A youth pastor asked his youth group: “What would you do if your doctor told you that you had only 24 hours to live?” Some of the teens talked about enjoying friends and family, and others discussed completing a bucket list of sights, places and activities. But then, one teen said “I’d get a second opinion.” (Donna Spratt, “Lite Fare,” Christian Reader)
Maybe a second opinion was the best answer? Distressing news always warrants a second opinion for another perspective. It helps us handle the situation more wisely.
There is a lot of distressing news these days, and as a result, some people become worried. But there is a second option available to believers in Christ. A disciple of Jesus should have a biblical perspective for the world that helps them prevail during perilous times.
In Mark 13, Jesus prepared His disciples for the future and gives them (and us) a divine perspective on the days that are ahead, especially as we come nearer to the end of this age.
Mark 13:1 “Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
The temple was built with huge, white boulders (some of them nearly 10-12 feet wide). They were hand chiseled, finely polished smooth and generously decorated with gold (Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews 15.11.3-7). After the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans many were still in place. The temple was massive, covering about 1/6 of the old city of Jerusalem. Our resident engineer Bill Erickson calculated that all of Lambeau field and its parking lot would easily fit within the temple complex and still leave room all sides.
Most of the Jews in Jesus day thought that because of the magnificent size of the temple in Jerusalem it would be nearly impossible to destroy. It was so impressive of a structure that even Jesus’ disciples would doubt its destruction.
Mark 13:2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The temples destruction certainly was inconceivable in most of the minds of the Jews, but a few faithful Jews believed the Scriptures which told of the temple destruction at the end of the created world. This is much like the case of the Noahic flood. Many scoffed but only a few truly believed.
The disciples asked Jesus about when the end of the world would come and the signs preceding that end.
Mark 13:3-4 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?
In verse 4, the disciples then ask Jesus 2 questions about these end times: When will it happen, and what are the signs. People today still want to know this information.
The end of the world is still a popular concern. I believe the Bible’s description of the end of the age will come through a 7-year tribulation period. It will be a time of many terrible things that happen all over the world. Some key passages that describe the tribulation period are Daniel 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation Chapters 6-19. These passages describe global natural disasters, conflicts, and starvation. They also tell about a person who will control the world before the end. Mark chapter 13 can be included with these passages about the end.
Jesus’ answer was to encourage the disciples but filled with admonitions, 1st …
1. A faithful disciple must be alert.
A disciple will need to watch for deception from people prophesying in Jesus name and people claiming to be the messiah.
Mark 13:5-6 “And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.”
Jesus’ second admonition…
2. A faithful disciple will not be deceived or be distressed.
Mark 13:7-8 “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
Jesus says, watch for the signs of the beginning of the end. Just like a woman about to give birth, there will be some tremors or contractions to start with. False Christ’s will appear. Wars will increase and so will earthquakes and famines.
Ironically during elections candidates claim to have the answer for all the problems. They proclaim messages of “change” from our wastes of the environment and climate abuse. In Mark chapter 13, Jesus told them that there will be many people that will come and make claims to help the human plight, which is the job of the Messiah.
But His disciples should not be so deceived, because Jesus warned about such false claims. Nor should a disciple be distressed, because we know these calamities will lead to the birth of a new era. They are simply the contractions before the birth of Christ’s new kingdom.
Jesus is the answer to this world’s problems. Jesus encouraged the disciples to look for Him and not be misled by the false promises of others in the meantime. His disciples should not be deceived, but they also should not be distressed even when facing persecution.
Mark 13:9-11 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Historically the arrest of Christians creates an opportunity for witness. After Jesus rose from the grave the church era began with major persecutions of believers and yet the gospel spread into the world. The apostle Paul wrote about his suffering in Corinthians
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”
Historically, this phenomenon is true and will be true in the future. Persecution will result in increased proclamation of the gospel with the Holy Spirit’s grace and strength!
Tertullian, a 2nd Century Christian and church leader, said to his persecutors, “The more you mow us down, the more numerous we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.”
This is happening in our life time, the nation of Iran had explosive growth of the Evangelical church while under heavy persecution.
Before the Iranian Revolution in 1977, there were only 2,700 Christian evangelicals out of a population of 45 million. Of those, only 300 were former Muslims. A recent estimate stated that there were over 55 thousand believers, of whom 27 thousand were from Muslim backgrounds. (Michael G. Maudlin, “Have You Seen Jesus Lately?” Books & Culture, May/June 2002, p.14; www. farsinet.com/dibaj)
Todd Nettleton with Voice of The Martyrs explained this fact, “The people look around, they see the poverty, they see the discontent, they’re not happy so they have questions. Why isn’t it working out, we’re doing it the Islamic way, why isn’t our country great? So, they are ripe to hear a new way.”
