Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
It foretells a time of war in which nations and kingdoms rise in armed conflict against one another. It was spoken as a lesson from the adorned temple about its coming overthrow when no stone would remain upon another, and those early wars and tumults came as judgments upon Jerusalem as the beginning of sorrows when the end was not yet. Its outlook reaches beyond Jerusalem to the close of earth's history and the final outpouring of wrath when the whole world is involved. Those wars are among the first shakings of earthly rulers and angry nations, distinct from the later shaking of sun, moon, stars and earth, and with their accompanying famines, pestilences, earthquakes and storms they are only the beginning that testifies the great crisis is at hand. The warning leads directly into persecution in which followers may be imprisoned or killed for His name, yet they are promised wisdom and strength for the day with life safe in God, given to instruct later believers to discern the danger, prepare for the final conflict, and stand firm for God's law.
Context and Dual Fulfillment
The verse foretells a time of conflict in which nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom. It belongs to Christ's signs of coming trouble, foretelling events of great significance amid war and bloodshed, widespread confusion, want, famine, pestilence, and earthquake damage, with judgments coming in quick succession as the world's great crisis approaches.
It was spoken when the disciples admired the adornments of the temple, which Christ made a lesson book for the great calamity to come upon Jerusalem and upon its temple when not one stone would be left upon another. It was given in answer to questions about the temple's destruction, among the signs Christ gave in response to those questions.
Those wars and conflicts occurred before Jerusalem's destruction as judgments bringing destruction upon Jerusalem. They were among the beginning of sorrows, which must first come to pass but with the end not yet. They were signs of judgment and destruction, not signs that the Jewish nation would be released from bondage.
Its prophetic eye reaches beyond Jerusalem to the close of this earth's history and to the final visitation of God's wrath at the end of earth's history. Then not merely nations will be destroyed but the whole world, for Christ's vision took in not merely the destruction of Jerusalem but the destruction of a world. The lessons He thus gave are especially applicable to the time upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Signs of Approaching End
Wars and conflicts between nations and kingdoms are among the first events that shake the powers of the earth. Those shaken powers are earthly rulers and angry nations, not the powers of heaven. This shaking of angry nations comes first through war, sword, famine, and pestilence. It is distinct from the later shaking of the sun, moon, and stars and the earth by the voice of God.
The fighting of nations and kingdoms against one another belongs to the beginning of sorrows, not to the end. The famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and storms connected with this setting are only the beginning of what is to come. They were signs of judgment bringing destruction, not signs of release from bondage.
Conflict between nations and kingdoms is part of what is to be expected before the day of the Lord. The conflicts and violence of the present testify that the end is near. They belong to the signs showing that the great crisis is at hand. As the world's great crisis approaches, wars among nations and kingdoms are part of the judgments that come in quick succession.
The rising of nations and kingdoms against one another applies to war and bloodshed amid widespread confusion, want, famine, and pestilence. The chapter in which this is foretold foretells events of great significance. That significance stands in a context that mentions earthquake damage.
Persecution and Faithful Preparation
The warning that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom leads directly into persecution of Christ's followers, who may be imprisoned or killed for His name. The verses that follow place that persecution before the other signs described in the same prediction of coming troubles. To those so persecuted He promises wisdom and strength to endure, with strength given according to the day and none tempted above what can be borne. Their life is safe in God even if their bodies are killed, as they follow Jesus who bore all this and far more.
The broader setting of Luke 21:8-19 describes the grand work in the battle prior to the last closing conflict, when the two armies stand distinct and separate. God's commandment-keeping people will then be so marked off from Sunday observers that many convinced of the truth will come to their side. Many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth. They will be brought before kings and rulers and councils to meet false, absurd, and lying accusations, yet must stand firm as a rock to principle without conferring with flesh and blood. This requires obedience to the express command of God, with intelligent knowledge of His Word given to prepare men and women to contend zealously for the law of Jehovah, to make up the breach made in the law of God and restore the tables of stone to their ancient exalted honorable position.
It is one of the signs Jesus foretold to His disciples while on earth in order to give instruction to those who would afterward believe, to help them prepare for the great conflict. Discerning this sign in this age of the world exposes present dangers and calls for reaching a higher standard.
