God has abandoned and given up to ruin. Come out of her, my people."
III. He foretels the terrible havoc that should be made of the Jewish nation (Luk 21:22): Those are the days of vengeance so often spoken of by the Old Testament prophets, which would complete the ruin of that provoking people. All their predictions must now be fulfilled, and the blood of all the Old Testament martyrs must now be required. All things that are written must be fulfilled at length. After days of patience long abused, there will come days of vengeance; for reprieves are not pardons. The greatness of that destruction is set forth, 1. By the inflicting cause of it. It is wrath upon this people, the wrath of God, that will kindle this devouring consuming fire. 2. By the particular terror it would be to women with child, and poor mothers that are nurses. Woe to them, not only because they are most subject to frights, and least able to shift for their own safety, but because it will be a very great torment to them to think of having borne and nursed children for the murderers. 3. By the general confusion that should be all the nation over. There shall be great distress in the land, for men will not know what course to take, nor how to help themselves.
IV. He describes the issue of the struggles between the Jews and the Romans, and what they will come to at last; in short, 1. Multitudes of them shall fall by the edge of the sword. It is computed that in those wars of the Jews there fell by the sword above eleven hundred thousand. And the siege of Jerusalem was, in effect, a military execution. 2. The rest shall be led away captive; not into one nations, as when they were conquered by the Chaldeans, which gave them an opportunity of keeping together, but into all nations, which made it impossible for them to correspond with each other, much less to incorporate. 3. Jerusalem itself was trodden down of the Gentiles. The Romans, when they had made themselves masters of it, laid it quite waste, as a rebellious and bad city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and therefore hateful to them.
V. He describes the great frights that people should generally be in. Many frightful sights shall be in the sun, moon, and stars, prodigies in the heavens, and here in this lower world, the sea and the waves roaring, with terrible storms and tempests, such as had not been known, and above the ordinary working of natural causes. The effect of this shall be universal confusion and consternation upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity, Luk 21:25. Dr. Hammond understands by the nations the several governments or tetrarchies of the Jewish nation, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee; these shall be brought to the last extremity. Men's hearts shall fail them for fear (Luk 21:26), apopsuchontōn anthrōpōn - men being quite exanimated, dispirited, unsouled, dying away for fear. Thus those are killed all the day long by whom Christ's apostles were so (Rom 8:36), that is, they are all the day long in fear of being killed; sinking under that which lies upon them, and yet still trembling for fear of worse, and looking after those things which are coming upon the world. When judgment begins at the house of God, it will not end there; it shall be as if all the world were falling in pieces; and where can any be secure then? The powers of heaven shall be shaken, and then the pillars of the earth cannot but tremble. Thus shall the present Jewish policy, religion, laws, and government, be all entirely dissolved by a series of unparalleled calamities, attended with the utmost confusion. So Dr. Clarke. But our Saviour makes use of these figurative expressions because at the end of time they shall be literally accomplished, when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all their powers not only shaken, but broken, and the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up, Pe2 3:10, Pe2 3:12. As that day was all terror and destruction to the unbelieving Jews, so the great day will be to all unbelievers.
VI. He makes this to be a kind of appearing of the Son of man: Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory, Luk 21:27. The destruction of Jerusalem was in a particular manner an act of Christ's judgment, the judgment committed to the Son of man; his religion could never be thoroughly established but by the destruction of the temple, and the abolishing of the Levitical priesthood and economy, after which even the converted Jews, and many of the Gentiles too, were still hankering, till they were destroyed; so that it might justly be looked upon as a coming of the Son of man, in power and great glory, yet not visibly, but in the clouds; for in executing such judgments as these clouds and darkness are round about him. Now this was, 1. An evidence of the first coming of the Messiah; so some understand it. Then the unbelieving Jews shall be confined, when it is too late, that Jesus was the Messiah; those that would not see him coming in the power of his grace to save them shall be made to see him coming in the power of his wrath to destroy them; those that would not have him to reign over them shall have him to triumph over them. 2. It was an earnest of his second coming. Then in the terrors of that day they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, and all the terrors of the last day. They shall see a specimen of it, a faint resemblance of it. If this be so terrible, what will that be?
