The Beginning Of Sorrows!

Mark 13:5, “And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

First, we must look at the context of these verses in relation to their immediate application. Christ was alluding to the immediate future when many of these circumstances would occur but also alluding to events that would occur at the end of the age. We can conclude that these scriptures were partially fulfilled when the Romans destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70. The Jews were scattered to every corner of the world and only began to return to their homeland in 1948. Since that time, God has been bringing them home.

The tribulations and calamities which preceded and accompanied the overthrow of Israel at that time are a sign and warning of the great and universal woes which will bring in the great day of the Lord and the judgment of God. The reference alludes to the beginning of something much worse which is yet to come. 

Ellicott's Commentary states that the words, “the beginning of sorrows” mean strictly, the beginning of travail pangs. Paul speaks of the whole creation as travailing in pain together. So a time of national suffering and perplexity is one in which the children are come to the birth. Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (continued)