It foretells a time of war in which nations and kingdoms rise in armed conflict against one another. It was spoken as a lesson from the adorned temple about its coming overthrow when no stone would remain upon another, and those early wars and tumults came as judgments upon Jerusalem as the beginning of sorrows when the end was not yet. Its outlook reaches beyond Jerusalem to the close of earth's history and the final outpouring of wrath when the whole world is involved. Those wars are among the first shakings of earthly rulers and angry nations, distinct from the later shaking of sun, moon, stars and earth, and with their accompanying famines, pestilences, earthquakes and storms they are only the beginning that testifies the great crisis is at hand. The warning leads directly into persecution in which followers may be imprisoned or killed for His name, yet they are promised wisdom and strength for the day with life safe in God, given to instruct later believers to discern the danger, prepare for the final conflict, and stand firm for God's law.
Context and Dual Fulfillment
The verse foretells a time of conflict in which nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom. It belongs to Christ's signs of coming trouble, foretelling events of great significance amid war and bloodshed, widespread confusion, want, famine, pestilence, and earthquake damage, with judgments coming in quick succession as the world's great crisis approaches.
It was spoken when the disciples admired the adornments of the temple, which Christ made a lesson book for the great calamity to come upon Jerusalem and upon its temple when not one stone would be left upon another. It was given in answer to questions about the temple's destruction, among the signs Christ gave in response to those questions.
Those wars and conflicts occurred before Jerusalem's destruction as judgments bringing destruction upon Jerusalem. They were among the beginning of sorrows, which must first come to pass but with the end not yet. They were signs of judgment and destruction, not signs that the Jewish nation would be released from bondage.
Its prophetic eye reaches beyond Jerusalem to the close of this earth's history and to the final visitation of God's wrath at the end of earth's history. Then not merely nations will be destroyed but the whole world, for Christ's vision took in not merely the destruction of Jerusalem but the destruction of a world. The lessons He thus gave are especially applicable to the time upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Signs of Approaching End
Wars and conflicts between nations and kingdoms are among the first events that shake the powers of the earth. Those shaken powers are earthly rulers and angry nations, not the powers of heaven. This shaking of angry nations comes first through war, sword, famine, and pestilence. It is distinct from the later shaking of the sun, moon, and stars and the earth by the voice of God.
The fighting of nations and kingdoms against one another belongs to the beginning of sorrows, not to the end. The famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and storms connected with this setting are only the beginning of what is to come. They were signs of judgment bringing destruction, not signs of release from bondage.
Conflict between nations and kingdoms is part of what is to be expected before the day of the Lord. The conflicts and violence of the present testify that the end is near. They belong to the signs showing that the great crisis is at hand. As the world's great crisis approaches, wars among nations and kingdoms are part of the judgments that come in quick succession.
The rising of nations and kingdoms against one another applies to war and bloodshed amid widespread confusion, want, famine, and pestilence. The chapter in which this is foretold foretells events of great significance. That significance stands in a context that mentions earthquake damage.
Persecution and Faithful Preparation
The warning that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom leads directly into persecution of Christ's followers, who may be imprisoned or killed for His name. The verses that follow place that persecution before the other signs described in the same prediction of coming troubles. To those so persecuted He promises wisdom and strength to endure, with strength given according to the day and none tempted above what can be borne. Their life is safe in God even if their bodies are killed, as they follow Jesus who bore all this and far more.
The broader setting of Luke 21:8-19 describes the grand work in the battle prior to the last closing conflict, when the two armies stand distinct and separate. God's commandment-keeping people will then be so marked off from Sunday observers that many convinced of the truth will come to their side. Many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth. They will be brought before kings and rulers and councils to meet false, absurd, and lying accusations, yet must stand firm as a rock to principle without conferring with flesh and blood. This requires obedience to the express command of God, with intelligent knowledge of His Word given to prepare men and women to contend zealously for the law of Jehovah, to make up the breach made in the law of God and restore the tables of stone to their ancient exalted honorable position.
It is one of the signs Jesus foretold to His disciples while on earth in order to give instruction to those who would afterward believe, to help them prepare for the great conflict. Discerning this sign in this age of the world exposes present dangers and calls for reaching a higher standard.