Mark 13

Mark 13:1

Having turned over tables and driven the moneychangers from the temple, perhaps it was because Jesus’ disciples thought He had acted somewhat harshly that they drew His attention to the magnificence of the temple itself. Valued at over one trillion dollars by today’s standards, the temple was without a doubt the greatest single building ever constructed. With brass gates one hundred thirty feet high, stones forty feet long and twenty feet thick cut so perfectly that not even a knife blade could fit between them, the temple was nothing less than magnificent indeed.

Mark 13:2

The size of the temple is beyond our imagining. Even the Wailing Wall, which was simply the foundation stones of the temple, dwarfs all who stand near it. Yet Jesus said it would come crashing down. And indeed it did. Within forty years of this statement, Roman troops, led by General Titus, would not only destroy Jerusalem, but, against Titus’ orders, would throw a torch inside the temple, causing a fire so intense that the gold melted within. Thus, it was to get to the gold that trickled down its walls that the Romans razed the temple, leaving not one stone standing on another.

Mark 13:3

Here we arrive at the Olivet Discourseparalleled in Matthew 24 and Luke 21where the longest answer Jesus would ever give deals with end times and future events. Concerning the Olivet Discourse, so named because Jesus gave it as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, I believe it is important to study it four ways… First, it must be studied contextually. That is, it’s important to bear in mind that it was four Jewish men asking their Jewish Rabbi when all things would be fulfilled or finalized. Second, it must be studied comparatively. That is, it must be seen in light of prophecy given previously. It’s always dangerous to isolate any passage of Scripture from other passages that give additional information regarding the same topic. Third, it must be studied practically. Four times in this passage, Jesus says, “Take heed.” Therefore, the purpose was not to stimulate controversy or to titillate curiosity. The purpose was to awaken the disciplesand those who would follow. Finally, it must be studied eschatologically. That is, it must be seen in light of future events. The Olivet Discourse deals with the Tribulationthe seven-year period following the Rapture of the church when God will pour out His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting sinful world. Verses Mar_13:5-13 deal with the beginning of the Tribulation, Mar_13:14-18 with the middle, and Mar_13:19-27 with the end.

Mark 13:5

History shows that in the first one hundred years after Jesus spoke these words, no less than sixty-four men came on the scene claiming to be Messiah. And we see a continuance of this today by those who propagate the age-old New Age lie that we all have a “God-consciousness” within us and are all, therefore, deity.

Mark 13:7

A government study was conducted by fifteen experts representing a wide range of disciplines, including a historian, political theorist, sociologist, economist, professor of international law, biochemist, cultural anthropologist, and industrialist. The group was told to waste no time agonizing over cultural and religious values. It was to give the same kind of treatment to the hypothetical problem of peace should peace break out as has been given to the hypothetical problems of war. The conclusion of this blue-ribbon panel was that wars would cease if the will to make them cease was there. But since war itself is at the very root of mankind’s social system, it is not likely that peace will ever be a serious goal because no substitute is known that can better stabilize and control national economies than war. History has shown war to be the foundation of every stable governmentthat every governing body that has failed to sustain the continuing threat of an external war has lost control of its constituency.

Even the world realizes war is a necessary evil. Therefore, although generation after generation cries for peace, there cannot be true peace until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, returns.

Mark 13:8

Linguistically, this could speak just as accurately of a nation at war with itself internally as of two separate nations at war. Could “kingdom” speak of a return to monarchies? Very possibly. Studies have shown that, although agricultural scientists are able to develop super strains of wheat and grains, the high price of oil necessary to produce the petroleum-based fertilizers required to make them grow rule them out as viable alternatives to famine. Matthew refers to “troubles” as “pestilences” (Mat_24:7). We call them plagues. These are the beginning of sorrows, or “labor pains.” “But there have always been earthquakes,” you say. And there have. “There has always been famine,” you say. There has. “There have always been war and rumors of war.” There have. But what Jesus is saying is that, like birth pains, these things will increase in frequency and intensity as the Tribulation period draws nearer.

Mark 13:9

Keep in mind that Jesus is speaking to Jewsas evidenced by His reference to synagogues. This distinction is important because the Rapture of the church does not need to wait until Christians are “delivered to councils,” or “brought before rulers.” Neither is it dependent upon the gospel being published among all nations. Oh, the gospel will indeed be published. But it will be by the 144,000 witnesses, by Elijah and Moses, by angels flying across the sky during the Tribulation. Referred to as Jacob’s trouble in Jeremiah 30, the Tribulation does not concern the church, but Israel.

Mark 13:11

During the Tribulation, Antichrist’s rule will be so pervasive that there will actually be children betraying their parents who follow Jesus Christ and refuse the mark of the beast.

Mark 13:13

Spoken to those who become believers during the Tribulation, Jesus says, “There’s hope. Don’t give up in the times of tribulation. If you endure to the end, you’ll be saved.”

