CHAPTER 13
THE END OF THE TEMPLE
As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” Mark 13:1
Jesus was leaving the temple and would likely never return to it again. He came to his own people and they would not receive him (Jn. 1:11). Now the sure judgment of God was about to fall on the nation and on its house of worship.
As Jesus was leaving, one of his disciples seemed overwhelmed by the massive stones and the magnificence of the structure. From what we know today the temple was indeed both massive and magnificent. Starting in 19 BC, King Herod the Great had begun renovation on the Temple of Zerubbabel (Ezr. 6:15), or the Second Temple as it is now called. Much of the temple was completed after ten years of hard labor but the finishing work lasted much longer, making a total of over eighty years, and being concluded only in AD 63. It took the work of 10,000 skilled laborers for the overall complex and 1000 especially trained priests to do construction on the holy sanctuary itself.1
Herod the Great, who was not Jewish but Idumean (Edomite), was in many ways a terrible person but he was a great builder. It is thought that he was trying to gain favor with the Jewish people by rebuilding their temple. He greatly increased and leveled the old temple complex by the use of a massive retaining wall some 1576 feet (480 m.) x 985 feet (300 m.) on the average.2 On top of the platform he reconstructed the temple and made it utterly magnificent. As the disciple indicated, the stones used in building were massive. According to Josephus, some of the stones were 40 feet (12 m.) in length, 12 feet (3.6 m.) high and 18 feet (5.5 m.) in width. 3 The temple building itself, when seen in the morning sunlight, dazzled observers with its splendor. Pett describes it saying: “It rose to a height of fifty meters [164 ft.] and was a visual collage of gold and silver, crimson and purple, radiating the rising sun like a snow-clad mountain.” 4
“‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down’” (13:2). It is utterly amazing how this prophecy of Jesus was so completely and accurately fulfilled. Today on the Temple Mount there is no trace of the glorious building complex of Herod. It is not even possible to discern exactly where the holy temple once stood. Truly, there is not a single ancient stone left on top of another because it was swept clean by the Romans in AD 70. At the southwestern corner of the platform in the Old City it is still possible to see a pile of large ancient stones that were thrown from the top of the retaining wall and came crashing down on the pavement below, destroying it in some places.5
The only stones remaining intact are those of the massive retaining wall itself. The most famous spot on this retainer is what was once called the Wailing Wall and today is referred to as the Kotel. This has become a sacred spot for the Jews since it is normally the closest they may come to where the temple once stood.6
The Western Wall (Kotel) or retaining wall is a wonder to behold. The very large stones are decorated with the typical Herodian indented borders and they are so perfectly fitted together that it is almost impossible to slip even a sheet of paper between them. This is utterly amazing when we consider that their weight has been estimated between 400-600 tons each.7 The first seven visible layers today are original Herodian-type stones. The height of the exposed section of the retaining wall is approximately 62 feet (19 m.). Below ground there are 17 more layers of massive stones going down to bedrock.8
THE END OF THE AGE
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Mark 13:3-4
We do not know exactly where Jesus and his disciples were located on the Mount of Olives. Actually, it would not make much difference because almost the whole western face of the mountain provides an excellent view of the Temple Mount. We should note that the Mount of Olives is higher than the temple area by several hundred feet. Its elevation is 2683 ft. (818 m.), compared with 2428 ft. (740 m.) for the Temple Mount. Today, most tourists to Israel are treated with a grand photo op from a spot near the top of the Mount of Olives.
The four original disciples of Jesus asked about when these things will take place. Jesus began to make a great prophetic sweep with his answer. He began to weave the destruction of the temple with the end of the age. He wove them together so closely that it is practically impossible to separate them.
When one drives across the Great Plains of the US traveling west, he will eventually see the Rocky Mountains appearing in the distance. These great mountains appear initially as a very long chain of snow-capped peaks. However, as one draws closer it becomes apparent that there are many peaks and valleys that make up this mountain range. Prophecy is a little like that. Jesus is not just seeing the one event of Jerusalem and her temple but he is seeing the remainder of human history as a background.
