Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 21:11

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights, and great signs shall there be from heaven..

See the Notes on Matth. 24.6, 7. and Mark 13.8. Time is the best Interpreter of Prophecies: what shall be seen of these before the end of the World. we are yet to observe, but the Destruction of Ierusalem is past many hundreds of years since. What Commotions were before that, we must learn out of Civil His[illegible: 1 letter]orians, who te I us of diverse. Iosephus telleth us of an Insurrection made by those of Iudea against the Samaritans, Romans and Syrians. And of the Romans against the Iews, to the Destruction of Twenty Thousand Jews, as also of those or Scythopoiis, who destroyed of the Iews 13000. Of the Ascalonites who destroyed of them 2500. Of those of Alexandria who destroyed of them 50000. Of those of Damascus, who slew or them 10000. They tell us also of many more Seditions, during the Government of Felix, Festus, Albinus and Florus, &c. The Text speaks further of Earthquakes, the Gr. Word signifyeth no more than Concussions and Shakings, but Historians tell us of several Earthquakes that happened (tho not in Iudea) before the Destruction of Ierusalem. One at Rome in Nero's time; another in Asia which destroyed three Cities, &c. For Famines we read of one in Scripture prophesied of by Agab[illegible: 1 letter]s, Acts 11 28. Twelve years after Christ's Death, there was another in Greece ▪ and four years after, at Rome. For the fearful Sights and great Signs from Heaven. Iosephus tells us of a Comet, which for a year together in the form of a Sword, pointed over the City. A Light that shined in the Night in the Temple, and made it as Bright, as if it had been Noon-day. He tells us also of a Neat-Beast bringing forth a Lamb in the midst of the Temple. Of the strange opening of the Gates of the Temple. Of Visions of Cha[illegible: 1 letter]riots, and Armed Men Of a Voice heard in the Temple, inviting those who were there to be gone. As also of a Man (whom he Names) who for seven years and five Months together, before the Siege went about crying, Wo, wo to Ierusalem, and could with no Punishments (which they thought fit to inflict) be restrained, &c. These were great Signs both from Heaven and Earth.