Mark 13:14

In this section dealing with the middle of the seven-year Tribulation period, referring to the point when Antichrist will set up his image in the rebuilt temple, Jesus says, “Split for the wilderness"specifically, I believe, to the rock city of Petra, a place the Lord has provided to save His people in the time of this outpouring of Antichrist’s wrath. In addition to praying that this won’t occur in winter, Matthew adds that the Jews are to pray it won’t be on the Sabbath (Mat_24:20). To this day, all transportation comes to a halt on the Sabbath day in Israel. Thus, only to a Jew would the Sabbath pose a problem with regard to fleeing to the wilderness.

Mark 13:20

He who uses this verse to say that Christians will be present during the Tribulation fails to understand that “the elect” is a term ascribed to three groups of people: Israel (Isa_65:9), believers (1Pe_1:2), and Tribulation saints (Mat_24:22).

Mark 13:21

In an attempt to trick the Tribulation saints, some will claim to be, or to have seen, Christ Himself. Even in these last days before the Tribulation, the cults are growing exponentially, saying, “Lo, here is Christ; or, lo He is there.” The basic premise of the Jehovah Witness theology is that Jesus already came back in 1898 (later revised to 1914) to the Watchtower Society in Brooklyn, where He shared truth, understanding, and esoteric insights. Their entire theology is based upon a secret return of Jesus. The Mormons also believe that Jesus came back already. Where did He go? They claim He came to America and gave fuller teaching to the American Indians. “But the Mormons are good people,” you say. Indeed, ads on TV and in magazines proclaim the goodness of the Mormons, as if to say, “For the Mormons, home and family come first. Theirs will be a family likely to be admired by neighbors for its quiet confidence and self-assurance, and generally envied for its closeness and good-natured round of family activities. Clean, bright, outgoing, Mormons practice what they preach, setting aside each Monday for Family Home Evening. Stressing family, emphasizing their care for one another, talking about temperancethey don’t drink even Coke, coffee, or teaand an absolute abhorrence of narcotics, they present a goodness, a quality of life attractive to many.” I am troubled when I realize that this sounds a lot like the claims we evangelicals make. We talk about ourselves as those with better than average marriages, good families, and high moral standards. I came across this statement written by a skeptic named Walker Percy: “I’m surrounded by Christians. They are, generally speaking, a pleasant and agreeable lot, not noticeably different from other people. But if they have the Truth, why is it the case that they are repellently and precisely a turn-off to the degree that they embrace and advertise their truth? One might even become a Christian if there were a few Christians around. But have you ever lived in the middle of fifteen million Southern Baptists? If the Good News is true, why is one not pleased to hear it?” Our message has been repellent, unaccepted because we, like the Mormons, like the Jehovah Witnesses, have all too often exalted our goodness, holding up our standard of living that, at best, becomes pharisaic when we look down on others, and, at worst, hypocritical when we don’t live up to our own image. We must not boast of our morality, but of God’s mercy. We should not advertise our flawlessness, but God’s faithfulness. It would do us well to remember Luke 18the parable of the religious man saying, “I thank You, God, that I am not like other men,” and the sinner who smote his breast saying, “God have mercy upon me.” Jesus said it was the latterthe one who realized his sinfulness but also believed in God’s graciousnesswho went his way justified. Let us be those who, rather than saying, “Look how religious we are, how together our families are, how clean our life is,” say, “It is the mercy and grace and goodness of God alone of which we boast. We are not the Moral Majority. We are the Forgiven Few.”

Mark 13:24

I believe the elect spoken of here refers to Israel. All Jews will be gathered up and brought home as the Tribulation comes to a close and the kingdom is established at last.

Mark 13:28

Having talked about the beginning, the middle, and the end of the Tribulation, Jesus changes the subject somewhat… As seen in the books of Jeremiah, Nahum, Isaiah, and Hosea, the fig tree is the national symbol of Israel. Therefore, it is my strong conviction that Jesus is talking about the re-blossoming of the nation of Israel that took place in May, 1948, when the Jews returned to their landthe only time in history when a nation came back from the deadexactly as prophesied by Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. We cannot know the day of Jesus’ returnbut as seen in the fig tree, we surely know the season (1Th_5:1).

Mark 13:30

If you are watching for Antichrist, you’re watching for the wrong person. Those who embrace a post-Tribulation positionsaying the church will go through the Tribulation periodare not watching for Jesus. They’re watching for Antichrist. As believers, Jesus never taught us to prepare for the Tribulation. He taught us to watch for His appearance. Today could be the day, and “whoever has this hope purifies himself” (1Jn_3:3). Believing Jesus’ coming is imminent will have a tremendous effect on the way we live each day. Don’t let anyone tell you Jesus can’t come back for us until after the Tribulation. He could come back today. And if He does, it’s fine by me!