VII. He encourages all the faithful disciples in reference to the terrors of that day (Luk 21:28): "When these things begin to come to pass, when Jerusalem is besieged, and every thing is concurring to the destruction of the Jews, then do you look up, when others are looking down, look heavenward, in faith, hope, and prayer, and lift up your heads with cheerfulness and confidence, for your redemption draws night." 1. When Christ came to destroy the Jews, he came to redeem the Christians that were persecuted and oppressed by them; then had the churches rest. 2. When he comes to judge the world at the last day, he will redeem all that are his, from all their grievances. And the foresight of that day is as pleasant to all good Christians as it is terrible to the wicked and ungodly. Their death itself is so; when they see that day approaching, they can lift up their heads with joy, knowing that their redemption draws nigh, their removal to their Redeemer.
VIII. Here is one word of prediction that looks further than the destruction of the Jewish nation, which is not easily understood; we have it in Luk 21:24 : Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 1. Some understand it of what is past; so Dr. Hammond. The Gentiles, who have conquered Jerusalem, shall keep possession of it, and it shall be purely Gentile, till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, till a great part of the Gentile world shall have become Christian, and then after Jerusalem shall have been rebuilt by Adrian the emperor, with an exclusion of all the Jews from it, many of the Jews shall turn Christians, shall join with the Gentile Christians, to set up a church in Jerusalem, which shall flourish there for a long time. 2. Others understand it of what is yet to come; so Dr. Whitby. Jerusalem shall be possessed by the Gentiles, of one sort or other, for the most part, till the time come when the nations that yet remain infidels shall embrace the Christian faith, when the kingdoms of this world shall become Christ's kingdoms, and then all the Jews shall be converted. Jerusalem shall be inhabited by them, and neither they nor their city any longer trodden down by the Gentiles.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 20–28. Public domain.
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Hippolytus of RomeAD 235
Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
These things, then, being to come to pass, beloved, and the one week being divided into two parts, and the abomination of desolation being manifested then, and the two prophets and forerunners of the Lord having finished their course, and the whole world finally approaching the consummation, what remains but the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from heaven, for whom we have looked in hope? who shall bring the conflagration and just judgment upon all who have refused to believe on Him. For the Lord says, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." "And there shall not a hair of your head perish." "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." Now the fall took place in paradise; for Adam fell there. And He says again, "Then shall the Son of man send His angels, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds of heaven." And David also, in announcing prophetically the judgment and coming of the Lord, says, "His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and His circuit unto the end of the heaven: and there is no one hid from the heat thereof." By the heat he means the conflagration. And Esaias speaks thus: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chamber, (and) shut thy door: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation of the Lord be overpast." And Paul in like manner: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness."
CyprianAD 258
Treatise VII. On the Mortality 2
Beloved brothers and sisters, whoever serves as a soldier of God stationed in the camp of heaven already hopes for the divine things. He should recognize himself so that we should have no fear or dread at the storms and whirlwinds of the world. Through the encouragement of his provident voice, the Lord predicted that these things would come when he was instructing, teaching, preparing and strengthening the people of his church to endure everything to come. Christ foretold and prophesied that wars, famine, earthquakes and epidemics would arise in the various places. So that an unexpected and new fear of destructive agencies might not shake us, he forewarned that adversity would increase in the last times. Note that the things that were spoken of are happening. Since the things that were foretold are happening, whatever he promises will also follow. The Lord himself promises, “When you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.” The kingdom of God, beloved brothers and sisters, has drawn near. The reward of life, the joy of eternal salvation, the perpetual happiness and the possession of paradise once lost are now coming as the world passes away.
Eusebius of Caesarea (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 339
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Or else, To those that have passed through the body and bodily things, shall be present spiritual and heavenly bodies: that is, they will have no more to pass the kingdom of the world, and then to those that are worthy shall be given the promises of salvation. For having received the promises of God which we look for, we who before were crooked shall be made upright, and we shall lift up our heads who were before bent low; because the redemption which we hoped for is at hand; that namely for which the whole creation waiteth.
He speaks these things to His disciples, not as to those who would continue in this life to the end of the world, but as if uniting in one body of believers in Christ both themselves and us and our posterity, even to the end of the world.
For as in this life, when winter dies away, and spring succeeds, the sun sending forth its warm rays cherishes and quickens the seeds hid in the ground, just laying aside their first form, and the young plants sprout forth, having put on different shades of green; so also the glorious coming of the Only-begotten of God, illuminating the new world with His quickening rays, shall bring forth into light from more excellent bodies than before the seeds that have long been hidden in the whole world, i. e. those who sleep in the dust of the earth. And having vanquished death, He shall reign from henceforth the life of the new world.
