Signs of the Times 2

Intro

Are you ready to go deep this morning? We are going to start out with a short Bibliology lesson. What does that mean? the study of the Bible.

Hermeneutics. Does anyone recognize this word? It’s an approach to interpreting and understanding the Bible. There is only one correct interpretation and that is God’s original meaning.

When someone says “what does the passage say to you?” You can think about your own application, but you don’t get to interpret God’s Word to mean what you want. So our goal is always - what did God say and mean when through the Holy Spirit, his Word was written.

A few general rules:

Historical and cultural context - who, when, where,

Purpose of the book - why

Understanding immediate context - within book, previous chapter, etc

Literary form & word meaning - History, Narrative, Poetry, Prophecy; metaphor, parables, proverbs, allegory

Theological analysis - what we know about God and what other Scripture says

We will use all of these to better understand today’s passage. But people still end up with different interpretations, because they are starting from different places. Based on our understanding of the Bible, at First Baptist, and in our state and national fellowships - we teach the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church, the literal second coming of Jesus Christ, and a millennial kingdom, before the new heaven and new earth.

In last week’s sermon, Jesus prophesied that the Jerusalem temple would be totally destroyed and that his followers should expect all kinds of trials - but continue to share the Gospel. This week we will finish the Olivet discourse in the rest of chapter 13 as Jesus tells them about a great period of tribulation and his return - the second coming.

These teachings from Jesus about eschatology or the study of end times or last things, have a really broad interpretation. Our understanding of this passage is affected by our overall end times position that comes from the rest of Scripture.

Series

We are resuming our series from Mark’s Gospel: The Crown & The Cross. Mark shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ responses always helped his listeners better understand God’s heart and his statements are typically clear commands for us to follow.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

We are finishing part 2 of 2 in Mark 13 this week. Our parallel passages are in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. If you missed last week, you can watch or listen on our website or YouTube page.

PRAY

READ Mark 13:14-23

Abomination of Desolation

We have to remember the context of this passage. Jesus was answering the questions from his four close disciples in verse 4 - when will the destruction of the temple be? and what are the signs? Jesus didn’t tell them when this would occur, but he does give a number of signs.

Last week, we also talked about the idea that some prophecies have multiple fulfillments. We also have the difficulty of interpreting prophecy when we don’t know how much time is between events. The mountain range viewed from a distance makes the peaks appear close together when there may be hundreds of miles between them. When God wants to be specific he give specific time spans, but when He doesn’t want us to know we should not try to predict exact dates.

v. 14 gives a warning - when you see the abomination of desolation flee - run away! In the previous verses Jesus warned about all the things that would occur, but his message was Preach the Gospel - not run and hide.

Now, here is the sign that the destruction of Jerusalem is upon you and his command is “Escape to the mountains!”

There is parenthetical note in verse 14. What is it? “Let the reader understand.” The author, Mark added that to point the reader to the prophecy of Daniel and other Scripture passages that use the same terms. Our parallel passage in Matt 24:15 spells out “spoken of by the prophet Daniel” He was writing to early Christians around 50-60 AD. Just 10-20 years before the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.

Daniel 9 talked about a rebuilding of Jerusalem and then a week of desolations and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate.

But he is also writing to us - And now that we have the complete Bible through Revelation, we can use other NT divinely inspired passages to fit the pieces together. We believe Daniel was talking about the Anti-Christ. Verse 14 says “standing where he ought not to be.

This Abomination matches Paul’s description of “the man of lawlessness” in 2 Thess 2:3–4, who will exalt himself in the temple as God. Both texts depict a blasphemous Antichrist who will do a scandalous deed that will trigger the return of the Lord. Both texts also warn disciples against mistaken eschatological assumptions, especially against being deceived by signs and wonders.

Cooper’s Holman Commentary, says “Perhaps the best solution is to understand the “abomination that causes desolation” from Daniel as having a multiple fulfillment in (1) 167 BC in the Maccabean period when Antiochus IV desecrated the temple, (2) the events of A.D. 70 when Rome invaded, destroyed the Temple and all worship there, and finally (3) the ultimate end times in the middle of the Great Tribulation - the antichrist and the false prophet desecrate the Temple.

The tribulation explained hear as worse than any other most likely is describing the final Tribulation, because the next verses tell us the Son of Man comes immediately after the Tribulation. That did not occur in 70 AD. So it cannot be only talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.

READ Mark 13:24-27

Coming of the Son of Man

A number of prophetic passages talk about great cosmic upheaval at the end of the ages when Jesus returns for a second time.

Joel 3:14–15 ESV

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

Jesus said in v 13

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Revelation 8:10–12 ESV

The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

These passages all talk about Christ’s return after great destruction. When things are at their darkest - the Son of Man Jesus appears and all see Him coming in great power and glory.

The picture is one of total cosmic collapse. Darkness and chaos will envelop everything, just as before time (Gen 1:2). Mark will again describe a condition of “darkness over the whole earth” at the crucifixion scene (15:33), as though there Satan was making a final desperate attempt to engulf God’s Son in total darkness.

