For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Our Lord Jesus, in reply to their question, sets himself, not so much to satisfy their curiosity as to direct their consciences; leaves them still in the dark concerning the times and seasons, which the father has kept in his own power, and which it was not for them to know; but gives them the cautions which were needful, with reference to the events that...
Commenting on Mark 13:5-13
For nation shall rise against nation,.... The nations of the world one against another, and the Romans against the Jews, and the Jews against them: and kingdom against kingdom; which is a synonymous phrase with the former, and what the Jews call, , "different words", expressing the same thing, often used in their commentaries: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places; of the world...
Verse 8. (1) "beginning of sorrows" "The word in the original importeth" the pains of a woman in travail.