Or by generation He means the new generation of His holy Church, showing that the generation of the faithful would last up to that time, when it would see all things, and embrace with its eyes the fulfilment of our Saviour's words.
Titus of Bostra (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 378
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Or else, He says, the kingdom of God is at hand, meaning that when these things shall be, not yet shall all things come to their last end, but they shall be already tending towards it. For the very coming of our Lord itself, casting out every principality and power, is the preparation for the kingdom of God.
Titus of BostraAD 378
Or else, He says, the kingdom of God is at hand, meaning that when these things shall be not yet shall all things come to their last end, but they shall be already tending towards it. For the very coming of our Lord itself, casting out every principality and power, is the preparation for the kingdom of God.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.41-43
You see him in the clouds. I certainly do not think that Christ will come in the darkness of mist and the chill of rain. The clouds are visible and surely cover the heaven in foggy cold. How has he set his tabernacle in the sun if his coming brings the rain? Some clouds suitably cover the radiance of the heavenly mystery. Some clouds grow moist with the dew of spiritual grace. Consider the cloud in the Old Testament. “He spoke to them,” it says, “in a pillar of cloud.” … He comes in a calm cloud in the Song of Songs, shining with the joy of a bridegroom. He also comes in a swift light cloud, incarnate of the Virgin. The prophet saw him as a cloud coming from the east. He fittingly said, “a light cloud,” that earthly vices would not weigh down. See the cloud upon which the Holy Spirit came and the power of the Most High overshadowed. When Christ will appear in the clouds, the tribes of the earth will grieve over themselves.
Ambrose of Milan (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 397
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Matthew speaks of the fig-tree only, Luke of all the trees. But the fig-tree shadows forth two things, either the ripening of what is hard, or the luxuriance of sin; that is, either that, when the fruit bursts forth in all trees and the fruitful fig-tree abounds, (that is, when every tongue confesses God, even the Jewish people confessing Him,) we ought to hope for our Lord's coming, in which shall be gathered in as at summer the fruits of the resurrection. Or, when the man of sin shall clothe himself in his light and fickle boasting as it were the leaves of the synagogue, we must then suppose the judgment to be drawing near. For the Lord hastens to reward faith, and to bring an end of sinning.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 45
The fig tree therefore has a double meaning: when the wild is tamed or when sins abound. Like the believer’s faith that shriveled up before it will flower, so also sinners will glory through the grace of their transgressions. On the one hand is the fruit of faith, and on the other the lewdness of unbelief. The gardening of the Evangelist as farmer produces the fruit of the fig tree for me. We must not despair if sinners cover themselves with the leaves of the fig tree as with a garment of deceit, so that they may veil their conscience. Leaves without fruit are therefore suspicious.
Cyril of AlexandriaAD 444
COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 139
He says that they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Christ will not come secretly or obscurely but as God and Lord in glory suitable for deity. He will transform all things for the better. He will renew creation and refashion the nature of people to what it was at the beginning. He said, "When these things come to pass, lift up your heads and look upward, for your redemption is near." The dead will rise. This earthly and infirm body will put off corruption and will clothe itself with incorruption by Christ's gift. He grants those that believe in him to be conformed to the likeness of his glorious body.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 1
But because these things have been said against the reprobate, the words soon turn to the consolation of the elect. For it is added: "But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." As if the Truth openly admonishes His elect, saying: When the calamities of the world increase, when the terror of judgment is shown by the powers being shaken, lift up your heads, that is, gladden your hearts, because while the world, to which you are not friends, comes to an end, the redemption which you have sought draws near.
For in Sacred Scripture the head is often used to mean the mind, because just as the members are governed by the head, so thoughts are arranged by the mind. Therefore to lift up our heads is to raise our minds to the joys of the heavenly homeland. Those who love God are therefore commanded to rejoice and be glad at the end of the world, because indeed they soon find Him whom they love, while that which they did not love passes away. For far be it that any of the faithful who desires to see God should grieve over the afflictions of the world, knowing that it will end through these very afflictions.
For it is written: "Whoever wishes to be a friend of this world is made an enemy of God." Therefore whoever does not rejoice as the end of the world approaches testifies that he is its friend, and by this is convicted of being an enemy of God. But far be this from the hearts of the faithful, far be it from those who both believe by faith that there is another life, and love it through their deeds. For to grieve over the destruction of the world belongs to those who have planted the roots of their heart in love of it, who do not seek the life to come, who do not even suspect that it exists.