Much of what Jesus sees concerns the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple. All other history is somehow linked to this watershed event of Jerusalem’s destruction. In fact, we will see in Daniel that all human history is indeed connected to Jerusalem. No doubt it is for this reason that the Bible exhorts us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in Psalm 122:6, and to give God no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes it the praise of the earth in Isaiah 62:6-7.
THE WATCHWORD, “WATCH!”
Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Mark 13:5
This section of Mark and its corresponding parallels in Matthew and Luke are often referred to as an “apocalypse” or as an “unveiling.” While there are certainly apocalyptic elements in this section, its purpose is not just to reveal what is coming in the future. Edwards says of this passage: “Although Mark 13 contains some apocalyptic features, it is not an apocalypse in any ordinary sense of the term. Consequently, the use of ‘apocalyptic’ to characterize the chapter is an obstruction rather than an aid to understanding it.” 9
We can quickly discern that an overall purpose of these verses is to alert God’s people to what is coming and to insure that they carefully watch as the time unfolds. We have the command to “watch” here, and we will see this command again in verses 34 and 35. Actually the whole section ends with the command to “watch!” (13:37). This command was so urgent for the disciples because the drama of human redemption was unfolding before their eyes in those very hours. Sadly, they failed to watch but instead all went to sleep.
We not only see the word “watch,” but we see several other expressions such as “be on your guard,” (vs. 9, 23, & 33); exhortations to stand firm (v. 13); to understand (v. 14); to pray (v. 18); to learn (v. 28); and to know (v. 29). This is indeed a chapter of urgent warnings for God’s people. The chapter no doubt had great implications for the Markan community in Rome. 10 They were about to enter into the awful tribulation brought about by the Emperor Nero.
“Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (13:6-7). As early as the Book of Acts we have evidence of false messiahs arriving. The book mentions Theudas (5:36), Judas of Galilee (5:37), and “the Egyptian” (21:38).11 Bar Kokhba in AD 132 also was hailed as the messiah by the Great Rabbi Akiva. He led Israel into the second horrible and unsuccessful revolt against Rome.
The period after Christ witnessed many wars and rumors of wars as the Pax Romana (the Roman peace) began to unravel at the seams. There was great pressure from the Parthians in the east and from the many uncivilized tribes to the north. In addition, Rome had great internal trouble. Just before the time of Jerusalem’s destruction there was a succession of several claimants for the job of emperor. In one year alone there were four emperors. The fourth was Vespasian, who left the siege of Jerusalem to his son Titus and took over the reins of Roman government. Clearly, false prophets and wars were all signs of the approaching end. Jerusalem’s destruction was certainly such a sign. In every age since Christ they are reminders and pictures telling us that the age is ending and that we are living in the last days.
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains” (13:8). In addition to wars there would be earthquakes and famines (Matt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11). Of course, there was an earthquake marking the resurrection of Jesus (Matt. 28:2). There was an earthquake later in Laodicea and a terrible one that shook the whole of Phrygia in AD 61. There was the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius on the Italian peninsula in AD 79. That great eruption completely buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Corinth and the isle of Cyprus also suffered earthquakes in the 70s. 12
Jesus says that these things are the “beginning of birth pains.” So, the birth pains of the Messiah have been going on since the first century. The mothers among us well know about birth pains. The one sure characteristic of birth pains is that they begin easy and get harder and closer together until the delivery. We can expect to see a similar progression in pains as the Messianic Age comes upon us. These birth pains are mentioned often in scripture (cf. Isa. 26.17; 66.8; Jer. 22.23; Hos. 13.13; Mic. 4.9-10). Sometimes these are referred to by writers as “Messianic Woes.”
In addition to earthquakes there will be famines. In Acts 11:27-30 we read about a terrible famine that struck in the days of Claudius. As Nero’s reign drew to an end there were great unrests and food shortages.13 The famines have certainly gotten worse over the centuries as Jesus indicated. Many of the famines today are state-sponsored. We think of the famine in the Communist Ukraine killing from 2.4 to 7.5 million peasants in 1932. As a result of the “Great Leap Forward” in 1958, some 16.5 to 46 million people perished in China.14 This was one of history’s most deadly famines. Of course, some countries like North Korea seem to be in state of almost perpetual famine. Famine is another “birth pain” of the coming age. In Revelation 6:5-6, we are told that a black horse will run throughout the earth indicating that there will be great famine. In Revelation 6:8, we see that initially a fourth of the earth will be suffering under war, plagues and famine. In Luke’s parallel (Luke 21:11) he adds pestilences, terrors along with great signs from heaven.
