3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4"Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"
5And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 6For many will come in My name, saying, "I am He,' and will deceive many. 7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9"But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Wars, earthquakes, famines, and troubles... all of which we have seen suffered throughout our world. Some have asked if these are signs that we are nearing the end of the world. Jesus said these do not indicate the end, but the beginnings of sorrows. He does not say if this all occurs right before the end or if it lasts for generations. So even if we are seeing these signs now, it does not indicate how near the end we are.
Beginnings of sorrows... There are many times when sorrowful things happen in our lives and in the world around us. Suffering of a loved one, senseless deaths, great losses, mass destruction. We wonder how a loving God can let such things happen. Here Jesus talks about great calamities, but He says do not be troubled, for such things must happen. We cannot understand God or His reasons. We cannot control God with our own will. But somehow, some things must happen. God does care for us. When things must happen, he is trying to tell us to not be troubled.
He does not want us to be troubled with these things that are beyond our control. But there is something that is within our control, that which we can watch out for ourselves, and that is to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. Take heed that no one deceives you. God does not want us to be lead astray. And what do we do when our faith is put to the test? We let the Holy Spirit guide us. He is always with us.
Deaths from brother betraying brother, father betraying child, children rising up against parents... As Jesus said in Mark 13:1-2: "Not one stone shall be left upon another, that will not be thrown down." Our foundations will be knocked out from under us. We will be hated for our faith in Christ. But through this all we must endure if we wish to be saved. I don't think it is that God wants us to have to endure such things, but such things must happen.
Will I personally be here in the end times and have to endure all these sufferings? Will I personally be delivered up to councils, beaten in synagogues, need to testify to rulers and kings for Jesus' sake, or preach the gospel to other nations? I can't imagine it. But Jesus said, don't be troubled. And if I were to be brought before rulers and kings, not to worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit would speak for me. So if I were to be here during these times, I guess Jesus is telling me that I should not worry, just endure, watch out for myself, and let the Holy Spirit guide me.