But we who have known the eternal joys of the heavenly homeland ought to hasten to them as quickly as possible. We should desire to journey there sooner and to arrive by a shorter way. For by what evils is the world not oppressed? What sadness, what adversity does not distress us? What is mortal life but a journey? And consider, my brothers, what it means to grow weary from the labor of the journey, and yet not want that same journey to end.
Gregory the Dialogist (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 604
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(ut sup.) For in power and majesty will men see Him, whom in lowly stations they refused to hear, that so much the more acutely they may feel His power, as they are now the less willing to bow the necks of their hearts to His sufferings.
(Hom. 1. in Ev.) Having in what has gone before spoken against the reprobate, He now turns His words to the consolation of the elect; for it is added, When these things begin to be, look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh; as if he says, When the buffettings of the world multiply, lift up your heads, that is, rejoice your hearts, for when the world closes whose friends ye are not, the redemption is near which ye seek. For in holy Scripture the head is often put for the mind, for as the members are ruled by the head, so are the thoughts regulated by the mind. To lift up our heads then, is to raise up our minds to the joys of the heavenly country.
(ut sup.) That the world ought to be trampled upon and despised, He proves by a wise comparison, adding, Behold the fig tree and all the trees, when they now put forth fruit, ye know that summer is near. As if He says, As from the fruit of the tree the summer is perceived to be near, so from the fall of the world the kingdom of God is known to be at hand. Hereby is it manifested that the world's fall is our fruit. For hereunto it puts forth buds, that whomsoever it has fostered in the bud it may consume in slaughter. But well is the kingdom of God compared to summer; for then the clouds of our sorrow flee away, and the days of life brighten up under the clear light of the Eternal Sun.
(in Hom. 1. in Ev.) But all the things before mentioned are confirmed with great certainty, when He adds, Verily I say unto you, &c.
(ut sup.) Or else, The heaven and earth shall pass away, &c. As if He says, All that with us seems lasting, does not abide to eternity without change, and all that with Me seems to pass away is held fixed and immoveable, for My word which passeth away utters sentences which remain unchangeable, and abide for ever.
Bede (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 735
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
He strongly commends that which he thus foretels. And, if one may so speak, his oath is this, Amen, I say unto you. Amen is by interpretation "true." Therefore the truth says, I tell you the truth, and though He spoke not thus, He could by no means lie. But by generation he means either the whole human race, or especially the Jews.
But by the heaven which shall pass away we must understand not the æthereal or the starry heaven, but the air from which the birds are named "of heaven." But if the earth shall pass away, how does Ecclesiastes say, The earth standeth for ever? (Ecc. 1:4.) Plainly then the heaven and earth in the fashion which they now have shall pass away, but in essence subsist eternally.
BedeAD 735
On the Gospel of Luke
When these things begin to take place, look up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. When the plagues, he says, of the world increase, when the terror of judgment is shown by the shaking of the powers, lift up your heads, that is, cheer up your hearts. Because as the world, to which you are not friends, is ending, the redemption you seek is near. In the holy Scripture, indeed, the head is often put for the mind. For just as the limbs are governed by the head, so thoughts are arranged by the mind. To lift up the head, therefore, is to raise our minds to the joys of the heavenly homeland. But that the world should be trampled upon and despised, the Lord shows by a prudent comparison. For it follows:
Theophylact of Ohrid (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 1107
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
That is, perfect liberty of body and soul. For as the first coming of our Lord was for the restoration of our souls, so will the second be manifested unto the restoration of our bodies.
