Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans
CHAPTER 13
Mark 13:1-2
1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his
disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of
stones and what buildings are here!
2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these
great buildings? there shall not be left one stone
upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
At this point in time, Jesus
and the Apostles left the
Jesus responded by asking,
“Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left atop
another! They shall all be thrown down.
This reflects the time they
left the
Mark 13:3-10
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and
James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all
these things shall be fulfilled?
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars,
be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be
yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there
shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles:
these are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and
in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and
kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
When Jesus and the Apostles
arrived at the
Then, Jesus warned them,
“Take heed lest any man deceive you. Because, many shall come in My name
saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and shall cause many to stray from the truth.”
That statement by Jesus
telling us the many shall come in His name saying, “I am Christ,” may be taught
in differing manners.
The Greek text includes the
definite article (Gr. too-tw), which indicates the true name of Christ Jesus and
not using it to indicate another.
Today, many say they
represent Christ Jesus and yet they refuse to teach the Gospel of Life. Instead, they preach and teach a liberation
or social gospel or they teach that we may buy God’s blessings. They are false teachers presenting a
fraudulent gospel! They are deceivers!
Jesus further warned, “When
you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled, because such
things must happen. However, the end
shall not be yet. Nation (Gr. ethnos-eqnoV) shall rise against nation (Gr. ethnos-eqnoV), and kingdom against
kingdom. There shall be earthquakes in
diverse places. There shall be famines and troubles. But, these are only the beginnings of sorrows
(Gr. oodinoon-wdinwn), or birth pains. Take heed to yourselves, because
they shall deliver you up to councils, and beat you in the synagogues. You
shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake and for a testimony
against them. But, first the gospel must be published (Gr. keeruchtheenai-khrucqhnai), officially
proclaimed among all nations (Gr. ethnee-eqnh), or ethnic groups.”
Verse 10 does not say that each and every
person in each and every nation must hear the gospel. That is a wonderful goal, but absolutely
unnecessary when telling of the return of Christ, and that is the point of this
discourse.
Very few if any Americans
have been persecuted for being Christians.
We have suffered for our political affiliations or other social issues,
but not for the sake of Christ. Many in
other nations have suffered greatly, even giving their lives because of their
faith in Christ. American is a pampered
country.
Mark 11-25
11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand
what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given
you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy
Ghost.
12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son;
and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be
put to death.
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth
understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither
enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his
garment.
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those
days!
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of
the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:
but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is
there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,
and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it
were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and
the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall
be shaken.
Jesus continued, “When they
shall take you, and “deliver” (Gr. paradidantes-paradidanteV), or commit you
to punishment, don’t plan ahead of time what to say. Instead, tell them
whatever is given to you {by the Holy Spirit} at that time. Remember, it is not you who speaks. It is the
Holy Spirit!
“Furthermore, brother shall
betray brother to death! (the definite
article {the} is not in the Greek text) A father and son shall be estranged.
Children shall rise up against parents, and shall cause them to be put to
death. You {all} shall be (Gr. esesthe-esesqe/2nd person,
plural, future indicative) hated, detested among all for my name's sake (the
word “men” is added), but he {they} that shall have endured unto the end, they
shall be saved. But, when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken
of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let him that reads this
understand), then let them that be in
Jesus then offered comfort to
His followers and to us, “Except the Lord had {not already} shortened (Gr. ekoloboose-ekolobwse) those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the
sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the days.”
God has already set in motion
the time of Satan’s vengeance of upon His elect and chosen has cut short!
When will the shortening
begin? How will that effect saints in
tribulation (or the tribulation)?
The answer to the first
question is: “No one except God knows!”
The answer to the second
question is not that simple.
What Jesus just said
represents the Great tribulation. It is
at that time that according to many “pre-trib”
theorists, the Holy Spirit is taken from the earth with the saints. If that is true, there would be no elect and
chosen to protect by cutting the days short. So, why cut the days short when
none of the chosen and elect are around to receive the benefits of that
shortening?
Then Christ further warns us,
“If anyone says, Christ is here or there (on earth), don’t believe him.”
Again He warns (in verse 22),
“False Christs and false prophets shall rise, and
shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if
it were possible, even the elect.”
That is a true Christian’s
“get out of jail free card.” Notice it
says “if it were possible” (literally: if possible).
The implication is
inescapable! Ultimate deception for a true Christian is not possible!
Rom 8:14 For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
And, He will not lead us into
deception!
Jesus adds, “Take care. I
have foretold you all things, but in the days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, the stars of heaven
shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mark 13:26-27
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power
and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of
heaven.
Jesus said, “After all that
they shall see the coming (return) of Christ (in clouds) with great power and
glory. And, at that time, God the Father shall send his angels to gather His elect
from the four winds and from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost
part of heaven.
The “gathering” takes place
upon the return of Christ, after the great tribulation!
Mark 13:28-29
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that
it is nigh, even at the doors.
Again Christ turns to a
parable. He admonishes us to learn the
parable of the fig tree. Christ says,
“When her branch is yet tender and leaves appear, you will know that summer is
near. In like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, also know
that the time of the gathering is near.
Mark 13:30-37
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these
things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no,
not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and
gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the
porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at
even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Christ Jesus further tells
us, “Truthfully I say that this generation shall not pass, until all these
things are done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass
away. However, no one knows the day or
the hour these things will happen, except the Father. Take care, watch and
pray, because you don’t know the time.”
He continues, “For the Son of
man is as a man taking a far journey, Who left His house, and gave authority to
His servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
“So, Watch! You don’t know
when the Master of the house will return. His return may be at sundown, or
midnight, or at dawn, or after sunrise. Watch, lest coming suddenly He finds
you sleeping. What I tell you, I say to all, Watch!”