For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" isn't just about general unrest, but a deliberate escalation from internal strife (nation against nation) to open warfare between larger powers (kingdom against kingdom), a pattern that escalates throughout history. This isn't merely a list of disasters; it’s a depiction of escalating, interconnected turmoil, a prelude to greater things.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age. He's already warned them about deception and the need for endurance, and now he describes the intensifying chaos that will precede these events. These signs of war, famine, and natural disasters will become more frequent and severe, serving as a wake-up call.
When Jesus spoke of 'nation against nation' and 'kingdom against kingdom,' he wasn't just talking about minor squabbles. He was describing a world on the brink.
This isn't just a general prediction of conflict; it points to a specific escalation of violence.
The Scope of Strife
Beyond human conflict, Jesus points to natural disasters as signs. But these weren't just random events; they were part of a larger pattern.
The mention of 'famines and earthquakes' isn't just a list of unfortunate occurrences. It highlights how God's creation itself groans under the weight of sin and anticipates restoration.
Signs in the Natural World
Ask a follow-up
Jesus didn't present these events as the end, but as something else entirely. What did he mean by the 'beginning of sorrows'?
The crucial takeaway is Jesus' framing of these catastrophic events. They are not the final judgment, but precursors to something more significant.
A Warning, Not the End
Understand the original words
ethnos · Greek Noun
The grouping of people based on shared heritage, language, or territory; in biblical terms, often refers to the Gentile world or political entities that stand outside the covenant people.
Jesus' words in Matthew 24:7 weren't just abstract predictions; they painted a vivid picture of the chaos and suffering that would erupt in the years leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem. This period was marked by widespread political violence, natural disasters, and social upheaval, serving as a stark warning and a sign of the impending judgment on the unfaithful nation.
c. 38 AD
Alexandrian Riots
Severe conflict between Jews and Greeks in Alexandria, Egypt, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Jews. This illustrates the intense ethnic and religious tensions across the Roman Empire.
c. 41-54 AD
Famines in the Roman Empire
The reign of Emperor Claudius was marked by multiple severe famines, including one prophesied by Agabus which affected Judea and Rome, causing widespread suffering and death.
c. 58 AD
Earthquakes in Asia Minor
A series of devastating earthquakes struck cities across the Roman province of Asia, including Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, causing immense destruction and loss of life.
c. 60-66 AD
Jewish-Roman Tensions Escalate
Growing unrest and violent clashes between Jewish factions and Roman authorities, as well as internal Jewish strife and conflicts with neighboring peoples (e.g., Samaritans), foreshadowed the coming war.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome and Subsequent Persecution
While not directly a famine or earthquake, this event, along with a subsequent plague that killed 30,000, signifies the widespread turmoil and divine judgment beginning to manifest.
66-73 AD— this verse
First Jewish-Roman War
The full-scale rebellion of the Jewish people against the Roman Empire, characterized by intense warfare, internal strife ('nation against nation' within Judea), and immense loss of life.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The culmination of the First Jewish-Roman War, with the Roman army under Titus conquering Jerusalem and utterly destroying the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy.
This Old Testament passage prophesies internal strife and confusion within Egypt, mirroring the 'nation against nation' theme and showing a consistent pattern of societal upheaval in prophetic literature.
Luke 21:10-11This parallel account in Luke's Gospel expands on Jesus' words, adding 'fearful sights and great signs from heaven,' which amplifies the sense of widespread chaos and divine judgment implied in Matthew's description.
Acts 11:27-28This passage records a specific prophecy of famine by Agabus, which aligns with Jesus' prediction and demonstrates how such natural disasters were understood as signs within the early Christian community.
2 Timothy 3:1-5This New Testament text describes 'terrible times' in the last days, characterized by self-centeredness and a lack of love, providing a spiritual parallel to the societal breakdown foretold in Matthew 24:7.
Revelation 6:3-8These verses describe the opening of the first four seals, bringing forth conquest, war, famine, and death upon the earth, echoing the chaotic events Jesus foretold and illustrating the broader apocalyptic context.
barnesMatthew 24:7: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom - At Caesarea the Jews and Syrians contended about the right to the city, and twenty thousand of the Jews were slain. At this blow the whole nation of the Jews was exasperated, and carried war and desolation through the Syrian cities and villages. Sedition and civil war spr…
calvinMatthew 24:1-8: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple."
- 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 disci…
The phrase "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" isn't just about general unrest, but a deliberate escalation from internal strife (nation against nation) to open warfare between larger powers (kingdom against kingdom), a pattern that escalates throughout history. This isn't merely a list of disasters; it’s a depiction of escalating, interconnected turmoil, a prelude to greater things.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age. He's already warned them about deception and the need for endurance, and now he describes the intensifying chaos that will precede these events. These signs of war, famine, and natural disasters will become more frequent and severe, serving as a wake-up call.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age. He's already warned them about deception and the need for endurance, and now he describes the intensifying chaos that will precede these events. These signs of war, famine, and natural disasters will become more frequent and severe, serving as a wake-up call.
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." — The phrase "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" isn't just about general unrest, but a deliberate escalation from internal strife (nation against nation) to open warfare bet…
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Last reviewed October 2026