This verse isn't just predicting grand conflicts between empires; it highlights the intensely personal scale of war. The wording "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" points to widespread, chaotic upheaval where even smaller political units clash, meaning these weren't just distant battles but turmoil that would touch everyday lives and communities.
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just predicted the complete destruction of the magnificent temple, causing his disciples to ask when these events will happen and what signs will accompany them. In response, Jesus begins to describe a series of tumultuous events that will unfold, starting with widespread conflict between nations and kingdoms. These signs are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of coming sorrows and tribulations.
Jesus' followers were focused on the magnificent temple, but Jesus shifts their attention to a future filled with turmoil. What kind of 'trouble' was He talking about?
Jesus' disciples, marveling at the temple's grandeur, asked about its future. Jesus, however, pointed them toward a much larger, unfolding series of events. He wasn't just predicting the temple's destruction; He was describing a cascade of troubles that would affect the world.
A Pattern of Conflict
These weren't isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern that would signal significant times of distress and change.
Wars and kingdom conflicts are serious, but Jesus groups them with other unsettling events. What does this grouping tell us about His message?
Jesus doesn't just mention wars; He places them within a broader context of upheaval. This verse, Luke 21:10, is part of a larger prophetic discourse where Jesus links political and military conflicts with other devastating occurrences.
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The 'Beginnings of Sorrows'
These widespread conflicts are described as the 'beginnings of sorrows' (often translated as 'birth pangs'). This imagery suggests:
By placing 'nation against nation' alongside other natural and societal disasters, Jesus emphasizes that these are interconnected signs of a world in distress, pointing toward ultimate divine action.
Understand the original words
ethnos · Greek Noun
A people group, ethnicity, or Gentile culture. Throughout history, the conflict between nations is a hallmark of the fallen state of the world, often serving as a precursor to God's final judgment.
basileia · Greek Noun
A sovereign state or dominion. It is used in Scripture to contrast the kingdoms of this world with the Kingdom of God, which is eternal and unchanging.
seismos · Greek Noun
The shaking of the earth, often used in biblical literature to signify God’s presence, judgment, or the upheaval of the created order during the end times.
limos · Greek Noun
Extreme scarcity of food, often cited in Scripture as a manifestation of judgment or divine displeasure, and a recurring feature in prophecies regarding the end of the age.
loimos · Greek Noun
Widespread, deadly diseases or plagues; in prophetic contexts, these are frequently associated with divine judgment and the signs preceding the return of Christ.
phobētron · Greek Noun
A state of intense fear or dread; in the apocalyptic context, these refer to manifestations that cause terror among the nations.
sēmeion · Greek Noun
Miraculous or extraordinary events intended to point beyond themselves, often serving as authenticating proofs of God's authority or warnings of impending judgment.
Jesus' prophecy of nations rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms points to the escalating political instability and violent conflicts that would plague Judea, culminating in the devastating First Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of the Temple.
c. 63 BC
Roman Intervention in Judea
Roman general Pompey intervenes in a dispute between Jewish factions, leading to Roman dominance over Judea and the establishment of a client kingdom.
AD 6
Judea Becomes a Roman Province
Following the deposition of Herod Archelaus, Judea is directly incorporated into the Roman province of Syria, increasing Roman military presence and taxation.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus delivers his Olivet Discourse, prophesying future destruction and turmoil, including widespread conflict, shortly before his crucifixion.
AD 40s-60s
Sporadic Jewish Rebellions and Unrest
The period sees increasing tensions between Jewish nationalist groups and Roman authorities, including riots and localized uprisings.
AD 66-73
The First Jewish-Roman War
A major rebellion breaks out across Judea, leading to widespread conflict, significant loss of life, and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.
This passage is a direct parallel, with Matthew's Gospel including these same pronouncements of war and civil unrest as signs of the times.
Mark 13:8Mark's Gospel also records this prophecy, emphasizing that these disturbances are 'the beginning of sorrows,' highlighting the escalating nature of the crises.
Jeremiah 4:19This Old Testament passage uses similar imagery of inner turmoil and conflict, showing God's judgment through the breakdown of societal order, which foreshadows Jesus' words.
2 Chronicles 15:6This historical account describes divine judgment through widespread conflict, illustrating how God uses national and kingdom-level strife to address sin and rebellion, a theme echoed in Jesus' prophecy.
pooleLuke 21:10: "Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:"
See Poole on "Luke 21:9"
bengelLuke 21:10: "Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:"
Luke 21:10 . Τότε ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς , then said He to them ) It is indicated by the introduction of this formula, that a short pause intervened before He spake. So in Luke 21:29 .
This verse isn't just predicting grand conflicts between empires; it highlights the intensely personal scale of war. The wording "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" points to widespread, chaotic upheaval where even smaller political units clash, meaning these weren't just distant battles but turmoil that would touch everyday lives and communities.
Jesus has just predicted the complete destruction of the magnificent temple, causing his disciples to ask when these events will happen and what signs will accompany them. In response, Jesus begins to describe a series of tumultuous events that will unfold, starting with widespread conflict between nations and kingdoms. These signs are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of coming sorrows and tribulations.
Jesus has just predicted the complete destruction of the magnificent temple, causing his disciples to ask when these events will happen and what signs will accompany them. In response, Jesus begins to describe a series of tumultuous events that will unfold, starting with widespread conflict between nations and kingdoms. These signs are not the immediate end, but rather the initial stages of coming sorrows and tribulations.
"Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." — This verse isn't just predicting grand conflicts between empires; it highlights the intensely personal scale of war. The wording "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" points…
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Last reviewed October 2026
