Mark 13
Mark 13:1-2. As He went out of the temple, one of His disciples pointed out the magnificence of its stones and buildings. This makes an occasion for Him to tell them of its entire destruction, not one stone to be left on another, all thrown down.
Mark 13:3-4. On the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, as He sat, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”
In reply the Lord gives instruction and guidance for the path of the believing remnant of the Jews who shall be gathered back to the land of Palestine, after the Church is completed, and has been caught up to be with the Lord. Luke 21:8-24 speaks of what happened up to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Mark 13, also Matthew 24, speaks of the future, the great tribulation period. (Compare Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19).
Mark 13:5-6. “Take heed lest any man deceive you; for many shall come in My name, saving, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” This is warning them of the dangers of that Mark 13:7-8. Wars, rumors of wars, risings of nations, kingdom against kingdom; earthquakes, famines, troubles, will be present; they are but the beginning of sorrows. It is in the land of Palestine and in connection with the Jews, and after the Lord has raised His dead and changed His living heavenly people, and taken them to Himself in heavenly glory.
The regathering of the Jews will have commenced; they are gathered in unbelief (Isa. 18), but a new work will begin, and some had already owned the name of Jesus; this is guidance for them. They have their temple built and go on with their own worship. Matthew 24:15 calls it “the Holy place.” (See also Rev. 11:1.) The Holy Spirit will begin a work in some souls, for though the Holy Spirit who dwelt on earth during the Church period, will dwell on earth no longer. Yet all God does is done by Him at all periods of the world’s history. This new work is in connection with the gospel that announces the coming of the King to reign (compare Psa. 2:10-12), and what John and Jesus preached.
Mark 13:9-10. But those who receive it shall suffer persecution, as well as those who preach it. They should take heed to themselves; they shall be delivered up to councils, and beaten in the synagogues, and brought before rulers and kings for His sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be preached among all the nations. The sheep on the right hand in Matthew 25. are some of those Gentiles who own Jesus as King.
Mark 13:11 is how they were to conduct themselves when led and delivered up for trial. They were to take no thought beforehand what they should say, nor premeditate (Isa. 26:3), but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit. What a comfort to them to know that thus God would be with them, and give them, by the Spirit, the very words they were to utter. Just as in old time, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).
Mark 13:12-13. To receive the truth that Jesus is the true Messiah, was to incur the hatred and arouse the enmity of man’s heart, so that the dearest ties were disregarded, and brother shall betray brother to death, and children shall rise against parents and cause them to be put to death, and ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. From Revelation 14:13 and Revelation 20:4-6 we see that those martyrs get a place with Christ when He reigns. While those that are faithful to the end, and are spared, do not die”; but have a place on earth in the Kingdom. In Revelation 7 we find Israel and the Gentiles on earth in the Kingdom.
Mark 13:14-18, alludes to Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 12:11. The beast and the false prophet command everyone to worship them; the true God is set aside. The godly must flee to the mountains, to the place prepared for them for a time, times and half a time – that is, three and one-half years, or 42 months, or 1,260 days (Rev. 12).
So sharp and sudden should this persecution arise, they were to flee at once, step on to the hill from the housetop, leave all their goods. It would be hard for mothers who could not flee, or leave their sucking babes. And they were to pray that it might be in good weather, when no torrents might block their way.
Mark 13:19. “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which ‘God created unto this time, neither shall he.” This is the great tribulation. The mass of the Jews bow to the Antichrist; go in with his idolatry, and will share his doom in the lake of fire (Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20). The godly will be preserved. (See the picture of it in Mark 5:13,15, also Matt. 12:43-45.)
Mark 13:20. The Lord watches over them; some He allows to be put to death, some He preserves, both of these are overcomers. And He knows how to shorten the days, for His elect’s sake whom He has chosen.
Mark 13:21-23. God allows Satan to raise up miracle-working imposters who pretend to be the Messiah, who seek to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. “But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” Obedience to His word would deliver them from the snares of the enemy.
Mark 13:24-27. The sun, moon, stars, and powers are symbolic of established authority. Their darkening and falling and shaking, speak of confusion and tumult, and from other Scriptures we see that dreadful wars are going on just at that time, and then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He has with Him His mighty angels, and heavenly saints, and deals with Jews and Gentiles, and judges those who rejected Him, delivering His earthly people, and setting up His Kingdom, but here it is the gathering of His elect Israel to their own land. His elect heavenly people are already with Him.
Mark 13:28-31. The fig tree puts forth her leaves, and summer seems near, but Israel or the Jews are still the same unbelieving generation, and will remain so till Christ comes. “This generation” means their unbelieving character.
Mark 13:32-37. No one knows the day nor the hour, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. As prophet the Lord knows, and gives what is given Him of His Father. We do not know when the Lord will come for us, but they, and we, are to read a lesson from verses 32-37. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Our Master has gone, given us our place to fill, and our work to do. If He came today, would He be pleased at what we are doing? He may be here today or tomorrow. “What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” What a word for us this is! May we be awake to what is for His honor and glory, and in obedience to His word. May He not catch us sleeping among the dead (Eph. 5:14), so that we can ever rejoice in expectation of soon seeing Him. Would we like Him to come just now? Why not?