Son of Man (Jesus uses this phrase for himself often) will coming in clouds with great power and glory. This is the second coming when Jesus gathers the elect or those who were saved during the great tribulation.

The phrase ‘The Son of Man coming in clouds’ ” (v. 26) also appears in the vision of Dan 7:13 .

Daniel 7:13 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

Contrast this Coming of Jesus with the descriptions of the Rapture:

The Rapture (1 Thess 4:13 to 5:11) is described as happening unexpectedly like a thief in the night - when people are experiencing peace and security. This is not the same as the description of darkening skies - so we can’t confuse this coming of Jesus with the Rapture. They are two distinct events.

1 Thess 5:9 - God has not destined us for wrath (Tribulation) but to be saved by Jesus. This also gives us hope, that Jesus takes the elect home before the Tribulation begins.

These are two different events. I’m pointing this out because some other views of end times have no Rapture - they see these descriptions as all about the same event.

READ Mark 13:28-31

Fig Tree’s Lesson

Regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, when you see these signs he will be at the gates. This generation will not pass - Mark 8:12 - this generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given to this generation (Pharisees).

So as we read this, the generation that will not pass away before the destruction of the Temple is the group of people alive in 70 AD. Otherwise, if we interpret this verse to me the final end of the earth, none of those people would have been alive. Many many generations have come and gone in the past 2000 years since Jesus said that. And He is never wrong. His word will never pass away. Even though heaven and earth as we know them will pass away, God’s Word remains and it will always be true, it will also be accomplished.

v. 29 When you see these things happening he is near - at the very gates. Referring to the one attacking Jerusalem. And then later in a second fulfillment it could be referring to the Antichrist coming as the final abomination of desolation.

READ Mark 13:32-37

Stay Awake!

What day or hour this will happen - no one knows! Not even the angels or the Son, but only the Father. This was part of Jesus being man and God. While he was here on earth, he did not know when he would return. Jesus declared that he did not know and they should not worry about it. Even at Jesus’ ascension, he clearly said to the disciples that it was not for them “to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).

You don’t know when this will be either. Don’t try to figure it out. Don’t spend your days wrapped up in the signs of the times trying to predict the Temple’s destruction or even Christ’s return.

Be on Guard. Stay awake!

Like a doorkeeper who must watch because he does not know when the owner will return, they also must be on guard. The four times—evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn—were the four watches of the night used by the Romans. A constant vigil must be kept because he could arrive suddenly. I believe these sudden arrivals refer to the Rapture - which could happen any day or time. The second coming, we know will be preceded by the coming of the Antichrist, the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation, the judgments of wrath in Revelation, the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars.

The point of Mark 13 was not to answer the disciples’ questions of when will these things happen and what are the signs? But instead for Jesus to give the clear instruction: “Keep Watch”. This is the word of Jesus to the four, to the Twelve, the word of Mark to his readers, and the word of the Spirit to believers in every age. The End is unknown and will come suddenly: live in constant readiness.

Summary

Listen again to Jesus Commands throughout this passage:

v. 23 Be on your guard - false christs and prophets will come with signs and wonders

v. 28 Learn from this lesson

v. 33 Be on guard! Keep awake! - you don’t know when Jesus will return

v. 35 Stay awake! Be alert - stand firm in the faith, strong and courageous

v. 37 Stay awake! This is for you and for all (including us today)

In the midst of all of these puzzling prophecies and multiple fulfillments over huge spans of time, there are two main principles: avoid unhealthy interest in actual dates and secondly, because of that uncertainty, become more watchful. In other words, the moral and spiritual goal is to be watchful and living in obedience because he may return at any moment. We don’t want to be caught sleeping spiritually.

Don’t let anything keep you from preaching the Gospel. Don’t be fooled by false teachers - study and know the God’s true word.

Titus 2:12-13 Renounce ungodliness - waiting for blessed hope appearing of the our Savior

Take Aways

Invitation - Based on everything you just heard - the most pressing matter today is are you ready for Jesus to return? Have you confessed your sins, accepted his death burial and resurrection for your salvation? Jesus shared all of this so that people would be ready for his return.

But there’s good news and bad news.

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Good news - Whoever believes has eternal life. Bad news - whoever does not believe will perish - that means eternal death separation from God forever in hell. Come talk to me or contact me if you are ready to take that step.

Believers

Are you relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to sustain you through persecution and problems?

Do you have absolute confidence in the certainty of God’s Word? Do you live like you believe it? Not worrying, trusting God, choosing to God instead of choosing immediate pleasure.

We are commissioned by God to preach the Gospel even when it is hard. When was the last time you shared your faith with an unbeliever?

Are living consciously (awake to spiritual truth) or complacently (asleep at the wheel)?

Are you living deliberately and intentionally? - numbering our days until he returns or takes us home? Don’t go to heaven full of regrets for things you didn’t accomplish and people you didn’t bring with you.

Benediction

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is coming soon. Amen.