Introduction:

In the last two chapters we have noticed the teachings of Jesus in the temple complex. From cleansing the temple to dealing with the questions of the Jewish leaders, Jesus has spent His time on this day making His final teachings. It seems that evening has come, probably the Tuesday before His death, and Jesus is going out of the temple complex with His disciples. This leads us into Mark 13, a section of text paralleled in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. This is a section of text that has much confusion and false teaching surrounding Jesus’ teaching. There are many keys that we need to find to understand this chapter of prophecy which Jesus teaches. The language of the chapter is apocalyptic, meaning that Jesus is using figures and symbols of judgment as we find in Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation. With these things in mind, let us consider Jesus’ words about the tribulation.

Introduction to Jesus’ Prophecy

The topic (13:1-2)

As Jesus and His disciples are leaving the temple complex, one of the disciples says, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” Now why did the disciples bring this up? Were they giving a tour of the city as if Jesus had never been there before? Not at all. Mark does not record this, but in the Matthew account we find out that Jesus has pronounced a woe upon Jerusalem for its killing of prophets. Jesus further pronounces desolation upon the city of Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37 -39). The disciples point out the magnificence of the city, particularly the beauty of the temple that had been renovated by Herod for 46 years. Consider the words of Josephus concerning this temple, “The exterior of the building wanted nothing that could astound either mind or eye. For, being covered on all sides with massive plates of gold, the sun was no sooner up than it radiated so fiery a flash that persons straining to look at it were compelled to avert their eyes, as from the solar rays. To approaching strangers it appeared from a distance like a snow-clad mountain; for all that was not overlaid with gold was of purest white. Some of the stones in the building were forty-five cubits in length, five in height and six in breadth.”

Upon the disciples’ making this observation, Jesus says, “You see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!” Jesus clearly states that the temple would be destroyed. There would not be one stone left standing upon another stone. Can you imagine the silence of the disciples as they are walking to the Mount of Olives? Jesus’ declaration is likely soaking into the minds of each of these disciples, trying to comprehend such a thought. The magnificence of this temple that had been renovated to its current beauty for over 46 years would be tossed to the ground. The first key for us to understand this section of text is to notice what the subject matter is about, which is the destruction of the temple.

The disciples’ two questions (13:3-4)

When Jesus and the disciples reach the Mount of Olives , they want to know more about this matter. Peter, James, John, and Andrew ask two questions to Jesus privately about all of this. Notice carefully the two questions: 1) When will these things happen, and 2) What will be the sign when all these things are about to take place? Understanding the questions that the disciples ask is another key to understanding this prophecy properly. The reason for so much confusion is the Matthew account says the questions were about “the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age.” These two questions sound like the second coming of Christ and the end of the world. But let us consider why this is not what the disciples are talking about.

First, the disciples do not seem to have any concept about a second coming of Christ or the end of the world. Where had Jesus spent time talking about the end of the world or about His second coming up to this point in the gospels? The disciples did not have a concept of these future events.

Second, let us also remember who the gospel of Matthew was written to, which is the Jews. Those with a Jewish background and understanding. To the Jewish mind, the coming of the Son of Man was simply a reference to judgment which had been used throughout by the Old Testament prophets.

Further, the end of the age is not the end of the world, but the end of the Jewish age. If you were to tell the Jews or those with a Jewish mindset like Jesus’ disciples that the temple would be destroyed, what did this mean to them? Judgment and the end of the Jewish age. A destroyed temple means that the Jews can no longer worship God, offer sacrifices, and fulfill the law given by Moses. The age of the Jews is over. This is why the Mark and Luke accounts make no mention of the end of the world or about the return of Christ. The gospels of Mark and Luke were written to Romans and to Greeks (Gentiles), respectively. Mark and Luke explain Matthew’s language to the non-Jew by saying the questions were about when one stone of the temple would not be left on another and what would be the signs leading up to this event. If this is not the case, then there is a discrepancy between Matthew’s account and Mark and Luke’s accounts. Either all three are talking about the same event, the destruction of the temple and city, or Matthew is talking about the second coming and the end of the world, and Mark and Luke are confused because they think it is about the temple. We must accept that the three accounts are in harmony and therefore are all talking about the destruction of the temple. Matthew simply uses Jewish language since he is writing to a Jewish audience.

The Signs When All These Things Are About to Take Place

False signs

Jesus addresses the second question first and describes the signs that will lead up to the destruction of the temple. Instead of listing the signs that will precede this event, Jesus describes things that will happen which are false signs and only the beginning of these things.