For because He had foretold that there should be commotions, and wars, and changes, both of the elements and in other things, lest any one might suspect that Christianity itself also would perish, He adds, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away: as if He said, Though all things should be shaken, yet shall my faith fail not. Whereby He implies that He sets the Church before the whole creation. The creation shall suffer change, but the Church of the faithful and the words of the Gospel shall abide for ever.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Luke 21:28, part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, offers a profound message of hope and assurance to believers amidst the terrifying signs of the end times. While the world is consumed by fear and distress as cataclysmic events unfold, Jesus instructs His followers to adopt a posture of confident anticipation, for these very signs indicate the imminent culmination of God's redemptive plan and the glorious return of Christ. This verse transforms what might be seen as portents of doom into harbingers of ultimate liberation for the faithful.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Luke 21:28 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its urgent and hopeful message. The most prominent is the Imperative Mood, seen in "look up, and lift up your heads," which functions as a direct command from Jesus, demanding an active and intentional response from His followers. This command creates a strong Contrast with the preceding description of the world's terror and despair (Luke 21:26), highlighting the distinct experience and perspective of the believer. The act of "looking up" and "lifting heads" serves as Symbolism, representing not merely a physical action but a spiritual posture of hope, confidence, and anticipation in the face of overwhelming global distress. It symbolizes a shift from earthly focus and fear to heavenly expectation. The entire verse is steeped in Eschatological Language, using terms like "these things" (referring to end-time signs) and "redemption draweth nigh" to frame the discourse within the context of final events and the culmination of God's plan.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 21:28 stands as a beacon of hope, deeply rooted in the broader biblical narrative of God's faithfulness and ultimate triumph. The "redemption" spoken of here is the final, glorious consummation of the salvation initiated by Christ's first coming. It is the complete deliverance from the presence and power of sin, death, and all suffering, culminating in the glorification of believers and their full inheritance in God's eternal kingdom. This verse asserts that the very signs that bring terror to the world are, for the redeemed, indicators of their approaching liberation. It underscores the sovereignty of God over history, demonstrating that even in chaos, His divine plan is unfolding precisely as prophesied, leading to the ultimate vindication of His people and the establishment of His righteous rule. This eschatological hope is not passive but calls for an active, expectant posture, transforming fear into joyful anticipation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 21:28 provides an enduring and vital message for believers across all generations, particularly in times of global uncertainty, societal upheaval, or personal tribulation. It challenges us to reorient our perspective from earthly anxieties to heavenly hope. Instead of being consumed by fear or despair when we witness the signs of a fallen world, we are called to actively "look up" and "lift up our heads," adopting a posture of confident anticipation. This means cultivating an eternal mindset, understanding that present sufferings are temporary and that our ultimate and complete liberation is drawing near. This hope should not lead to passivity but to a renewed sense of purpose: to live holy lives, to persevere in faith, and to share the good news of Christ's saving work with a world desperately in need of true redemption. Our expectation of Christ's return should fuel our evangelism, reminding us that there is a pressing need for others to find the hope that allows them to also "look up" amidst the chaos.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What are "these things" that begin to come to pass?
Answer: "These things" refer to the series of prophetic events Jesus describes earlier in Luke 21, particularly the cosmic disturbances and global distress mentioned in Luke 21:25-26. These include signs in the sun, moon, and stars, the roaring of the sea and waves, and the anguish of nations. They are the escalating signs that precede the glorious return of the Son of Man.
What does "your redemption draweth nigh" mean for believers?
Answer: For believers, "your redemption draweth nigh" signifies the approaching culmination of God's plan of salvation. It refers to the final, complete liberation from the presence and power of sin, death, and all earthly suffering. This is the ultimate glorification of the believer, when they will receive their resurrected bodies and fully enter into God's eternal kingdom, in the presence of Christ. It is the blessed hope that the trials of this present age are temporary and that ultimate deliverance is at hand.
How does this verse apply to Christians living today, thousands of years after Jesus spoke it?
Answer: Luke 21:28 remains profoundly relevant for Christians today. It teaches us how to respond to the signs of a fallen world—whether global crises, natural disasters, or societal unrest. Instead of succumbing to fear or despair, believers are called to maintain a posture of hope and confident expectation, knowing that these very signs indicate the progressive unfolding of God's sovereign plan and the approaching return of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in earthly solutions but in the divine redemption that Christ will bring at His Second Coming.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 21:28 finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very "Son of Man" whose glorious return is heralded by these terrifying signs (Luke 21:27). The "redemption" that "draweth nigh" is not an abstract concept but a salvation secured by Christ and completed in Christ. His first coming, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His resurrection provided the ransom for our sin, initiating our redemption (as seen in Ephesians 1:7). However, the full, final, and complete "redemption" spoken of in Luke 21:28 refers to the consummation of that salvation—the liberation of our bodies and the full establishment of God's kingdom at Christ's Second Coming. Therefore, when believers "look up, and lift up their heads," they are not merely looking to a future event, but to the returning King, Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of their faith, the one who will bring their salvation to its glorious completion (as affirmed in Hebrews 12:2). He is the blessed hope for whom we eagerly wait (Titus 2:13), the one who transforms the signs of the end from portents of doom into harbingers of eternal joy for His redeemed.