Mark 13:24-31 The Glorious Return of Christ

Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From: The Holy Bible and J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Pray

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.

Mark 13:24–31 NASB95

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hebrews 10:31 NASB95

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,

Romans 10:9 NASB95

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