EXTREME TROUBLES FOR THE SAINTS
You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. Mark 13:9
The warning continues. We must all be on our guard as the end-days approach. The persecution will take place in local councils (Gk. sunedria) and in synagogues. “Sanhedrins” or “councils” is plural here indicating local governing bodies and not necessarily the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.15 We see that the persecution will be both of a religious nature and of a political nature, since God’s people will also stand before governors and kings.
Obviously, there was much fulfillment of this verse in the first century. Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:1-22. Peter and some of the other apostles were put in jail by the high priest and his associates, but the Lord delivered them in the night (Acts 5:17-42; cf. 12:11-19). Stephen the deacon was stoned to death for his witness (Acts 7:54-60). Paul was stoned for preaching at Lystra but miraculously survived (Acts 14:19-20). Paul and Silas were imprisoned by the magistrates in Philippi but were miraculously delivered (Acts 16:20-40).
During his ministry Paul was beaten with rods three times (2 Cor. 11:25). He was beaten by the Jews three times with 39 stripes each.16 Paul was arrested in the temple area at Jerusalem (Acts 21:27) and was later sent to Rome as a prisoner. During his imprisonment he bore witness before Annas the high priest (Acts 24:1ff.), and before Felix the procurator of Judea (Acts 24:2ff.). Finally Paul bore witness before Festus, the Roman governor who succeeded Felix (Acts 25:1-12) and before King Agrippa (Acts 25:23 ff.).
“And the gospel must first be preached to all nations” (13:10). Incredibly, there was also a great deal of fulfillment of this verse in the first century. Before Paul’s imprisonment he could write to the Romans telling them in Romans 1:8, that their faith had been reported throughout the known world. Also when Paul and Silas preached at Thessalonica there was a great anxiety and disquiet among the town leadership. They cried out, “…These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here…” (Acts 17:6). This was not only a charge against them but a back-handed compliment to the effectiveness of Christian work in the first century.
Matthew repeats this information from Jesus (24:14), but he definitely connects it with the end of time: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” It has generally been understood by this verse that the gospel must at least reach all nations and peoples before the end.
“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (13:11). We see a beautiful picture of this in the trial of Peter and John before Caiaphas and the elders of Jerusalem. After they heard the witness and saw the boldness of the two they reacted in amazement: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Jesus continues on to say: “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death” (13:12). The family was at the very heart of Jewish life, but Jesus had predicted in other places that the family would become fragmented over the preaching of the gospel (cf. Matt: 10:21).17 Those Christians to whom Mark was writing in Rome were very close to the great persecution under Nero which happened in AD 64. The Roman senator and historian Publius Tacitus, in describing this persecution, tells us “that those who confessed that they were Christians were first arrested, and then on their disclosures, many Christians were further arrested…”18 He supports the fact that family division and betrayal were some of the most serious consequences of Nero’s great persecution.19
Barclay relates a tragic story that happened during World War II: “In Hitler’s Germany a man was arrested because he stood for freedom. He endured imprisonment and torture with stoic and uncomplaining fortitude. Finally, with spirit still unbroken, he was released. Some short time afterwards he committed suicide. Many wondered why. Those who knew him well knew the reason – he had discovered that his own son was the person who had informed against him. The treachery of his own flesh and blood broke him in a way that the cruelty of his enemies was unable to achieve.” 20
In the end-days some families, and no doubt some Christian families, will be fragmented because of persecution. Jesus speaks of death in this passage and that has been the lot of many since New Testament times. “Researchers estimate that since the Day of Pentecost, more than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith.” 21 It is generally reported that the recent twentieth century was by far the bloodiest one ever for Christians.
“Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (13:13). Here we have usage of the Greek word hupomeno, which means “to remain under.” 22 It is a word found several places in the New Testament and also has meanings of “to wait,” “to bear patiently” and “to endure.” In short, this word expresses that great doctrine of perseverance. Utley notes how this doctrine must be held in a sort of dialectical tension with the other great doctrine of the believer’s security in Christ (cf. Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, ; 21:7). 23 Matthew 24:12 gives us a great warning that the love of many or even most (NIV, NAS, NJB, RSV) Christians will grow cold in the last day.
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
When you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Mark 13:14
Here we have the introduction of a great mystery that is both alarming and frightening. Jesus tells us that something awful and unspeakable will happen in the last days and that we have a great need to understand it. In order for us to begin to understand this awful and unspeakable mystery we must go back in the history of God’s people to the time of the prophet Daniel. Today a lot of scholars sneer at Daniel and claim that his prophecies were written after the events took place. Therefore, some scholars maintain that Daniel is a very late book and thus it is essentially a false and contrived account. We need to make clear that Jesus really believed in the Book of Daniel. He based much of his prophecy regarding the end-time on the book. We had better believe it too.
In the Book of Daniel we have a mysterious outline of holy history beginning with the second decree of the Persian King Artaxerxes in 445 BC and running to the end of time. This great and fascinating outline is encapsulated in a mere four verses of Daniel—from 9:24 through 9:27. Only God could do such an astounding thing as to summarize all the future history of the world in four verses! That history, like all history, is closely connected to Jerusalem.
From the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the end of the world would be “seventy sevens” or seventy weeks of seven years. This would make up a total of 490 years. Daniel tells us that after 69 of these weeks of years had passed, the Messiah of Israel would come, be cut off, and then the holy temple and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. It is interesting that 69 sevens or 483 years (adjusted for the Jewish lunar calendar) brings us up to the area of around AD 30 or to the general time of Jesus’ ministry and death. Shortly after that, both the temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans.
Obviously, Daniel tells us that there is a mysterious “seven” or a period of seven years still unfulfilled. Since all future time is built around Jerusalem we can only conclude that the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70 somehow stopped the divine clock. There is still a week of seven years left. After almost two thousand years the clock is still stopped with “seven minutes till midnight,” so to speak, still showing on its face. We are thus very near a new day. This is exactly why early Christians felt they were living in the last day or last hour of history (cf. 1 Jn. 2:18). We are still in that last hour.
Many Bible scholars believe that the restoration of Israel and especially the future rebuilding of the temple by the Jews, will inaugurate these last seven years of history. It will be an exceedingly turbulent time in which the Beast or antichrist will arise. During the last three and one-half years the antichrist will proclaim himself as God and will take his seat in the new temple of God. This is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). It will bring a time of horrible suffering for all people, even for God’s people (cf. Dan. 12:1 ff.).
Now, holy history is a strange thing in that often there are partial fulfillments of prophecy before the final one. This is especially true in regard to Jerusalem and the temple. What Daniel prophesied had a rather exact fulfillment in the days of the Greek/Syrian or Seleucid king named Antiochus IV (Epiphanes). This account is recorded for us in the non-canonical history books of I and II Maccabees. It is also related by the Jewish historian, Josephus.
During this period the Syrian king invaded Jerusalem (175 BC), killed and enslaved many of its inhabitants, sacked the temple, and carried off most of its treasures. He then offered a pig on its altar, set up a statue of Olympian Zeus in its sacred courts and ordered the Jewish people to worship it.24 At this, the devout and zealous Jewish family of the Maccabees began a revolt against Antiochus. Although they were a small band, with the help of God they gained some outstanding victories over very large armies. In time, they cleansed the temple and rededicated it. This event is still celebrated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Although it was not a biblical festival Jesus must have thought it very important for we see that he went up to Jerusalem in the winter to celebrate it (Jn. 10:22-23). Had the valiant Maccabees not arisen there probably would not have been a temple court for Jesus have entered, or even a nation of Israel left for him to have visited.
