5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly
stones and offerings, he said, 6 As for these things which ye
behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here
one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they
asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be?
and what _shall_ be the sign when these things are about to come
to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for
many shall come in my name, saying, I am _he_; and, The time is at
hand: go ye not after them. 9 And when ye shall hear of wars and
tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to
pass first; but the end is not immediately.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom; 11 and there shall be great earthquakes,
and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be
terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these
things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute
you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you
before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It shall turn
out unto you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts,
not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a
mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to
withstand or to gainsay. 16 But ye shall be delivered up even by
parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and _some_ of
you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated
of all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head
shall perish. 19 In your patience ye shall win your souls.
The occasion of this prophetic message was the question asked by the
disciples, as they gazed on the splendor of the Temple, concerning the
destruction of which Jesus had spoken as he declared that the days would
come “in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that
shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when
therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these
things are about to come to pass?” In the words of Matthew, they also
asked, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the
world?”
First of all, then, Jesus sketched for his disciples the character of this
present age down to its very end, and described the experiences of his
followers urging them to be faithful to him amidst all the commotions and
trials of the coming years until he should return. According to his
description the age will be characterized by the appearance of many
deceivers who will claim the allegiance of his followers and assume to
take the place of Christ. Furthermore, there will be wars and tumults but
by these believers are not to be terrified. It is always a temptation of
shallow minds to interpret every unusual event as a sign of the
approaching end of the world. Our Lord assured his disciples that all
through the passing years such events would happen without warranting the
conclusion that the great event is near; as he declared, “The end is not
immediately;” there would be a long period of delay; there would be a
political commotion, “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom.” There would also be earthquakes, famines, pestilences,
and “great signs from heaven,” but these again must be regarded as
characteristics of the present age and not as signs of its approaching
end.
Furthermore, the followers of Christ must suffer bitter persecution and be
brought before kings and governors for his name’s sake. They must continue
steadfast in their testimony. They need not be troubled as to the exact
form of their witness but must trust the unseen Master to give them all
needed wisdom as they speak boldly in his name.
Most distressing of all, they must suffer from the treachery of “parents
and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends” and some of them must taste the
bitter cup of martyrdom; they will be hated of all men, yet their souls
will not perish. By their steadfast endurance they will win eternal
salvation. It is true, the picture is one of great hardship and distress
but its message has encouraged sufferers who in all ages have been
faithful in their testimony and have found the comfort and inspiration
which is possible for all as they look for the coming and Kingdom of
Christ.