8. In what language did Christ briefly describe the experiences of His people previous to these calamities?
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Verses 9-12.
9. Who did He say would be saved?
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Verse 13.
10. When did Christ say the end would come?
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Verse 14.
Notes.—In 60 a.d. Paul carried the gospel to Rome, which was then the capital of the world. In a.d. 64 he wrote of the saints of “Cæsar's household” (Phil. 4:22); and the same year he says that the gospel had been “preached to every creature which is under heaven.” Col. 1:23. Very soon after this (October, 66 a.d.) the Romans began their attacks against Jerusalem; and three and one-half years later the overthrow of the city and of the Jewish nation followed in the notable five months' siege under Titus, in the spring and summer of 70 a.d.
Thus it was respecting the end of the Jewish nation; and thus it will be in the end of the world as a whole. When the gospel, or good news, of Christ's coming kingdom has been preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, the end of the world—of all nations—will come. As the end of the Jewish nation came with overwhelming destruction, so will come the end of the world. Armageddon, the battle of the nations, will be fought, and the world will be swept with the besom of destruction under the seven last plagues. See readings on pages [296], [301].
11. What sign did Christ mention by which His disciples might know when the destruction of Jerusalem was near?
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Luke 21:20.