For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places.
εγερθησεται γαρ εθνος επι εθνος και βασιλεια επι βασιλειαν και εσονται λιμοι και λοιμοι και σεισμοι κατα τοπους
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In Matthew 24:6, we read about conflicts and the reports of conflicts, which reflect the turmoil that was present. Furthermore, recognizing that the disciples believed these wars signified an impending conclusion, observe how the Savior comforts them by stating, “But this is not yet the end: for there shall arise,” He declares, “nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” This indicates the onset of tribulations faced by the Jews.
The Lord addresses the conflict faced by Jerusalem, indicating that not only will there be warfare, but also famine and disease, revealing that God's anger will be directed towards the Jewish people. While it may be said that humans instigate wars, famine and illness are solely divine judgments. To reassure His disciples that the proclamation of the gospel does not signal the end of the world, the Lord further states, “Be not dismayed... it is not yet the end,” implying that the ultimate conclusion will not coincide with the fall of Jerusalem. “Nation shall rise upon nation, and kingdom upon kingdom” reflects the onset of tribulations, foreshadowing the hardships that will afflict the Jews. Just as a woman faces pain before giving birth, this current era will ultimately lead to the coming age, but only after enduring strife and conflict.
The New Synodal Russian Translation states, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be plagues, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places; and all these things are the beginning of sorrows. I firmly believe that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally. However, I perceive that the conflicts between kingdoms, the devastation caused by those whose message spreads like a cancer, as noted in 2 Timothy 2:17, along with deep desires or famine for the hearing of God's word, the upheaval of the entire earth, and the turning away from genuine faith, largely pertain to heretics who oppose one another and, in doing so, ultimately strengthen the Church. His declaration, All these things are the beginning of the tribulation, may be more accurately understood as birth pains, indicating that the emergence of Antichrist should be interpreted in the context of conception rather than physical birth.
The nations in partnership with the Romans will stand opposed to those aligned with the Jews, and the kingdoms that support the Romans will confront those that assist the Jews. As a result, their conflicts will be intense. There will be signs of joy, afflictions, and tribulations in Judea. Luke notes (Luke 21:11) that there will be warnings and significant signs from heaven so that the Jews may realize that all these events are in line with God's judgment, and they will comprehend that their suffering is due to the crucifixion of Christ.
More significant tribulations are on the horizon: Nations will rise against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms; there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various locations, along with remarkable signs in the heavens. However, these frightening events, which many will interpret as definitive indicators of the Messiah's arrival, will merely mark the onset of the labor pains, the initial contractions of the profound trials that lie ahead.
The warning (Matt. 23:37-39) weighed heavily on the hearts of the disciples, who saw its potential reality and felt compassion for Jerusalem, struggling to align this with their expectations of the Messiah's reign. As they departed from the temple, the Lord overheard His disciples marveling at its magnificence, particularly visible from the Mount of Olives to which they were headed. He then disclosed that all this grandeur would soon be utterly dismantled in the impending devastation. The disciples were eager for further insight and, once they were alone with Him on the Mount of Olives, they inquired about the timing of such a catastrophic event.
Given that many had yet to witness the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom as anticipated, and could not perceive the signs signaling the conclusion of the current age that, according to Jewish understanding, would be radically transformed with the arrival of the kingdom, they together asked: what indicators will reveal when His kingdom will be established and when the end of the age will occur?
The period from Augustus until the fall of Jerusalem in the Roman Empire was marked by significant unrest. In Rome, there was a swift succession of emperors. Among the cities populated by both Jews and Gentiles, tensions occasionally escalated into fierce conflict, leading to violent confrontations and loss of life. There were famines mentioned in the book of Acts (11:28), along with devastating earthquakes; for instance, during Nero's reign, entire cities in Campania and Asia Minor were destroyed by seismic activity. Moreover, extraordinary occurrences and ominous signs were reported in the skies over Jerusalem (as noted in Luke).
The historian Josephus describes how a comet shaped like a sword lingered over Jerusalem for an entire year prior to its downfall, while visions of armies of horsemen were observed in the heavens, and a remarkable light was seen illuminating the temple at night around the altar, among other phenomena.
The apostles believed that the anticipated kingdom of the Messiah would commence following the destruction, expecting that Jesus Christ would return and usher in His magnificent reign simultaneously with the close of the age; they thought such events would occur swiftly, while they were still alive. It was essential to admonish them against these assumptions. Thus, before addressing their inquiry directly, Jesus cautioned: ‘Take heed that no one misleads you with false claims concerning my return and the end of the age. Numerous individuals will come in my name, declaring, ‘I am the Messiah’; many will lead others astray, and many will be deceived; the time is near’ (Luke 21:8). But do not follow them!