When Mark wrote his gospel the stage was fully set for another and even more serious fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. In less than a decade of his writing the Romans would come and totally destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem. They would kill over a million of the Jews and take another hundred thousand captive.25 The long age of the Gentiles would be fully instituted and would last till the present hour, with the holy temple area being trampled down by a long succession of Gentile people (Lk. 21:24). According to the prophetic pattern, Titus also entered the temple as it was being destroyed.26 It is significant that as Roman armies were surrounding Jerusalem the early Christians were watching and were alert. They must have taken Jesus’ warnings seriously because the whole Christian community fled Jerusalem and settled at Pella, a city of the Decapolis across the Jordan and in the foothills of Peraea (today’s country of Jordan).27 Thus, the Christians were spared the awful destruction of Jerusalem. The rest of the Jews did the opposite and crowded into Jerusalem. They soon faced suffering and death that is almost too horrible and difficult to describe. 28
“Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak” (13:15-16). In true prophetic fashion Jesus is weaving past, present and future together. The early Christians probably did not go back into their houses for personal items as Jesus had warned them. Once the Roman army completed its encirclement of Jerusalem there was really no hope of ever getting out. Those who tried were killed either by the Romans or by the Jewish rebel leaders who were in charge.
We are left with an eerie feeling that in the last days of human history Jerusalem will be surrounded and occupied once more, and this time by the armies of antichrist. God’s people once again may have to flee to the mountains without going back for personal items. We must be alert, watch and pray when these days come upon us.
DREADFUL TIMES
How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now— and never to be equaled again. Mark 13:17-19
The days of Antiochus IV were dreadful times for God’s people. There was much suffering and many horrors. The days of Jerusalem’s fall in AD 70 were even more dreadful. People were starved to death by the thousands and robbed by their own leaders. Piles of dead bodies were everywhere in the city with no one left or even strong enough to bury the dead. We cannot even imagine how terrible will be the last days of human history when the armies of antichrist and of the world surround Jerusalem for one last time.
We see the great pity and love of our Master as he here expresses concern for pregnant and nursing women. We sense his loving concern for the weak. He therefore instructs his people to pray that these events will not happen in the winter. Many folks think that Israel is a land of deserts and camels. However, Jerusalem ranges to elevations of around 2600 feet (792 m.). In the winter months there can be cold driving rain for days and sometimes there can be snow. When the rains come, the normally dry rivers and wadis can become dangerous and difficult to cross.29 Apparently the early Christians prayed and the siege of Jerusalem happened in the warm dry summer months.
As bad as it was in the previous times of tribulation for Jerusalem, the time to come will be much worse. It will be a time that will never be equaled again” (v.19), in that it will not be an antichrist type that will lord it over Jerusalem, but it will be the real antichrist. Paul warns us about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
Clearly, Jesus connected his own crucifixion with the coming fall of Jerusalem. He said to the women as he was being led to Calvary: “…Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’” (Lk. 23:28-29). How much worse it will be for the women of Jerusalem on the day that antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God and declares himself to be God!
“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them” (13:20). Bible scholars have long concluded that the last terrible time of history will last only about three and one-half years (cf. Dan.7:25; 12:7; 8:14; 12:11-12; Rev. 12:6 & 13:5).
Things will be so bad that the human race could not survive a longer time. God in his mercy has decreed that this time shall be short. We must take note that it is for the sake of the elect that the time will be shortened. We surely cannot miss the fact that the elect will still be here in the midst of this final great battle. In the last two hundred years it has been quite popular for some scholars to say that the elect will escape the last tribulation. The early Christians certainly were not aware of this as we see in several of the earliest church fathers. They tell us that believers will still be on the earth and right in the midst of
it all. 30
FALSE CHRISTS
At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there he is!” do not believe it. Mark 13:21
Mark continues with what seems to be his main theme of this chapter, how believers should watch and be alert as the last days come upon them. One thing we should watch out for is false Christs. Just as there were false Christs in Jesus’ time the end-days will apparently abound with them. These imposters will try to show themselves secretly to entice and lure away believers.
In Matthew’s version (24:26-27) Jesus says, “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Mark enlightens us further about these deceivers saying: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (13:22-23). Pett says of these evil workers: “History reveals how false prophets did continually disturb the Christian church right from the beginning and John had to warn against many antichrists (1 John 2:18-23)….They will show signs and wonders. Just as the Egyptian magicians did in the time of Moses (Exodus 7:11, 22).” 31 It is interesting that these false believers can actually do miracles and give supernatural signs. We must remember that we do not recognize God’s workers by their signs, but by their fruits (Matt. 7:16, 20; cf. Deut. 13:1-3).
