But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Parallel translations
- WEB When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
- BSB When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
- NKJV But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
- NASB And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
- NLT And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wars and unrest will come, but they should not cause terror, for the end is not yet.
Overview
Jesus tells His disciples that upheavals must occur but do not by themselves signal the final end. Such events mark the present age, not the immediate consummation. The call is to steady faith rather than panic when the world is in turmoil.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 21:28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
- Matt 24:6–8And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
- Mark 13:7–8And 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.
- Isa 51:12–13I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
- Luke 21:18–19But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
- Prov 3:25–26Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
- Ps 46:1–2God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Ps 27:1–3The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Jer 4:19–20My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
- Ps 112:7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
- Isa 8:12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
- Luke 21:8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 21:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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