John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows ,.... They were only a prelude unto them, and forerunners of them; they were only some foretastes of what would be, and were far from being the worst that should be endured. These were but light, in comparison of what befell the Jews, in their dreadful destruction. The word here used, signifies the sorrows and pains of a woman in travail. The Jews expect great sorrows and distresses in the times of the Messiah, and use a word to express them by, which... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:7
This seems to be a distinct and third sign, foreboding the general calamity of the Jews; that there should be not only seditions and intestine wars, in the midst of their country, but there should be wars in other nations, one with another; and with the Jews, and the Jews with them: and this also is made a sign of the Messiah's coming by them, for so they say F11 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 42. fol. 37. 1. ; "when thou seest, מלכיות מתגרות אלו באלו , "kingdoms stirred up one against... read more