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)
This verse highlights "fearful sights," a term used nowhere else in the New Testament, which isn't just about things seen, but about terrifying experiences that prey on the mind. It's a reminder that the distress Jesus predicts isn't only external catastrophes but also internal anxieties and dread.
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 is responding to his disciples' awe at the Temple's beauty by predicting its utter destruction and the coming tribulation. This verse, detailing "great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences," and "terrors and great signs from heaven," describes the widespread natural disasters and alarming phenomena that will signal these difficult times. These events are part of a larger prophetic discourse about the signs of the end times and the ultimate return of Christ.
Jesus speaks of world-shattering events that sound like the end of everything. But what kind of 'signs' is He pointing to?
Jesus' disciples were asking about the destruction of the temple and the end of the age. In Luke 21:11, Jesus describes a series of devastating events: 'great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences.'
Not Just Local Disasters
These aren't just isolated incidents. The phrase 'in various places' (or 'in divers places' in some translations) emphasizes that these calamities will be widespread and frequent. Historical accounts from the time of Jesus and shortly after confirm that earthquakes, famines, and plagues were indeed rampant across the Roman world. They were unmistakable signs of a world in distress.
Beyond Natural Disasters
Jesus also mentions 'terrors and great signs from heaven.' This points to events that inspire awe and fear, not just earthly catastrophes but potentially celestial phenomena as well. The original Greek word for 'terrors' can refer to things that inspire fear or objects of dread, sometimes even things imagined by the sick. These signs, both earthly and heavenly, are meant to be noticed and to provoke deep thought about the times and God's sovereignty.
Why would Jesus describe such terrifying events? Is He trying to scare us, or is there a deeper purpose behind these pronouncements?
Jesus' description of earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and celestial signs in Luke 21:11 isn't just a gloomy prediction; it's a profound warning and a call to attention.
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A Heavenly Hendiadys
Some scholars note that the phrase 'terrors and great signs from heaven' might be what's called a 'hendiadys' in Greek – where two words are used to express one strong idea. Think of it like saying 'the power and might' to emphasize overwhelming strength. Here, it suggests signs that are both terrifying and divinely significant, meant to arrest our attention.
More Than Just Rumors
These aren't meant to be mere abstract warnings or things to dismiss. They are described as 'great signs.' This implies they carry weight and meaning, pointing beyond themselves to the unfolding of God's plan. Jesus is not just describing random events but signaling a time of profound upheaval that demands our spiritual awareness and preparedness.
Understand the original words
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' words describe a period of intense tribulation, marked by natural disasters and societal collapse, which resonated deeply with his audience facing the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the Roman war.
c. 60 BC - AD 70
Period of Roman Instability and Expansion
This era saw significant political upheaval and military campaigns across the Roman Empire, which often led to widespread disruption, famine, and displacement.
c. AD 17
Great Earthquake in Asia Minor
Tacitus records a devastating earthquake that struck several cities in western Asia Minor, including Sardis and Philadelphia. This event would have been widely known.
c. AD 41-54
Famines during Claudius' Reign
The Roman historian Suetonius mentions that famines occurred during the reign of Emperor Claudius, one of which was particularly severe in Rome.
c. AD 60-61
Earthquakes in Hierapolis and Laodicea
These cities in Asia Minor were destroyed by earthquakes during this period, as recorded by Tacitus, indicating a time of geological unrest.
c. AD 66-70— this verse
First Jewish-Roman War and Siege of Jerusalem
This catastrophic war involved widespread devastation, intense violence, famine within besieged cities, and numerous 'terrors' and 'signs' as interpreted by Jewish witnesses like Josephus.
c. AD 79
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
The catastrophic eruption destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, causing immense destruction and 'fearful sights' that were witnessed across the region.
This passage directly parallels Luke's description of future disturbances, listing earthquakes, famines, and pestilences as signs preceding greater events.
Isaiah 19:17This Old Testament passage speaks of fear and trembling coming upon Egypt, using a similar concept of 'fearful things' or 'terrors' originating from God's judgment.
Revelation 6:8This passage describes a pale horse whose rider is Death, followed by Hades, with authority given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts, echoing the calamities mentioned in Luke.
Acts 11:28This verse mentions a prophet named Agabus who foretold a great famine that would occur throughout the world, demonstrating that famines were recognized signs in the early church period.
vincentLuke 21:11: "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."
EarthquakesSee on Mark 13:7.Famines and pestilences (λιμοὶ καὶ λοιμοὶ)Some texts reverse the order of the words. A paronomasia or combination of like-sounding words: limoi, loimoi. Especially common in Paul's epistles.Fearful sights (φοβητρά)Only here in New Testament, and rare in classical Greek. In Septuagint, Isaiah 19:17. Not confine…
barnesLuke 21:11: "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."
Fearful sights - See Matthew 24:7 .
This verse highlights "fearful sights," a term used nowhere else in the New Testament, which isn't just about things seen, but about terrifying experiences that prey on the mind. It's a reminder that the distress Jesus predicts isn't only external catastrophes but also internal anxieties and dread.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe at the Temple's beauty by predicting its utter destruction and the coming tribulation. This verse, detailing "great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences," and "terrors and great signs from heaven," describes the widespread natural disasters and alarming phenomena that will signal these difficult times. These events are part of a larger prophetic discourse about the signs of the end times and the ultimate return of Christ.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe at the Temple's beauty by predicting its utter destruction and the coming tribulation. This verse, detailing "great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences," and "terrors and great signs from heaven," describes the widespread natural disasters and alarming phenomena that will signal these difficult times. These events are part of a larger prophetic discourse about the signs of the end times and the ultimate return of Christ.
"There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." — This verse highlights "fearful sights," a term used nowhere else in the New Testament, which isn't just about things seen, but about terrifying experiences that prey on the mind. It's a reminder th…
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Last reviewed October 2026