Mark 13 - The Time of the End

Mark 13

This chapter begins with one of the disciples pointing out the beauty of the temple. This begins a conversation with about the end times. Jesus tells the disciples that the temple would be completely destroyed, as it was in AD 70.

It is important to note here that Jesus’s words give a mixed description of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and a description of the end times. This type of dual prophecy fulfilment is common in the bible. See here.

The disciples ask him about this later, specifically about when it will happen and how to recognize it was coming. This leads Jesus in a discourse about the future.

He begins by telling us some of the things that will happen first. He calls these the “birth pains” likening them to the pains experienced in pregnancy during labor. The image he gives is of the messianic age being prepared to be born, and the turmoil as the labor pains necessary to bring it about. 

Jesus describes several signs that he calls the beginning of birth pains. The idea is that before a baby is born a woman goes into labor. The labor may be short or long, but when labor starts you know the baby is coming. They will happen before Jesus returns, but they do not tells us how much time is left.

The first of these signs is the false messiahs. “Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.” We have certainly seen plenty of people who have tried to pass them selves off as a messiah. Here is a list of dozens that is compiled on Wikipedia. Jesus warns to be diligent to make sure we are not carried off by them. We need to make sure that we are not deceived by someone claiming to be him or by false teachers leading us away from him. The only way to do that is to be rooted in the truth. We need a growing relationship with Jesus.

Some other things that will happen during the time we wait for the ends are wars and rumors of wars. This prophecy has been fulfilled in spades. During the last century we experienced two world wars, as well as a myriad of smaller conflicts. Others are earthquakes and famines. Luke’s account adds plagues to this list. Again, these are all things that will happen before the last days. We can see them as bringing his return closer, but they are not an imminent sign of his return like some that we will see described later.

Jesus next warning is that we should expect persecution. This persecution is part of spreading the gospel. Some would go before “governors and kings” like the apostle Paul did. Persecution has been a staple of Christian life periodically throughout its existence. Jesus doesn’t mince words, “you will be hated by all for my names sake” (verse 13). Christianity is experiencing increasing hostility in this country, and we can only expect is to get worse. But Jesus promises us that if we endure to the end will be saved.

“And the gospel must be first preached to all nations”. When the early church began, it was based solely in Jerusalem. It was only after persecution broke out against them that the early Christians began to spread to the surrounding area of Samaria. A second round of persecution caused the believers to spread even further. By the third century A.D., it is said that 90% of the Roman empire was Christian. For the last two thousand years, Christianity has spread like a tide reaching further into the farthest reaches of humanity. Now we are very close to having the Gospel preached to every people group in earth. I believe this is one of the signs that Jesus is returning soon. You can see the state of world missions here at the Joshua Project.

“And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and the children will rise against parents and have them put to death” (verse 12). Here we see a breakdown of familial bonds. This has certainly happened before in history. But I suspect that we will see much more of it soon. There are groups out there who expressly state that they are against the nuclear family. I believe we will see a supplanting of familial bonds with a bond to the state.

In the next section, Jesus opens with the “abomination of desolation”. This is a phrase that contains a lot of history. This is emphasized in the passage by the phrase “let the reader understand”. This phrase tells us something about what’s happening. It comes from the book of Daniel. He prophesied with stunning accuracy what would happen to the nation of Israel after his death, how the gentile nations would rule over them. One of the rulers prophesied was Antiochus Epiphanes. He lived around the time of the Maccabees. He was a terrible ruler over Israel. He was a Greek and tried to force Greek culture on the Jews. This culminated with his takeover of the Jewish temple. He set up a statue of Zeus in the temple, sacrificed a pig to it (an unclean animal), he brought temple prostitutes into the temple of Yahweh. If a woman had her infant son circumcised according to the law of Moses, he would have them crucified, and the baby boy hung around their next. It was a time of terrible tribulation for the Jews. Antiochus also believed that he was a god. That is the source of his surname Epiphanes.

It is easy to see that this phrase “abomination of desolation” has a lot of background. Antiochus serves as a type or foreshadow of the Antichrist or the man of Lawlessness that Paul speaks about in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This figure will declare himself God, perform signs and wonders, and deceive most of the world. Jesus warns us that this will be a time of unparalleled tribulation.

The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy is the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. It paints a picture of the trouble of the last days. Jesus said, “if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved.”

Jesus then quotes Isaiah about the “Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:9-13, and 34:4). This was a time known to the Jews when the Messiah would come and make the world right. But Isaiah warns that that day would be a day of tribulation and judgement. God is calling into account the sins of the world. Associated with this day are great signs in the heavens, the sun going dark and the moon turning to blood, the sky dissolving and the heavens being rolled up like a scroll. Peter says the elements themselves will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10).

Jesus says after the heavenly signs, he will return. Much of the imagery associated with the end times is hard to interpret. There are many people who have interpreted it different ways. One of the most dangerous things I think we can do with this is to predict a date when Jesus swill return. Many have tried and failed to predict the date of his coming. Jesus himself warns us against it. “No one knows the day or the hour.” But one thing we can be certain of: Jesus Christ is returning to this Earth.

So how do we apply all this? Jesus gives the purpose of knowing these things and watching for them. It is to be prepared. Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert!” He says we are his servants, each with an assigned task. We need to make sure we are getting the job done, because we don’t know when he will show back up. God has a purpose for your life. Don’t miss it. “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.”