–False messiahs. Jesus first warns against following false messiahs. Many will come claiming to be the Christ and they will deceive many. Many will follow after these people, but Jesus says to watch out so that they are not deceived. Acts 5:36 -37 records for us two men named Theudas and Judas of Galilee who rose up claiming to be someone and deceiving people into following after them. Jesus warned that no one follow these men, for many would come along and do this.

–Wars and rumors of wars. Jesus also says that wars and rumors of wars must take place, but not to be alarmed at these things, for they are not signs of the destruction of the temple and the Jewish system. Tacitus tells us some of the history of the time between AD 30-70. He says “the history on which I am entering is that of a period rich in disasters, terrible with battles, torn by civil struggles, horrible even in peace. Four emperors fell by the sword; there were three civil wars, more foreign wars, and often both at the same time.” Josephus and other historians of the time describe a very disturbed state of Judea during this time. Massacres of the Jews were perpetuated at Caesarea , at Alexandria , in Babylonia and in Syria. In addition to the trouble in Palestine , the Pax Romana was momentarily destabilized in 68-69 A.D.

–Earthquakes and famines. Jesus also says that there will be earthquakes and famines, yet these are just of the beginning of the pains that are to come. Famine ravaged Judea during the rule of Claudius, which we read about in Acts 11:28. More than 30,000 died of pestilence in ancient Babylon , parts of Judea and in Rome before AD 70. There is an earthquake recorded in Acts 16:26. All of this was going on, but Jesus says when these signs are happening, it is not yet the end of Jerusalem.

–Persecutions. Jesus also says that persecutions will come against them. We certainly do not have to try too hard to find persecutions against the apostles in the book of Acts. When were the apostles not suffering persecutions?

Signs of destruction

The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations (13:10). Jesus says that before the destruction of the temple the gospel must be proclaimed to all the nations. Now, has this happened yet? Our minds will likely think not when we consider the size of the world and all that it would take to preach the gospel to all the nations. But Paul said that all the nations had heard the gospel. “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister (Colossians 1:23). The letter to the Colossians was written about 61 A.D., about nine years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Abomination of desolation standing where it should not (13:14).

The second important sign would be seeing the abomination of desolation standing where it should not. There have been many wild speculations concerning what the abomination of desolation is. Most seem to believe the abomination of desolation is the antichrist. But this is not what the scriptures teach. Matthew 24 tells us that Jesus is referring to the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel (Matthew 24:15). So if we can determine what Daniel was referring to when he spoke of the abomination of desolation, we will understand what Jesus is referring to.

Daniel refers to the abomination of desolation in Daniel 9:27. In Daniel 9:26-27 we see prophesied the destruction of the city and sanctuary after the Messiah had been cut off. The entity that destroyed the city and sanctuary once Jesus had died was none other than the Roman empire. The Romans were abomination standing where it ought not be and would desolate the city and sanctuary.

To prove that our interpretation of this passage is correct, let us turn to Luke 21:20 where Luke makes very clear who the abomination of desolation is. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” This was a big sign for the Christians to look for to know that the destruction of the city and temple were near. If you saw Roman armies coming upon the city and surrounding it, then it was time to flee. This is the advice Jesus gives in Mark 13:15-16. No one was to turn back, but get out of the house and run to the mountains to flee the devastation. Historians tell us about this great tribulation on Jerusalem. Outside the city hundreds of Jews were crucified. Inside, civil war broke out as several factions spent more time fighting each other than the Romans. The temple courts were awash with blood. The blockade had reduced the city to a state of famine so severe that mothers ate their own children. Pestilence, starvation, slaughter and monstrous atrocities were commonplace. By August of A.D. 70, 1.1 million Jews had fallen by the edge of the sword and 100,000 had been led away captive into all nations. A high percentage of the city’s population was exterminated and enslaved during the fall of Jerusalem.

Verse 20 is a powerful statement about the severity of the destruction. Unless the Lord cut short those days, no one would survive the slaughter that took place in Jerusalem. The actual final siege of the city lasted only five months, though the city had been surrounded on and off for about three years. As bad as things were, Jesus says that things would have been far worse if the Lord had not cut these days short. In verses 21-23 Jesus again reminds the disciples that there will be many false messiahs that will come, but they are not to be followed. Jesus also says that there will be false prophets who will rise up and make false statements. Many Jews believed that God would deliver the city from the Romans when it was surrounded. Jesus warns His disciples to be watchful of these false claims and false teachings.

