What Happens Before
13:5-13
Jesus, having told the disciples the temple and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed, now answers the disciples questions. First, he tells them of things that will happen, but are not signs of the end.This is to answer their question “what will be the sign when all these things are to be accomplished”.
First, there will be false Christ’s who appear and mislead many. (5-6) Jesus warns the disciples to resist being led astray by these imposters. This is part of Jesus’ emphasis that the key thing for them to do is
not to speculate about the future instead of obeying\being faithful in the present.
We know that this happened. Some of these are mentioned in the book of Acts. In the 40s A.d., a man named Theudas appeared. When Gamaliel, a great Jewish teacher, warned the Sanhedrin to be cautious in persecuting the disciples, he reminded them of Theudas. (Acts 5:36) He gained 400 followers. But he was killed and his movement died out. Josephus recounts this story as well. Gamaliel also mentioned Judas the Galilean who was also killed and his movement stopped. (Acts 5:37)
Many others would come and claim to be Christ. Jesus said they will say “I am he”, using the name of God from Exodus 3:14. This has continued until our day. One famous false Christ was Sun Myung Moon, who claimed Jesus failed in his mission and God appointed him to finish his work. He had himself appointed as Messiah and Humanity’s Savior.
Second, Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars, earthquake and famines. But these do not mean the end has come. Jesus called them the beginning of the birth pains. Yet, many today still proclaim these events as harbingers of the end.
Third, Jesus said his followers would endure persecutions. They would be delivered over to councils. (9) Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin more than once. They would stand before governors and kings to bear witness to Jesus before them. Paul certainly did this.
Family members would even turn against their Christian family members, leading them to arrest and even death. (12)
The apostles were to proclaim the gospel to all nations. (10) They were not to hold back because of these events. And, if they were arrested and brought to trial, they need not be anxious about what they should say, because the Holy Spirit would speak through them. (11)
Jesus went on to say the apostles and followers would be hated for his names’s sake. But the call here is not to be afraid, but to endure. Enduring in faith until the end is a sign of true salvation.
The Abomination of Desolation
13:14-18
Jesus warned the disciples to flee Jerusalem and Judea when they saw the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be. (14)
Mark added an editorial comment which the English versions put in parenthesis: “let the reader understand”. This was a hint to his readers, especially the Roman Gentiles, to remember the use of that term in the Old Testament.
The term “abomination of desolation” appears in the Book of Daniel. (Daniel 9:25-27; 11:Daniel 11:31)
Daniel 11:31 speaks of armed forces who come from a king and profane the temple, take away the regular burnt offering, and set up the abomination that makes desolate.
The first fulfillment of these prophecies is the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who ruled Palestine from 175-64 B.C. Antiochus treated Israel so badly they rebelled against him. His forces entered the temple, stopped the regular sacrifices, set up an idol of Zeus at the altar and sacrificed a pig. We studied this in our study of Daniel.
This is an abomination because it is idolatry. It brings desolation because it defiles the temple. Jesus knew his Jewish disciples would make this connection.
Jesus meant there would be another event in the disciples’ future that would be similar. When they saw that, they should immediately flee the city. If you come down from the roof, don’t go into the house and get anything. If you are working in the field, don’t go back for your cloak. It will be hard for pregnant or nursing women to flee.
This tribulation will be very bad, worse than any they have seen. God would cut it short for the sake of the elect, believers. If he did not, no one in Jerusalem would survive it.
It makes sense that Jesus was warning his followers to be ready to flee when they see Roman armies attacking Jerusalem. The parallel account in Luke says: “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies . . . flee to the mountains” (Luke 21:10-24).
The great historian of the church, Eusebius, wrote that many Christians did flee and survived. Jesus told the first Christians how to survive this tribulation. The temple was destroyed and desecrated with Roman idols and sacrifices.
The Return of Jesus In Glory
13:24-27
Although the wars and earthquakes are not signs of the end of this age, Jesus said there will be signs. “In those days” does not refer to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It is Old Testament language for the last days or the Day of the Lord. (Joel 3:1)
The signs are cataclysmic. The sun and moon are darkened, stars fall, powers in the heavens are shaken. Then we will see Jesus coming in clouds with great power and glory. “Coming in clouds” signifies the arrival of deity, of God.
When Jesus appears, he will send out angels to gather the elect from all over the earth.
Takeaways
Don’t waste time trying to predict when Jesus will return.
Do remain faithful no matter what happens.
Know the Bible and be discerning, not fooled by false prophets.
Rejoice, knowing Jesus will return.
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