Mark 13: Warning of the Last Days

• Part 1: v.1-4 Immediate Crisis
  • v.1-4 The Destruction of the Temple
• Part 2: v.5-27: Signs of the Last Days
  • v.5-8 General Signs
  • v.9-13 Arrest & Persecution
  • v.14-20 Temple desolation
  • v.21-23 Beware deception
  • v.24-27 Look to the sky
• Part 3: v.28-37: Final Exhortations
  • v.28-31 Be alert to the time
  • v.32-37 The Day and Hour Unknown

[Preliminary Note: Outside the Temple, Jesus is provoked by his disciples to talk about the destruction of the Temple and the outworking of what we sometimes call, ‘The Last Days’, [see Acts 2:16,17], which is what the rest of the chapter is about. We should note that timing is unclear and whereas we may see that v.1-4 have been fulfilled with the overthrow of Israel after rebellion, and destruction of the Temple in AD70 – never rebuilt even to this day – the rest of the ‘signs’ of this chapter are more general things that have been seen throughout the last two thousand years.]

Part 1: v.1-4: Immediate Crisis

v.1-4 The Destruction of the Temple

v.1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

v.2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

v.3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 

v.4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

[Note: A disciple points out the temple grandeur, but Jesus warns of its short life. The ‘four’ question him and want to know when it will happen.]

Part 2: v.5-27: Signs of the Last Days

v.5-8 General Signs

v.5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 

v.6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 

v.7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 

v.8 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.

[Note: Jesus warns the key thing is not to be deceived, for instance many will come claiming to be him and upheavals will come, but don’t worry, nations, nature, it’s just the early days beginning.]

v.9-13 Arrest & Persecution

v.9 “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. 

v.10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 

v.11 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.

v.12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 

v.13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

[Note: The truth is they will be arrested & persecuted for him, the gospel will go round the world first before the end. When arrested the Holy Spirit will be there for them. Families will be divided for the Faith but his followers are called to remain strong in the persecution to the end.]

v.14-20 Temple desolation

v.14 “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. 

v.15,16 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. 

v.17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 

v.18,19 Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

v.20 “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. 

[Note: There will come a time (soon?) when the enemy breaches the temple – run! [Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11a] Don’t hang around for anything; it will be a bad time for those with babies so pray for this time because it will be bad, but for your sake the Lord will make it short

v.21-23 Beware deception

v.21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 

v.22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

v.23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

[Note: Ignore claims it is him because deception will be rife – so you’ve been alerted!]

v.24-27 Look to the sky

v.24,25 “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.’

v.26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 

v.27 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.

[Note: Prophecy says even the sky will show signs [Isa 13:10; 34:4] but he will return in the sky – see Acts 1:11 – it that will be the time of winding it all up.]

Part 3: v.28-37: Final Exhortations

v.28-31 Be alert to the time

v.28 “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. 

v.29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 

v.30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 

v.31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

[Note: As trees give indication of summer coming, these signs will give indications of him coming; watch for them and get ready. Mankind will last until this time so this warning will not be lost.]

v.32-37 The Day and Hour Unknown

v.32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

v.33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 

v.34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

v.35 “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. 

v.36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 

v.37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

[Note: Only God knows when this will happen so keep watching, be alert. He then gave a picture to explain; the lesson is stay watching, don’t be asleep when he comes, so that’s it – watch for it!]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: