Mark 13:24-31 The Glorious Return of Christ
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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 in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. “Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Introduction
Introduction
The prophecy the Lord gives us in Mark 13 consists of events that would happen during the lives of the apostles, after their deaths, and before the Lord returns.
Up until this point, most of the prophecy was about events that would occur in the apostles life times.
The prophecy He makes in this passage, has not taken place yet - it is entirely unfufilled
Some of these events may take place in our own day
For this reason, we ought to study this with particular interest
Firstly, we should look at the solemn dignity that will attend the Lord’s second coming
Firstly, we should look at the solemn dignity that will attend the Lord’s second coming
The language He uses about the sun, moon and stars gives the impression of a universal upheaval in the universe at the close of the current age
Reminds us of Peter’s words - 2 Pet 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
It will be a time of terror and confusion - worse than what we have seen with hurricanes and earthquakes
Mark 13:26 ““Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
The Lord’s second coming will be completely different from the first
With the first, He came in weakness, a little infant, born of a poor woman in a cattle stall, unnoticed, without any honor, and hardly known
The second time, He will come at royalty, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized, and feared by all the peoples of the earth
The first tie He came to suffer - to take on our sins - to be considered a curse - to be despised, rejected, unfairly condemned and executed
He will come the second time to rule the earth - to put His enemies under His feet - to inherit the kingdoms of this world - to rule them righteously - to judge all people, and live forever
The difference is truly amazing
The contrast between the first and second comings (or advents) is striking
It really makes you think
These are comfortable thoughts for Christ’s followers - their own King will soon be here - they will reap they have sown
They will receive a wonderful reward for all they have suffered for Christ’s sake - they will turn in their crosses for crowns
These are deeply troubling thoughts for the enemies of Christ
The same Jesus of Nazareth, that they mocked and rejected, will soon be the ruler of the universe
That very Christ, whose Gospel they wouldn’t believe, will now be their Judge - they will be helpless, hopeless and speechless, and they will stand before Him.
We need to take all these things to heart and learn wisdom
Secondly, we need to note that the very first event after the Lord’s second coming is that He gathers up His elect/chosen people
Secondly, we need to note that the very first event after the Lord’s second coming is that He gathers up His elect/chosen people
Mark 13:27 ““And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”
The Lord will provide for the safety of His followers when He judges the earth
He will not do anything until He has made sure they are safe
The flood did not start until Noah and his family were safe in the ark
The fire did not fall on Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot and his children were safe in Zoar
God will not punish the unbelievers until the believers are safe and secure
The true Christian should look forward to the second coming of Christ without fear.
No matter how terrible things get on the earth, his Master will make sure no harm comes to him
In the present, we will have to deal patiently with our separations from our friends and family, but we will have a joyous meeting, eventually, with all our brothers and sisters in the faith, of every age, every country, every people, and every language
2 Thess. 2:1 “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,”
The great gathering has not yet come
Thirdly, we need to take note of the signs of the times
Thirdly, we need to take note of the signs of the times
Jesus tells His disciples: “learn the parable of the fig tree”
Just as its budding leaves are a signal that summer is coming, so the events going on in the world around us should tell us that "He is near, right at the door”
Christians need to pay attention to public events that are happening in our own day
It is not just a duty to do this, but a sin not to do it
The Lord criticized the Jewish religious leaders for “not discerning the signs of the times”
They did not see that the OT prophecy of Daniel was running out and a Messiah had come with a New Testament
We need to be careful about making the same mistake - we need to open our eyes to the world around us
missionary work is increasing, Muslim influence is fading, there is a revival of new and subtle forms of false teaching
there is a rapd rise of lawlessness and disrespect for authority
These things are like the budding of the fig -tree - they tell us that this world is wearing out and badly needs a new and righteous government - it needs a righteous king - it needs Jesus
Rev. 16:15 “(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)”
Lastly, we need to note how positive and certain the Lord is about His predictions
Lastly, we need to note how positive and certain the Lord is about His predictions
The Lord speaks as though He had already seen the unbelief that is so prevalent in these latter days
Mark 13:31 ““Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
We ought never to allow ourselves to think that any biblical prophecy is unlikely to be fulfilled just because it hasn’t happened before
We shouldn’t say “is it really likely that Christ will come again? Is it likely the world will be burned up?
It doesn’t matter what we think in such things. The only question is: what is written it God’s word?
We should never forget 2Pet. 3:3-4 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.””
What should we have thought if we were here 2000 years ago?
Would we have thought that the Son of God would come as a poor man and die? Or that He would come as a King and rule the Earth?
We know now, that He came as a “man of sorrows” and died on the cross.
We should therefore have no doubt that He will come the second time in glory, and reign as our King forever. Thus saith the Lord.
Bringing it home
Bringing it home
The takeaway from this passage, is that we should be certain of the truth of every single prediction
We need to be convinced that every word of it will be proved at last and fully accomplished
We need to live knowing the truth of this passage, like good servants ready to meet their Lord
However it all turns out, and whenever it happens, we will be safe.
The Gospel
The Gospel
It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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