“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. " We all understand that human history has been dominated by wars between kingdom, nation, group against other kingdom, nation, group. The Greek reveals a bit more information. Interestingly enough the rendering of "kingdom" comes from the Greek word "ethnos". Consider some of the English words derived from ethnos, which basically means "ethnic group". What Jesus is saying is not simply a world typified by war and struggle between nation vs. nation (an age old story), but a struggling between ethnic groups (a relatively new NARRATIVE). Has there ever been a time in history more exemplified by ethnos struggle than now? I don't think so. As we move towards a global concept of mankind, the ethnos struggle NECESSARILY is amplifying. We were all created in Jehovah's image, which is devoid of division between superficiality like eye color, height or skin color. We're all just 'human'. This underlying recognition in all people is becoming more evident as this 'global' conception becomes popularized. Will it express itself with love and a view towards a solution? Absolutely not. Only the kingdom of God, where ethnos means human, will eliminate superficiality. For now 'ethonos' is just another division contributing to the incoming great tribulation. Interesting!
Interesting; YES! In the Greek, the word “ethnos” appears 164 times in the KJV of the Greek/New Testament. It comes from the root word: etho = 1. to be accustomed, used, wont 2. that which is wont 3. usage, custom “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.” ( Mt 27:15 NAS ) “Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them.” ( Mr 10:1 NAS ) “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” ( Lu 4:16 NAS ) “And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,” ( Ac 17:2 NAS )