Coming of the Son of Man

In verses 24-27 Jesus gives very detailed information about the end of the Jewish system. Notice in verse 24 that the things that Jesus is still speaking about are “in those days.” We have not jumped to the end of time as some want to teach or believe. Jesus is still speaking about this same time frame, when the city and sanctuary of Jerusalem is destroyed. Remember, up to this point, Jesus has given two signs of the coming destruction. Now Jesus describes the destruction itself. Upon first glance, many will want to take these words as unfulfilled because it speaks about the sun being darkened, the moon not giving light, stars falling from the sky, and celestial powers being shaken. Further, Jesus says that they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. But, let us not forget that Jesus said that these things would happen “in those days.”

This language is used repeatedly throughout the Old Testament by the prophets to describe the fall of a nation. While we could go to many places, the easiest place to look may be Isaiah 13. In Isaiah 13 we read about the prophecy against Babylon (Isa 13:1). There is great apocalyptic language used to describe the end of Babylonian power. Notice in Isaiah 13:8, “They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth.” This is similar to Jesus’ words in Mark 13:8. But notice what Isaiah says in Isaiah 13:10 , “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.” Notice that these are the exact same words Jesus used against Jerusalem that Isaiah used against Babylon. What do these words mean? Not the end of the world, but the end of the nation prophesied against. It would be “lights out” for the nation. Coming in the clouds and the gathering of the elect are all images of judgment against the heathen, and protection of God’s remnant. Those who are the Lord’s will be protected, but those who have rebelled will see the Lord in judgment (Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 4:13 ; Ezekiel 30:3).

Parable of the fig tree

Jesus now tells the parable of the fig tree. What is the point of the parable? Just as seeing the sprouting of leaves on the trees lets one know that summer is coming, so also all of these signs have been given to know the certainty of Jerusalem ‘s destruction. Now let us notice the third very important key from this teaching. Verse 30 says, “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.” I will suggest to you that this is a key to unlocking this prophecy. It is absolutely impossible for any of this prophecy to be unfulfilled because people in the days of Jesus were going to see these things fulfilled. Any interpretation that considers the end of time as the answer ignores these words of Jesus.

When Will These Things Be?

Day and hour

It is interesting that Jesus has spent the last 31 verses describing the signs that would precede the coming of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. These were the signs of the end of the Jewish age and the Jewish system. But the disciples had also asked another question. Not only did the disciples want to know the signs of the coming of these things, but they also wanted to know when the exact time was that these things would happen. Therefore, Jesus now speaks about the “day and the hour.” The disciples wanted to know the day and hour. They were asking for very precise information so they could know about this terror and be ready. However, Jesus says that know one knows the day or the hour. Jesus Himself did not even know the exact day or hour, neither did the angels in heaven. Only the Father knew when these things would happen. The Father had yet to determine the exact time when this destruction and judgment would come. Paul described the Jews as filling up the measure of their sins but wrath coming upon them to the uttermost (1 Thessalonians 2:16). The Jews were filling up the wrath against them and when these sins were filled to the uttermost, then judgment would come.

Be alert and ready

Since the day or the hour cannot be given, the disciples are told to be watchful and ready. The disciples were to be looking for the signs that Jesus had given, ever prepared to flee when the signs began to unfold. The Lord was going to return in judgment, and the people were to be ready. This is the message of the parable of the master on a journey. The slaves were to be ready for His return.

Conclusion:

I hope these keys make it very clear as to what this prophecy of Jesus was about. The discussion centered around the magnificent buildings of Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus is answering the questions about when this destruction would come. Finally, Jesus said all these things would be fulfilled in that generation. The tribulation is the fall of Jerusalem to Roman powers. Let us note that God judges the wicked, even if they consider themselves to be “God’s people.” Though the Jews were God’s chosen people through the seed of Abraham, when they rebelled and sinned, God’s judgment was to come against them unless they repented. The people were stubborn and did not repent. Therefore, severe judgment came upon them. We must also be ready for the Lord’s return and for the Lord’s judgment (2 Peter 3:10 -12). While these words are not directly given to us, since they were fulfilled in the first century, the principle is the same. We are looking for the coming of the Lord when the books will be opened and everyone will be judged according to their deeds. Those who are found faithful and righteous will be with the Lord, while those who were not prepared will be dealt with severely and judged eternally. Are we ready for judgment?

Lesson adapted from sermon given by Brent Kercheville