Aha! Yes - you're right - they did...er...um...oh yes - they did it in the 17th and 16th and 15th and 14th...oh yes and the 20th (big style) and even the 21st... and (going backwards again)... the 1st century...ah! there's an interesting one - did Kingdoms rise against Kingdoms in the 1st century? My God! Yes! Of course they did - couldn't be that the late first/early second century compiler of Jesus' "sayings" was referring to events in his own time could it?....
It depends how you interpret Kingdoms. My understanding is Kingdoms were the Kings and Queens. The Monarchies and it was precisely just before and during the first world war that kingdoms raised against kingdoms and nations against nations. Before it was not worldwide. Can you show me another time like the first world war, that there a world war? Such wars did not continue much after 19th century. Refer to wikipedia:
List of former monarchies - Wikipedia
Even the second world war was not kingdoms against kingdoms.
You are correct, that in earlier times also there were many wars, and many times a kingdom rise against another, but was there a time when At the same time, many kingdoms and nations rise against each other? If yes. Show me when was it?
I wonder if that's why he had Jesus say "this generation [i.e. the one contemporaneous with Jesus] will not pass away" before all the signs he just gave would be fulfilled? (Luke 21:32, Matthew 24:34) - Nah! Couldn't be, could it?
Ok, let's read the passage carefully:
32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer
is nigh:
33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near,
even at the doors.
34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
We have to think, what does Fig Tree have to do with Return of Christ?
The idea is that, the Religion or Word of God is like a good tree. It is planted by the Revelation. Then this Tree has its seasons: Spring, Summer, fall and Winter. For instance the Tree of God was planted by Christ at the time of Spiritual Spring. Then it went through stages, first its summer came, when the spiritual fruits of the Tree of divinity was manifested, and then it went through its spiritual decline, fall and winter passed. At this time, it is the End of it, and it no longer gives Spiritual Fruits.
Likewise, when Moses appeared He planted the Tree of God, and there was a period of Time when the Tree of His Revelation was spiritually fruitful, until at the End it was no longer giving fruits. It was at that Time Jesus came and planted the Tree of God again. You have heard of the story Jesus cursed the Tree because it was not giving fruits?
Thus, going back to the verses: they ask Jesus when will you return? He says, first you will see the summer of my Revelation. The Spiritual fruits of My revelation must first appear, then after that the fall and End comes, when I must return to plant the Tree of God again. You will see the Summer of My Revelation before you spiritually pass away! Here Jesus is not literally speaking of the physical death, but Spiritual death of Christianity! Now, this interpretation is quite in parallel with how Baha'i scriptures explain the meaning of 'Tree', and its seasons and fruits, and Spiritual death of a People.