For nations will wage war against one another, and kingdoms will attack one another. And earthquakes will happen at various places [in the world], and there will be famines. These things are [only] the beginning of terrible times.
Luke 21:10 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Nations will wage war against one another and kingdoms will attack one another. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [II Chron. 15:6; Isa. 19:2.] American Standard Version (1901) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; Common English Bible Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other. Catholic Public Domain Version Then he said to them: "People will rise up against people, and kingdom against kingdom. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. |
For nations will wage war against one another, and kingdoms will attack one another. And earthquakes will happen at various places [in the world], and there will be famines. These things are [only] the beginning of terrible times.
And great earthquakes will happen, and at various places there will be famines and disease epidemics. And there will be fearful events and great [supernatural] signs from heaven.
And when you hear of wars and uprisings [going on], do not be afraid, for such things must necessarily happen first. But the end will not come right away.” [Note: By “the end” here Jesus probably alludes to the downfall of Jerusalem, in AD 70, with its attending destruction of the Temple buildings].
One of them, a man named Agabus, stood up and indicated by [the direction of] the Holy Spirit that there was going to be a severe worldwide famine, which [actually] took place during the time that Claudius ruled.
Now the words, “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken --- that is, the created universe --- so that those things which cannot be shaken will remain. [Note: These “things” have been variously interpreted to be eternal truth, the heavenly kingdom, the new heavens and earth, etc.].