In Luke’s passage about the last days, he writes of a statement Jesus made about those days.
Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
I want to focus in on: “…and there will be terrors (φόβητρα) and great signs from heaven."The Key Word: φόβητρα (phobētra). Phonetra / φόβητρα is a plural noun from the root φόβος (phobos), meaning fear from which we get the English phobia. The word literally means "things that cause terror", "terrors", or "frightening apparitions".
In some older and less formal Greek usage outside the Bible, it could even suggest unnatural creatures or monstrous appearances. In apocalyptic Jewish literature (like in 1 Enoch or 2 Esdras), this word could be used for bizarre and terrifying creatures or events. They were not in the modern fantasy sense of "monsters," but in the sense of things so terrifying and unnatural that they evoke intense fear or dread. The idea here is that the dread they induce literally make you feel as if your internal organs have been turned inside-out.
So, does it mean "monsters"? Possibly but not directly. I should note that the word φόβητρα could encompass terrifying beings, visions, or phenomena—monstrous in the sense of terror, possibly even supernatural or demonic. This could mean obvious demonic manifestations, portents of doom that cause one’s stomach to sink or…possibly even strange, fearsome creatures or signs in the sky. It will be a fear that solicits a desire to flee from the object of terror or try to shield oneself or withdrawal from it.
Jesus is describing signs of the end times, using vivid and fearsome language on purpose. The use of φόβητρα reflects unnatural terror—not just everyday fear, but something so out-of-place that it shakes the soul of the observer. Whether that’s through supernatural beings, catastrophic events, or otherworldly signs, the effect is the same: a divine shaking of the world. In Scripture it is never a mere subjective emotion but an objective phenomenon that rightly elicits fear because it signals divine intervention or judgment.
Its conceptual roots run through the Hebrew Scriptures. The Septuagint uses related terms for the “terror by night” (Psalm 91:5), the “terror” sent ahead of Israel to dismay enemies (Exodus 23:27), and the “terrors” that seized Job (Job 7:14). In each setting God is either the source or the active governor over the dreadful event, underscoring His sovereignty both in salvation and in judgment.
What does it mean as an End Times foreshadowing? They are heralds of the Day of the Lord. The fearful sights function as preliminary birth pains (Luke 21:9-11; Matthew 24:8), signaling that the age is drawing to its God-ordained conclusion. It is a sign of Divine Justice. By intertwining terror with celestial “signs,” Scripture portrays these events as courtroom evidence that human rebellion will not stand unchallenged. Finally, it should be the catalyst for repentance: The passage immediately exhorts believers to steadfast endurance (Luke 21:19) and cautions the unregenerate to flee to Christ before judgment falls.
What theological lessons can we learn from this passage? We see God’s providence on full display. Fearful sights are neither random nor solely satanic; they operate with God’s permission and discretion. They will directly of God’s will (Isaiah 45:7). The one who speaks this prophecy is very same whole will have them come to pass, reinforcing His divine omniscience and authority (Revelation 1:17-18).
Could it be nuclear phenomena? Could it be biological phenomena? Well, it would need to be visible to the populace. It would need to be visible to the entirety of the world. Would it need to be a global scale phenomena or a localized broadcast by the internet and television? All these things need to be considered before arriving at a conclusion. I personally believe that it would need to be global and personalized to solicit the tpye of terror stated by Jesus. It would need to be able to convince the entire church that it was in fact ‘those days’. These phenomena would also be occurring simultaneously with earthquakes, food shortages (famine) and pandemics (pestilence). Could AI be behind all of these phenomena? Possibly. Humans (therefore AI) can create food shortages, release of biohazards, extreme weather phenomena through cloud seeding and yes, even earthquakes via extreme low frequency wave manipulations, dam creation, etc. Of course God can use all these methods and supernatural ones beyond our comprehension.
Properly understood these terrors will be tangible manifestations of divine power that shake the created order and the human heart. Though dread-inducing for the unbeliever, these events are simultaneously signs of redemption drawing near for those in Christ. Correctly understood, they summon the church to holiness, perseverance, and urgent witness to the Gospel until the Lord Himself dispels the terror by the light of His coming kingdom.