As a result, the evangelical house church movement is growing rapidly. “The church is growing but it is coming with a price,” Nettleton says. “The people are arrested, they’re harassed, and they’re persecuted, in some cases they are beaten severely. It is not an easy pathway.” But even that is not stopping the growth of the unregistered house churches continuing to grow in Iran.
The government became so concerned that in 2005 it aimed to stop the Christian movement and launched an unmerciful crackdown against Iranian house churches, beating and arresting and killing many people.
But the house churches began to meet in smaller groups while the government tried desperately to halt church growth it actually had an opposite affect because Christians moved around more. “People are traveling to other cities, they’re traveling to other parts of the country, they are migrating into other countries and they are in turn planting these little house churches in those locations.” (Gary Lane, “Iran’s Christian Revolution Gains Momentum,” CBN News, June 22, 2009; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2009/June/Irans-Christian-Revolution-Gains-Momentum)
Jesus’ 3rd admonition to His disciples…
3. A faithful disciple shouldn’t be distressed when trouble comes, because there is a glorious future ahead for everyone who believes.
Mark 13:12-13 “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Those who believe in Christ will experience the glories of heaven. Even though the suffering is to the point where people close to us along with the world hate us, God loves us. This world is temporary, these pains and suffering will bring in eternal blessings. It is described like birth pains of a mother bringing a new life to a child (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Now, these words would have been a special encouragement to Mark’s “Gentile” readers who were being severely persecuted for their allegiance to Jesus. These words of Jesus would help them endure their suffering with a little more joy, knowing that God would use it to spread His Word and that He would vindicate them in the end.
Even if we should experience trouble today, we don’t need to worry, and we certainly shouldn’t give up our faith, because God promised we will share in His glory. Life on earth is temporary and we should not get caught up in success in this life or ignore that we might need to suffer. We need to live as the apostle Paul did, in Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The fourth admonition from chapter 13 is…
4. A faithful disciple will be prepared for the beginning of the end.
Mark 13:14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
A disciple should watch for the sign of the end. The book of Daniel describes a seven year tribulation that comes at the end of this age. It starts with the birth pangs of war, hunger, and persecution. Then at the mid-point, 3½ years into it, something terrible happens, which makes the suffering even worse.
Jesus mentions this “abomination of desolation” which links this with the information in the book of Daniel chapter 9. The prophet Daniel speaks of a “ruler who will come” who will establish a peace treaty in the Middle East.
Along with that information in Daniel another book of the Bible foretells these events in Revelation chapter 11. In Revelation it describes how the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and perhaps as part of this peace treaty which lasts 7 years.
But halfway through those seven years, this “ruler who will come” will break that treaty, stop the temple sacrifices, desecrate the temple itself, and proclaim himself to be God which is also recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
Historically, we have an example of what the desecration and destruction of the temple will look like. It has happened twice before. In 167 B.C. a Syrian ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, desecrated the Jewish temple. At that time, he built an altar to the pagan, Greek god Zeus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on it (Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 12.5.4).
Then another historical example took place 236 years later, the Roman Army overran the city of Jerusalem. The Romans desecrated the temple and destroyed it in 70 A.D. Neither of these accomplished every stone to be removed or tumbled. However, these two events foreshadow what a coming world ruler will do halfway through the era of the end.
This world ruler is none other than the Antichrist (also described in 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13). He is possessed by Satan himself, he will create a virtual hell upon the whole earth for those who are alive in those days, especially those who live in Israel where the Antichrist will set up His rule.
That’s why people should flee, especially those who are in Judea at the time. When the Antichrist comes into Jerusalem, they will have to escape immediately.
Mark 13:15-20 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “And pray that your flight may not be in winter. “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. “And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
Even though evil is allowed to run rampant, God still limits it for the sake of His own people who turn to Him during this time. Even during the Great Tribulation God will not allow His own (believers) to be tested more than they can bear (like He did with Job). So when trouble comes, don’t be distressed, and don’t be deceived.
Mark 13:21-23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. “But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Jesus told us what will happen, so don’t be deceived. Instead, watch for the signs of the end.
