Mark 13:14-23 The beginnings of the end
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Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
From: The Holy Bible and J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From: The Holy Bible and J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
Pray
Background
Background
The last week of Jesus earthly ministry
Preaching, teaching, performing miracles for three years
Now He is in Jerusalem, to finish His work on the Cross.
Before He begins His trial and execution, Jesus prepares His followers for what will follow.
“But 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 one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that it may not happen in the winter. “For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.
Introduction
Introduction
With the beginning of Chapter 13, Jesus began teaching His disciples about what to expect after His death and resurrection and before He came again.
This is where we are in history - awaiting His return
For a number of reasons, end-times prophecy in the Bible is difficult to understand and as you might expect, students of the bible have varying understandings about what the prophets, Jesus and the Apostles wrote about the end times.
Often, the prophets were writing about visions and messages they had from the Lord that they did not fully understand because the things they were writing about would take place in a future about which they had no knowledge
Not only that, those of us living in the times since they wrote, have little understanding of their ancient world-view
I am sure that when we get to heaven, the Lord will explain all to us
This lesson is my best effort to come to an understanding of what Jesus wanted us to know
These views are informed by the Bible and various theologians who have written about it
Firstly, when will all this happen?
Firstly, when will all this happen?
Although others may disagree, in this text, the Lord is explaining things that will happen in the near future, and in the more distant future.
Verses 1-21 - I believe Jesus is prophesying the immediate future, from His ascension until the destruction of Jerusalem.
That the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish state, from AD 68 - 72 was traumatic for the Jewish people is historical fact and this is consistent with Jesus’ prophecy.
The “abomination of desolation” was likely the presence of Roman troops again in Jerusalem destroying the temple and the city (Maccabean revolt 160 BC)
The destruction of Jerusalem is also prophetic of what mankind will suffer, from sin, in revolutions that have occurred since. The sack of Rome, Mongol invasions, the Russian revolution, civil war - even Ukraine - and like calamities have all witnessed massive suffering due to sin.
Verses 22,23 -His focus shifts at Verse 21 to the more distant future, which includes the days we are in.
The predictions of wars and rumors, of false Christs and so forth, have been occurring since, until the present day.
Secondly, What are we to learn from this? We are to use the means at hand to provide for our personal safety
Secondly, What are we to learn from this? We are to use the means at hand to provide for our personal safety
Mark 13:14-18 ““But 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 one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that it may not happen in the winter.”
There is not a word here that suggests that running from danger, in certain circumstances, is unworthy of a Christian
The teaching of this passage is plain, Christians should tke whatever means necessary to avoid danger.
The lesson is widely applicable to us, as we face the trials and tribulations of our lives
A Christian is not to refuse to use the means that God has provided for his or her safety, now or in the future
We cannot expect God to take care of us, to provide for our needs, if we do not make use of the means and the common sense he gave us, and others
We can expect help from the Father in every time of need, but we need to use the means He gave us
We cannot say we trust God, sit still and do nothing - this brings shame to our faith
There are good examples of this in the Bible
Jacob when He went to meet His brother Esau - He prayed and sent His brother a present
King Hezekiah, when the Chaldean king Sennacherib came against Jerusalem. “With us is the Lord our God, to fight the battles” He also built up the city’s fortifications
The Apostle Paul fled Damascus to save His life; instructed sailors to remain with their ship during shipwreck
Paul had great faith and confidence in the Lord, but He used what He had at hand to survive - we should do the same
Though we have means, we also need to seek the blessing of God
We should use all that God gives us and then leave the outcome of the matter to God - that is the way of a true believer
Thirdly, it is a great privilege to be one of God’s elect
Thirdly, it is a great privilege to be one of God’s elect
Twice in this passage, the Lord talks about His elect
Of the tribulation: Mark 13:20 ““Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
Of false Christs and false teachers He says Mark 13:22 “for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”
It is plain from this and other passages in the Bible, at God has an elect, or chosen people in the world
God has determined to deliver His people from curse and damnation; He has chosen these people in Christ, from the whole of mankind, to bring them to everlasting salvation
To these elect people only, belong the privelege of justification, salvation and glory
They, and they only are called out by the Holy Spirit
They and they only are obedient to that calling - they are the children of God by adoption
They and they only are entitled to the promises of God in the Gospel - they are the ones God truly cares for in the world - not Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings or Leaders - God cares most for His elect
The topic of election is very deep and mysterious - but it is plainly spoken of in Scruipture
Without a doubt, it has been terribly perverted and abused by men - but this should not prevent us from using the term
Rightly used and explained, election is a teaching “full of sweet, pleasant, unspeakable comfort”
But there are cautions in discussing it
God’s election does not destroy our own responsibility for our own souls and lives
While the bible talks of election, it also says that men and women are free to make their own decisions
It calls on us to repent, believe, seek, pray and work
In particular, we are expected to follow the will of God, as it is given to us in His word
The most important thing we have to do is repent and believe the Gospel (as Jesus preached)
Unless we show repentance and faith, we should not believe we are part of His elect
We need to stop doing evil and learn to do well - we need to break from sin
We need to embrace Christ and draw near to God in prayer
By doing these things, we will know if we are one of God’s elect
As an old preacher once said: we need to begin with repentance and faith, and then graduate to election.
knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
The Gospel
The Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Prayer requests
Prayer requests