And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say "wars will happen," but specifically highlights "wars and rumors of wars." This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes that the fear and uncertainty surrounding conflict, even without direct engagement, are part of the signs, intended to test our peace and faith. It’s not just the external events, but the internal impact of hearing about them that matters.
And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe-struck questions about the magnificent temple by predicting its utter destruction. As he sits with them on the Mount of Olives, they ask for the timing and signs of this destruction, as well as the end of the age. Jesus begins by warning them against deception and then describes a series of escalating global disturbances—wars, famines, earthquakes—stating these are just the beginning of troubles, not the final end.
Wars, famines, earthquakes... sounds like a headline today, right? Jesus knew these weren't just random events, but necessary steps.
Jesus tells His disciples, 'these things must needs be.' This isn't a resignation to chaos, but a divine ordaining.
God's Sovereign Hand
These events are part of God's unfolding plan. They are not accidents but are permitted or decreed by Him. This doesn't mean God causes evil directly, but that He sovereignly works through them, even amidst human sin and suffering.
A Sign, Not the End
This 'must be' indicates that these troubles are not the final curtain call. They are precursors, part of the ongoing narrative before the ultimate culmination. The disciples were tempted to see any disaster as the end, but Jesus clarifies that these are signs pointing towards the end, not the end itself.
Hearing about wars and rumors of wars can send anyone into a panic. Jesus offers a radical alternative: don't be alarmed.
Jesus' command, 'do not be alarmed,' is crucial. It's not a denial of reality, but a call to internal stability in the midst of external chaos.
Peace Beyond Understanding
This is about a deep-seated peace that isn't dependent on world conditions. It's a peace that comes from trust in God's ultimate control and His promises, even when the news sounds dire.
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Active Faith Amidst Fear
'Not be troubled' means to resist the panic and anxiety that naturally arise. It's an active choice to anchor one's soul in God, rather than being swept away by fear. This enables believers to continue their mission, focused on proclaiming the Gospel regardless of surrounding turmoil.
Understand the original words
polemos · Greek Noun
A persistent state of social, political, or military conflict, often symbolizing the chaotic and broken nature of a world living apart from the peace of God. Wars are part of the unfolding history leading toward the final judgment and the return of Christ.
telos · Greek Noun
In eschatological contexts, the 'end' refers to the culmination of human history, the final consummation of God's redemptive plan, and the establishment of the kingdom of God in its fullness.
Jesus' words in Mark 13:7 weren't just about future apocalyptic events; they were a direct response to the immediate anxieties of his followers living under Roman occupation and on the brink of war.
c. 4 BC - AD 30
Roman Rule and Jewish Unrest
Judea was under Roman occupation, a source of constant tension and sporadic revolts. This period saw the rise of various Jewish factions seeking different ways to achieve freedom from foreign rule.
AD 38
Alexandrian Riots
Significant riots broke out in Alexandria, Egypt, where Jews were specifically targeted and persecuted. This demonstrated the fragility of Jewish communities within the Roman Empire.
AD 41-54
Reign of Claudius and Famines
The emperor Claudius's reign saw multiple famines, including one specifically impacting Judea around AD 44. These widespread food shortages added to the general unrest and suffering.
AD 60-63
Earthquakes and Roman Speculation
Several destructive earthquakes struck the region, including one in Campania in AD 63 that devastated Pompeii. These natural disasters amplified anxieties about the times.
c. AD 64— this verse
Nero's Persecution and Rumors of War
Following the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero scapegoated Christians, leading to persecution. Simultaneously, rumors of war and political instability circulated throughout the empire.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The simmering tensions erupted into full-scale war. This devastating conflict saw widespread violence, sieges, and ultimately the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple.
This passage directly parallels Mark 13:7, also listing 'wars and rumors of wars' as signs before the end, emphasizing that these are not to cause alarm as they must happen.
Luke 21:9Similar to Mark, Luke's account also includes 'wars and rumors of wars' but adds the caution that the end is not immediately, highlighting the distinction between initial troubles and the ultimate conclusion.
Jeremiah 4:19-20This Old Testament prophecy echoes the distress and alarm caused by sounds of war and invasion, offering a historical example of the fear such events can instill and the need for a proper response.
Isaiah 8:11-12This passage provides a direct command not to be alarmed or fearful when hearing of wars and disturbances, much like Jesus' instruction in Mark 13:7, urging trust in God instead of succumbing to fear.
ellicottMark 13:7: "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet."
(7) For such things must needs be. —Better, for it must needs be.
calvinMark 13:1-8: "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"
- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him, to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 3. And while he was sitting on the mountain of Olives, the…
The verse doesn't just say "wars will happen," but specifically highlights "wars and rumors of wars." This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes that the fear and uncertainty surrounding conflict, even without direct engagement, are part of the signs, intended to test our peace and faith. It’s not just the external events, but the internal impact of hearing about them that matters.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe-struck questions about the magnificent temple by predicting its utter destruction. As he sits with them on the Mount of Olives, they ask for the timing and signs of this destruction, as well as the end of the age. Jesus begins by warning them against deception and then describes a series of escalating global disturbances—wars, famines, earthquakes—stating these are just the beginning of troubles, not the final end.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awe-struck questions about the magnificent temple by predicting its utter destruction. As he sits with them on the Mount of Olives, they ask for the timing and signs of this destruction, as well as the end of the age. Jesus begins by warning them against deception and then describes a series of escalating global disturbances—wars, famines, earthquakes—stating these are just the beginning of troubles, not the final end.
"And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet." — The verse doesn't just say "wars will happen," but specifically highlights "wars and rumors of wars." This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes that the fear and uncertainty surrounding c…
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Last reviewed October 2026