“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Matthew 24:21 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 24:21
As above He had obscurely intimated the end of Jerusalem; He now proceeds to a more plain announcement of it, citing a prophecy which should make them believe it.
That, 'Let him that readeth understand,' is said to call us to the mystic understanding of the place. What we read in Daniel is this; 'And in the midst of the week the sacrifice and the oblation shall be taken away, and in the temple shall be the abomination of desolations until the consummation of the time, and consummation shall be given upon the desolate.' [Dan 9:27, septuagint]
Luke, in order to shew that the abomination of desolation foretold by Daniel had reference to the time of the siege of Jerusalem, repeats these words of our Lord, 'When ye shall see Jerusalem encompassed by armies, then know ye that its desolation draweth nigh.' [Luke 21:20]