We may be watching out for false Christs, but it seems the modern and postmodern church has not done well in watching out for false prophets. Certain false prophecies of the end-times have led us far off from biblical understandings of how believers must watch, be sober, be prepared and endure through the difficult times that are coming. Edwards says of our present condition: “The mischief caused by the misuse of eschatology— not least in contemporary America— has resulted in a virtual eclipse of eschatology in the life of the church.” 32 We need to wake up!
COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” Mark 13:24-25
So far in this chapter we have seen that the end-days will be marked by an awful time of tribulation. It is a time when wickedness will be judged and when literally billions of people will be taken out of the earth and destroyed in various ways. It is literally the harvest of the wicked mentioned by Jesus in his parables. We have only to look at the Book of Revelation to see these disasters play out all over the world.
Now Jesus gives us a very important key in interpreting the end-times. It is a key that millions of Christians have overlooked. What we have here is the official Day of the Lord spoken of by all the prophets. We note that this day comes after the tribulation. In Matthew 24:29, Jesus says this time will come “immediately” after the time of tribulation. Luke’s version tells us that there will be great distress of nations and much perplexity among peoples, that even the sea will roar mysteriously (Lk. 21:25-28).
This is a most serious time for believers. We need to endure to the end to be saved (Matt. 10:22). We need to look up and see their salvation coming (Lk. 21:28). Jesus in speaking of this end-time made a strange statement in Luke 18:8, “… when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” The Great St. Augustine in speaking of this day said: “Even the most faithful will be shaken in the tribulation.”33
Guzik says of this time: “In a sense, this is the groaning of all creation (Rom. 8:22) and it will come to one last crescendo before the return of Jesus….This kind of cosmic calamity is described in many Old Testament passages: Isaiah 13:9-11, Ezekiel 32:7-9, Joel 2:30-31, Amos 8:9-10, Zephaniah 1:14-15.” 34
We need to point out that the cosmic cataclysm of the last day will not totally destroy the earth or the heavens (Psa. 78:69; 93:1; 148:6). The Bible looks at it more like a recycling of the earth and heavens as both earth and heavens are cleansed and made new. In 2 Peter 3:13 the disciple says: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Bible is clear that the earth will continue. It likely will be made new in much the sense that we are made new when we come to Christ. We are still the same person but we are radically changed within and under new management.
The shaking of the heavenly bodies may have a lot to do with the spiritual realm. Pett says of this: “The stars falling from heaven may…indicate supernatural activity behind the affairs of the world, as may the shaking of the powers of the heavens (compare Revelation 12:4, 9; Luke 10:18).” 35 Utley points out how the stars often have reference in apocalyptic literature to the angels (cf. Rev. 8:10; 9:1).36 This time of great judgment is not just a judgment of men and nations but a judgment of heavenly beings.
“At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens” (13:26-27). There is nothing secret about the return of the Lord. All people everywhere will see his coming as he appears in great power and glory. This time he will not be coming as the Suffering Servant but as the Lord of the Universe.
In Matthew 24:30 it is added: “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (cf. Dan. 7:13). His coming will not be a celebration for most of earth’s residents. We see here that the nations will mourn (cf. Rev. 1:7). We cannot imagine how great will be the mourning of the godless on that day. They will suddenly realize their totally lost condition; the utter bankruptcy of all their many philosophies and religions. Revelation 6:15-16 tells us that all the earth’s great ones, her kings, generals, rich and mighty and all the other godless will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of the coming Lord. I have often said that the most expensive real estate in the last day will be a hole in the ground where wicked people can try to hide from the face of Jesus.
We see in this verse that the angels will begin gathering the elect from the four winds, from earth and heaven. Angels will figure prominently in the coming of the Lord (Zech. 14:5; Jude 1:14-15). Matthew 24:31 tells us that the angels will be sent out with a loud trumpet call to gather God’s elect (cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7).
