Matthew 24:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In Rome, following Nero's demise, three emperors were succeeded in a mere eighteen months, with each transition inciting violent upheavals among the military and the populace. News of these disturbances reached Judea, leading the inhabitants of Jerusalem to ponder, "There is bloodshed everywhere; surely the end has arrived!" In the Book of Acts of the Apostles, we learn that the prophet Agabus predicted a famine in Judea, which, according to Josephus Flavius, became so dire in Jerusalem that many perished from it. From 41 to 45 A.D., seven to ten years post the Lord's ascension, there were four famines across Rome, Greece, and Palestine, alongside devastating plagues chronicled by contemporary historians like Josephus and Tacitus. Destructive earthquakes wreaked havoc in Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, impacting Smyrna, Chios, Miletus, and Samos as well. Amidst these afflictions, the Lord manifested remarkable signs of His justice over Jerusalem: for an entire year, a comet resembling a sword was visible above it; the temple was illuminated by light at night; a lamb was born from a cow intended for sacrifice during the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the massive east gates of the temple, usually requiring twenty men to move, opened of their own accord at midnight; chariots and armies appeared in the skies; and on Pentecost, as the priests entered the temple, an extraordinary sound resonated, followed by a distinct voice proclaiming, "Let us depart from here!" Thus, the words of the Lord were fulfilled with perfect precision: there shall be great earthquakes, plagues, pestilences, distressing sights, and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:11). The Lord equates all these calamities and ominous signs to the intense pains of childbirth. In foretelling these events, He counsels His disciples, "Do not fear these tribulations; they are unavoidable according to God's decree. Moreover, you yourselves will encounter significant peril: take heart! Before these widespread catastrophes commence, you will have the opportunity to endure various trials. Despite your innocence, the animosity of all nations, including the hostility of both Jews and Gentiles, will be directed toward you.

Those who had not yet witnessed the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom, as they longed for and anticipated, failed to recognize the signs indicating the end of the current age, which, according to Jewish beliefs, was to be wholly transformed with the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom. Thus, they collectively inquired about the signs that would reveal the moment His kingdom would be established and the culmination of the age would occur.

The historian Josephus recorded that a comet resembling a sword lingered over Jerusalem for an entire year preceding its downfall, that phantom cavalry were sighted in the clouds, and that an unusual light illuminated the temple at night around the altar, among other alarming phenomena.

He implored them not to be deceived, as there would be turmoil among nations, conflicts, and violent wars; one nation would rise against another and one kingdom against another; famine, pestilence, and earthquakes would follow, intensifying the troubles. Signs would appear in the heavens, and many observers would declare that the end of the world was approaching. Yet, He urged them to remain steadfast against such claims.

As we examine what history reveals regarding the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy, we note that the Jews, regarding themselves as subjects of God alone, harbored deep resentment toward the Romans and seized every opportunity to oppose their oppressive rule. The Roman procurators further fueled this animosity through their cruelty and avarice. The Jews faced especially dire circumstances during Florus' governance. Seeking relief, they appealed to the Roman emperor to remove him, but when rebuffed, they revolted, killing all the Roman soldiers tasked with maintaining order in Jerusalem and seizing control. Other cities soon joined the insurrection, spreading the rebellion throughout Palestine. To quell the dissent, troops were dispatched, ultimately entering Galilee under the command of Vespasian. This marked the beginning of the Jewish War, vividly chronicled by the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, who was a participant in these events.

Recalling Jesus' warning, “Beware lest anyone deceive you, for many will come under my name” (Matthew 24:4), the Apostles remained resolute against false prophets and false Christs that proliferated during this tumultuous period. Josephus Flavius described how Palestine was inundated with deceivers and sorcerers who lured people into the wilderness, performing tricks as if by divine might. Among these charlatans were Dositheus the Samaritan, who proclaimed himself as the Christ, Simon the Magus, another Samaritan who claimed to be the son of God, as well as Theudas, Menander, the Egyptian, and others. The Jews, having rejected Christ, eagerly anticipated a conquering Messiah and readily flocked to meet any impostor. This wave of deception preceded the destruction of Jerusalem, which was necessary before the prophesied events unfolded, and so it came to pass.

Nations will rise against nations, and there will be famines and upheavals in various places, accompanied by significant signs from heaven. All of this is just the beginning of sorrows—the onset of tribulations that will lead to the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The fulfillment of the Lord's words is evident through the credible accounts of those who lived during that time. From the moment of the Lord's crucifixion until the prophesied destruction of the city and the temple, Judea and the Roman Empire were engulfed in turmoil and conflict. A Roman historian recorded this period as "abundant with calamities, cruel battles, disturbances, and troubling even amidst peace." Amidst this atmosphere of anticipation for extraordinary events, numerous false messiahs emerged among the Jewish population, deceiving the easily led. Natural disasters compounded these troubles: earthquakes devastated prosperous cities in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia; a severe famine struck Rome, Greece, and Jerusalem; and a widespread pestilence afflicted large regions in the east and Italy. The historian from Rome also noted extraordinary signs in the heavens—fearful thunders and other ominous portents of divine judgment—triggered by the escalating wickedness of people. A historian of Judea documented many remarkable premonitions before Jerusalem's fall, including a comet resembling a sword hanging over the city for an entire year, a glowing light in the temple during the night, the inexplicable opening of the temple's bronze gates without human effort, visions of chariots and armies in the clouds, and, on the day of Pentecost, a noise and a voice saying, "Let us depart from this place" as priests entered the temple. When contemplating these calamities and signs that foreshadowed Jerusalem's destruction, the God-Man perceived both imminent and distant events as representations of even more profound tribulations that will occur before the world's end.