For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in various places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Read Chapter 13
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Epist., cxcix, 9: In answer to the disciples, the Lord tells them of things which were from that time forth to have their course; whether He meant the destruction of Jerusalem which occasioned their question, or His own coming through the Church, (in which Heever comes even unto the end, for we know that He comes in His own, when His members are born day by day,) or the end itself, in which He will appear to judge the quick and the dead.
Because the Lord, when some were praising the buildings of the temple, had plainly answered that all these wereto be destroyed, the disciples privately enquired about the time and the signs of the destruction which was foretold. Wherefore it is said: “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? "The Lord sits upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, when He discourses upon the ruin and destruction of the temple, so that even His bodily position may be in accordance with the words which He speaks, pointing out mystically that, abiding in peace with the saints, He hates the madness of the proud. For the mount of Olives marks the fruitful sublimity of the Holy Church.
For many came forward, when destruction was hanging over Jerusalem, saying that they were Christs, and that the time of freedom was n...
But before answering their question, He strengthens their minds that they may not be deceived. Wherefore there follows: “And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you? "And this He says, because when the sufferings of the Jews began, some arose professing to be teachers. Wherefore there follows: “For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”.
That is, the Romans against the Jews, which Josephus relates happened before the destruction of Jerusalem. For when the Jews refused to pay tribute, the Romans arose, in anger; but because at that time they were merciful, they took indeed their spoils, but did not destroy Jerusalem. What follows shows that God fought against the Jews, forit is said, “And there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines.”