Mark 13:24-27 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”
At the end, when everything is dark, Jesus Christ Himself will come in plain sight to all, and He will gather His own to Himself. Those believers who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation will be gathered together, and we, believers who go before, will join them to rule and reign with Christ in a new day and age on this earth (Revelation 20:1-6).
While we might be going through minor tribulations today, or even the beginning of the end don’t be distressed, because Jesus is coming, and eternity will be worth it all.
Unlike this age, in eternity believers will rule and reign with Christ.
Have you have trusted Him as your Savior?. If you haven’t done it yet, I urge you, call on the Lord. Look to the One who died for you and rose again, and ask Him to save you from your sins. The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13. He will save you and give you the power to stand firm until the end. Whether you live or die, He will gather you to Himself to be with Him forever!
There is a story of a man who ate oatmeal because it has heathy life giving nutritional properties. One day he died and went to heaven. When he saw how wonderful it was, he said, “If I’d a known it was this good, I would have stopped eating oatmeal a long time ago!”
Oh, what a glorious day that will be! The knowledge of heaven and glory helps us to endure the present, when we know the future is worth it all.
The hymn writer Don Wyrtzen put it so well: “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”
Don’t be distressed, and don’t be deceived. Just be aware. Just watch for the signs of the end.
Mark 13:28-31 ” Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
You can trust the Lord. His words will never fail. Things will happen just as He says they will.
It’s like watching the flowers bloom and the trees start to bud in the spring. Soon new leaves will appear on the trees, and that tells us summer is not far away.
So it is with the return of Christ. Jesus said, just like leaves appearing on a fig tree tell you that summer is near, so the signs He describes in this chapter tell you that His coming is near.
Are we that generation?
We’re certainly seeing a great increase in rumors, earthquakes, wars, and suffering these days. But there are a few things that need to be in place for the end that are not complete. We haven’t seen the “abomination of desolation” yet! The rebuilding of the Jewish temple has not begun. There are accounts that say Israel has all the materials ready to go and the world is hungry for a world ruler to bring peace and prosperity to the world.
We could be that generation that sees the return of Christ and beginning of the end of the age. So be alert, don’t be deceived or distressed, be prepared and now Jesus’ fifth admonition is…
5. A faithful disciple will be ready and awake.
Stay awake and be ready, because no one knows when it all will happen; no one knows the time.
The disciples had asked Jesus two questions in verse 4: When will the end come? What are the signs? Jesus just described the signs of the end. Now, He’s going to tell us when!
Mark 13:32-37 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning –lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Being awake implies that we will be “doing the work of the Lord.” It makes sense that when we sleep we cannot work. But being awake does not mean hording or trying to survive a crisis that’s coming.
The Mormon Church in 2003 told the all of their followers in the world to start storing up their own provisions for surviving the end of times since the church does not have the storage to do it. I do not see Jesus telling His disciples this kind of information. But I do believe that He is reminding them to have compassion to reach those who need the gospel? The information that He gave is not to invoke fear and hording but to reach those who need to be rescued with the gospel.
Before Jesus left, Jesus gave His followers the great assignment: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We all have a part in the proclamation of the Gospel around the world even if we’re not preachers. May Jesus find us busy doing what He assigned to us when He comes back!
A faithful disciple will be ready, because we don’t know the time. It could be today. If it were, are you prepared and active for His glory?
Robby Robins was an Air Force pilot during the first Iraq war. After his 300th mission, he was surprised to be given permission to immediately pull his crew together and fly his plane home. They flew across the ocean to Massachusetts and then had a long drive to western Pennsylvania. They drove all night, and when his buddies dropped him off at his driveway just after sun-up, there was a big banner across the garage—“Welcome Home Dad!”
How did they know? No one had called, and the crew themselves hadn’t expected to leave so quickly. Robins relates, “When I walked into the house, the kids, about half dressed for school, screamed, ‘Daddy!’ Susan came running down the hall — she looked terrific — hair fixed, make-up on, and a crisp yellow dress. ‘How did you know?’ I asked.
“‘I didn’t,’ she answered through tears of joy. ‘Once we knew Iraq was freed, we knew you’d be home one of these days. We knew you’d try to surprise us, so we were ready every day.’” (Lee Eclov, in the sermon, Heaven, www.PreachingToday.com)
6. A Faithful disciple will want to be ready any day for Christ’s return.
Live for eternity. These are Jesus’ last words to his disciples. Are you living for the end or for today? We must know the Lord if we are going to live for eternity. Do you know him as your Savior and Lord?