ANOTHER LESSON FROM THE FIG TREE
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Mark 13:28-29
It seems that the fig tree was one of Jesus’ favorite teaching tools (cf. 11:20-25). Now he returns to it again. The fig is an interesting tree. However, it is not an early bloomer. In Israel the very first tree to bloom is the almond. Normally in Jerusalem it blooms in late January. I have even witnessed the almond blooming in a snowstorm. However, the fig is a late blooming tree and puts out its leaves in March or April, around the time of Passover. When the fig puts on its leaves we know that summer is near. After Passover each year the warm weather begins to move in, even in the high country of Jerusalem. So it will be with the end of the age. When we begin to see the signs of the Lord’s coming we can know that the time is near, even at the door.
“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (13:30-31). A generation is about 40 years. Actually in Deuteronomy 1:35, and in 2:14, we see a generation reckoned as 38 years. This is exactly the time frame dealt with in the above verse. We realize that the destruction of Jerusalem came about 38 years after the Lord made this prediction.37 Jesus was talking about the fall of Jerusalem, but we must realize that Jerusalem is very important and has within it many spiritual implications relating to the last-days. As Edwards says, “The fall of Jerusalem once again functions as a mysterious paradigm of the end of the world…According to our interpretation, the generation under discussion is not that of the Second Coming, but the generation contemporary to Jesus that lived to witness the destruction of the temple and fall of Jerusalem.” 38
Many have questioned the Lord’s’ words here but Jesus says that his words will outlive heaven and earth. By his word Jesus made the heavens and earth in the first place (Jn. 1:1-3) and by his powerful word he maintains them to this day (Heb. 1:3). We know from Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
THE DAY AND THE HOUR OF CHRIST’S COMING
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32
We can know the signs of the Lord’s coming but we cannot know the hour. We see that even Jesus and the angels did not know the hour. This has been a troublesome passage for some, but there is really no problem here. When Jesus came to the earth and took on human flesh he also took on its limitations. Paul speaks of this in Philippians 2:7, saying of Jesus that he “… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Jesus as a human being did not know the hour of his coming but Jesus as the risen and exalted Son of God certainly knows. We see in Revelation 1:1 ff. that the exalted Jesus is now worthy to open the book of the future and break all its seals.39
“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch” (13:33-34). Once again we are challenged to be on guard and to be alert as the end-day comes upon us. We are like doorkeepers to God’s house. The other synoptic gospels give us additional information here. Matthew and Luke tell us about a householder who was not watching and had his house broken into by a thief (Matt.24:42-44; Lk. 12:39-40).
The two writers also tell us that the time leading up to the end-days will be like it was in Noah’s day. People were busy eating, drinking and getting married and were caught unprepared for the flood (Matt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:26-27; 34-35). Luke warns us of the dangers of being filled with dissipation, drunkenness and the cares of life so that the day will spring closed on us like a trap (Lk. 21:34-36). He also challenges us to be on the watch and to pray so that we can escape the trouble that is coming and stand triumphantly before the Son of Man.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back— whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (13:35-37). In these verses we can see how insistent the Master is on our watching as the end-times come upon us. Does this mean that we have to suspend life and go out on some hill top to await the Lord’s coming? Some in the past have done such things but these approaches always seem to end in embarrassment and disaster. No, it is perfectly permissible for us to carry on with our work as we keep an eye out for his coming. In Luke 19:13, the Lord gives instructions to those he trusted with his money. He says “…Put this money to work,..until I come back.” God wants us to be busy, to occupy, but to always keep an eye out for his coming.
Here Mark mentions the four Roman watches of the night, no doubt for the benefit of his Roman readers. The Jews had only three watches, from sundown to 10 PM, from 10 to 1:00 AM and from then to sunrise. The Romans had four. Evening ended at 9 PM, midnight ended at 12:00 PM, cock-crowing ended at 3 AM and morning ended at 6 AM. 40 Whether morning, evening or midnight the Lord wants us to be alert and ready for his coming.
Somehow the disciples had not gotten the importance of this message, although Jesus had repeated it many times. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus had to reprimand them five times because of their failure to watch (14:34, 37, 38, 40, 41). 41