There will be national turmoil, conflict, and violent wars; nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; famine, disease, and earthquakes will intensify the tribulations; signs will manifest in the heavens; and many, witnessing these occurrences, will begin to reassure everyone that the end is at hand. Do not pay heed to them! Now, let us examine what historians recount about the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, specifically regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
The Jews, who considered themselves solely under God’s authority, harbored deep animosity towards the Romans, always prepared to seize any opportunity to revolt against their burdensome oppression. The Roman procurators exacerbated this animosity through their cruelty and avarice, particularly during the administration of Florus. When the Jews pleaded with the Roman emperor to remove Florus and were denied, they revolted, slaying the Roman soldiers tasked with maintaining order in Jerusalem and taking control for themselves. Soon, revolts erupted in other cities, and the insurrection spread across Palestine. Troops were dispatched to quell the rebellious Jews, and under Vespasian’s command, they moved into Galilee. This marked the beginning of the Jewish war, detailed by Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian and eyewitness.
Recalling Jesus’ warning, ‘Take heed that no one misleads you, for many will come in my name’ (Matthew 24:4), the apostles stood firm against the false prophets and deceivers that were prevalent. Josephus Flavius noted that Palestine during that period was rife with charlatans and sorcerers who led the people into the wilderness to perform deceptive miracles, claiming them to be from divine authority. Among these impostors were Dositheus the Samaritan, who referred to himself as Christ; Simon the Magician, also from Samaria, who proclaimed himself the son of God; Theudas, Menander the Egyptian, and others. The Jews, having rejected Christ, longed for the Messiah who would vanquish their oppressors, thus readily embraced any false claimant. All these events unfolded prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, which had to occur first; and so it transpired.
The statement that “the people shall rise up against the people” reflects the escalation of national disasters, echoing the prophetic insight of the ancient seers as noted in Isaiah 19:2. The Roman historian Tacitus describes this period as eventful, marked by cruelty from wars, instability due to unrest, and malevolence even during peaceful times. Specifically concerning the Jews, the violent clashes in Caesarea serve as a notable example, where the Jews and Syrians took up arms against one another over control of the city, leading to the slaughter of twenty thousand Jews. This tragedy incited the Jewish community, spreading devastation throughout Syria.
Additionally, Agabus the prophet prophesied a famine in Judea, as recorded in Acts 11:28, corroborated by Tacitus, Suetonius, and Eusebius; Josephus notes that the famine was so dire in Jerusalem that many perished from it. During Emperor Claudius's reign (41-54 A.D.), four famines were reported across Rome, Palestine, and Greece. Furthermore, ‘pestilences’ refer to widespread diseases that occasionally arise following famine, as cited by Josephus and Tacitus. Earthquakes are also documented prior to the downfall of Jerusalem; Tacitus records several, including one during Claudius's reign and another in Nero's time, which devastated cities such as Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, in addition to affecting Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos.
In the presence of the God-man, the unfolding events, both near and afar, are depicted in a singular grand image, wherein many aspects of the city and temple's devastation serve as reflections of the alarming occurrences signaling the end of times. Primarily, the Lord instructed his disciples to recognize the signs that would mark the onset of divine judgment. "Watch ye, lest any man deceive you: many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and the time is at hand, and many shall deceive you: for ye shall not go out in their footsteps." Yet, when you hear of upheaval and chaos, take care not to panic or fear, for it is appropriate that these events precede the ultimate moment, but not yet at this time.
Nations will rise in conflict, and kingdoms against kingdoms; there will be famines, disturbances, upheavals, and pestilences; and there shall be great wonders and signs from heaven. These events signify merely the beginning of sorrows, initiating a chain of dire occurrences leading to the downfall of Jerusalem and the temple.
The fulfillment of the Lord’s words can be observed through the genuine accounts of those who lived during that period. From the crucifixion of the Lord until the foretold destruction of the city and temple, Judea and the wider Roman Empire were enveloped in ceaseless turmoil and strife, prompting a Roman historian to describe this era as "abundant with calamities, cruel battles, disturbances, terrible even in the midst of peace." During this time of anxious anticipation for extraordinary events, false messiahs emerged among the Jewish people, each attempting to sway the credulous. These tumultuous times were compounded by natural disasters: earthquakes devastated prosperous cities throughout Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia; a dreadful famine swept through Rome, Greece, and even Jerusalem itself; and a contagious plague ravaged regions across the east and Italy. The historian from Rome notes extraordinary celestial signs—fearsome thunders and other omens of divine wrath—which threatened his contemporaries due to the proliferation of vices and transgressions. A Judean historian catalogs remarkable occurrences that foreshadowed the fall of Jerusalem, including a sword-like comet visible over the city for an entire year, a radiant light shining in the temple at night, the brazen gates of the temple swinging open at midnight—gates so heavy that twenty men could scarcely shift them—a vision of chariots and armies appearing in the clouds, and finally, on the day of Pentecost, as the priests entered the temple, a noise and a voice proclaiming, "Let us depart from this place." Yet, when these calamities and signs preceding Jerusalem's destruction are viewed together through the perspective of the God-man, the immediate and distant events emerge as symbols of even greater tribulations that will occur before the culmination of the world.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 16 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS