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. 12. When this sign appeared, what were the disciples to do? “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea _flee into the mountains_.” Matt. 24:15, 16. NOTE.—In October, 66 A.D., when Cestius came against the city, but for some unaccountable reason suddenly withdrew his army from it, the Christians discerned in this the sign foretold by Christ, and fled. After the departure of Cestius, Josephus, in his “Wars of the Jews,” chapter 20, says that “many of the most eminent of the Jews swam away from the city, as from a ship when it is going to sink.” It is a remarkable fact that in the terrible siege which occurred under Titus three and one-half years later, not a single Christian is known to have lost his life, while 1,100,000 Jews are said to have perished in it. Here is a most striking lesson on the value and importance of studying and believing the prophecies, and giving heed to the signs of the times. Those who believed what Christ had said, and watched for the sign which He had foretold, were saved, while the unbelieving perished. So it will be in the end of the world. The watchful and believing will be delivered, while the careless and unbelieving will be snared and taken. See Matt. 24:36-44; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thess. 5:1-6. 13. When the sign appeared, how suddenly were they to flee? “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” Verses 17, 18. 14. Besides telling His disciples when to flee, how did Christ further show His solicitude and tender care for them? “But pray ye that your flight be not in _the winter_, neither on _the Sabbath day_.” Verse 20.