Mark 13:14-23 (Part 31); Olivet Discourse#2 In this study we will explore what was perhaps the first written account of the life of Jesus, the gospel of Mark.
Episode 23S16 Mark 13:14-23 (Part 31) Olivet Discourse #2
(Written by Kip Wehrman, Ph.D. 05/22/2023)
Hello everyone. I’m Kip and I want to thank you for joining me today @ the PUNLA Coffee Table. Today we are continuing our study of the gospel according to Mark with Mark 13:14-23 (Part 31) Olivet Discourse #2.
Last time we worked through verse 1-13. Jesus had told the disciple the temple would be utterly destroyed, so of course the disciples ask Jesus when it would happen and how will they know. Obvious questions. Many claim that in Matthew’s account they ask about the second coming of Christ, but there is no reason they would ask such a question, since they did not believe Jesus was going to die or leave at that time.
Let’s read it again from the New American Standard version (NAS).
Mark 13:1-37 (NAS) 1As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things come about, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” 5And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and they will mislead many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains. 9“But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13And you will be hated by everyone because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 14“Now when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15Whoever is on the housetop must not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house. 16And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 17But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18Moreover, pray that it will not happen in winter. 19For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again. 20And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it; 22for false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. 23But beware; I have told you everything in advance. 24“But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, 25AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. 27And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. 28“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 30Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 33“Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. 34It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep. 37What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay alert!’”
Now let’s look at these verse closer,
Mark 13:14 (NAS) 14“Now when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
The disciples ask when and how will we know, and Jesus answered. When you see the abomination of desolation…. What? What does that mean. A lot of people say this was a reference to Daniel and Revelation. This is a prediction of the end of days. Okay, but why. The temple was destroyed in AD70. The disciples want to know the when and how of that destruction which occurred in their lifetimes. End times doesn’t really make sense, So let’s look at Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 24:15-16 (NAS) 15“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand—16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Luke 21:20-21 (NAS) 20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains,
Both Mark and Matthew say abomination of desolation and let the reader understand, but Luke says plainly when armies surround Jerusalem. Well makes it easier to understand. To the Jewish audience Mark and Matthew use abomination of desolation a reference to Daniel, but Luke is writing to a Greek, he does not use the Daniel reference he simply says when you see the army. The army surrounding the city is the sign, the abomination of desolation. This is the sign that the destruction of the temple is imminent.
Okay I know many believe this is end times prophecy but why would that be an answer to the disciples’ question, when the temple they were looking at was destroyed in AD70 by the romans. Contextually and literally, Jesus must be talking about the AD70 destruction. Nothing else makes sense from the text thus far.
The disciples ask when and how. Jesus says when you see the roman army around the city you’ll know.
Mark 13:15-18 (NAS) 15Whoever is on the housetop must not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house. 16And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 17But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18Moreover, pray that it will not happen in winter.
Now Jesus is giving advice. When you see it run for the mountains. Let’s continue.
Mark 13:19-20 (NAS) . 19For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again. 20And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
Jesus goes to explain how severe this calamity will be. Worse than anything ever before. Worse than the Assyrians, worse than the Babylonians, worse than the Persians or Greeks. And if you know much about the AD70 destruction of Jerusalem, it was awful. The Romans just waited, while different armed factions of Jews slaughter each other in the city. Starvation, rape, murder, just evil, all Jew on Jew. Then the Roman’s leveled the city and the temple, killing nearly everyone. And those who were not killed were taken as slaves and sent all over the Roman Empire. But tradition says the Christian hid in the mountains and were saved from this horror.
Let’s continue with
Mark 13:21-23 (NAS) 21And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it; 22for false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. 23But beware; I have told you everything in advance.
Jesus does not stop his warning. He goes on to predict the rise and fall of many false messiahs, which happened. He gave them all they needed to be ready for what was coming in their lifetimes.
These words of Jesus are prophetic about the Church. Families betrayed family, this happened before AD70 with the persecution of the church. This happened by Romans leaders like Nero all over the Roman empire. Christians are still persecuted because of the name of Jesus. We shouldn’t be surprised. He was preparing His disciples.
I think this is a good place to stop for now, let’s pick it up next time.
I want you to contemplate.
- Disciples ask when and how?.
- Jesus answered, when you see the Roman army run..
- The Jesus warns followers will face trouble too.
Let me leave you with this today. It is really important to read scriptures in context. I know when we do Bible studies like this it is difficult in the time we have. Read the full chapter and the chapter which have the same story in the other gospels. We need to do this so we can see the full picture. But of course, there are some odd things in our English translations. We need to see why the three accounts are different, then figure out why. Sometimes it is just a matter of perspective and context. Thank you for joining me for our study of the gospel of Mark. Until next time @ the PUNLA Coffee Table. God Bless
