For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
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.