Watch! Be Alert!

INTRO

So far in our study of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we haven’t studied the same content more than once. However, Mark 13 is almost verbatim the same as Matthew 24, so we don’t have a choice. I prayed through this and asked God how to make Mark 13 different. His response was, “Don’t!” As we walk through Mark 13, we’ll begin to look at what the end times will look like so we can know how to be ready for His return.

TEACHING

Mark 13:1-2: When one of the disciples pointed out the massive stones of the temple, Jesus responded that not one stone would be left upon another. Jesus was referring to the coming destruction of the temple in AD 70. This has already happened.

Mark 13:3-6: Verses 3-8 give “signs of the end of the age,” or the indicators that the end is coming closer. Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives looking across the Kidron Valley to the temple complex. He was with four of His disciples: Peter, James, John, and Andrew (v. 3). They asked privately about the signs that would come before the end times (v. 4). Jesus responded to first watch out for those who would deceive them (v. 5). Jesus said that many would come and claim to be from Him, but they would be lying and would deceive many (v. 6). This included false messiahs and false prophets (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:28-31).

Mark 13:7-8: Jesus then continued with additional signs: wars and rumors of wars would come, but don’t be afraid, the end is not yet come (vv. 7-8a). There will also be earthquakes and famines which are signs of the beginning of the end (v. 8b).

Mark 13:9-13: Persecutions will also be experienced, so Jesus’ followers must be on guard (v. 9). Jesus’ followers will be arrested and mistreated, but they must be His witnesses to all nations (v. 10). His followers don’t have to worry about what they will say then, because the Holy Spirit will speak for them (v. 11). Families will fight each other and betray each other, even unto death (v. 12). Everyone will hate followers of Jesus, “but the one who endures to the end will be delivered” (v. 13). One commentator said this is stage 1 and the beginning. There will be a leader of ten European nations who will make a seven-year peace agreement with Israel.

Mark 13:14-20: Stage 2, which begins after three-and-a-half years, is described in verses 14-23. The “abomination that causes desolation” is also referred to as “the great tribulation” (Daniel 9:27). The antichrist will be the individual who establishes the peace agreement, and after three-and-a-half years, he will break the agreement and will move to Jerusalem. There, the antichrist (“man of lawlessness”) will set up his own image in the temple that is rebuilt in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). He will sit in God’s sanctuary proclaiming himself as god. We need to be on guard, watching! Other names for the antichrist include: “the coming prince,” Daniel 9:26; “beast” or “first beast,” Revelation 13:1; and “horseman” on a “white horse,” Revelation 6:2.

At the three-and-a-half-year time frame, you and the church had better be ready. Where should you go? Mark 13:14 says “those in Judea must flee to the mountains.” Verses 15-16 mean to flee, without trying to gather your stuff together. Those who are pregnant and nursing, will struggle physically when they flee (v. 17). Jesus instructed His disciples to pray that the antichrist would not come in winter so His followers would not struggle in the weather (v. 18).

When this begins, all hell will break out: “For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again. Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose” (vv. 19-20).

Mark 13:21-23: In stage 3, there are more false messiahs and false prophets. Verse 23 emphasizes what believers are to do: “And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.”

Mark 13:24-27: After the tribulation, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will be falling from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken” (vv. 24-25). The Son of Man (Christ) will return in clouds and everyone will see Him. In Acts 1:11, Jesus said He would return in the same way He left in His ascension. He will send out His angels to gather His elect from every corner of the earth.

Mark 13:33-37: “Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming” (v. 33).

CLOSING

I’ve never been more convinced than I am right now that Jesus is coming back! We are getting that much closer to the end times. All of these pieces keep falling into place. I want the church to be ready for the coming of the Messiah. He is coming back. We need to be alert!