Mark: The Olivet Discourse: Signs of the times [Mark 13:1-13]

Mark: The Olivet Discourse: Signs of the times []

We are going to start chapter 13 of Mark’s gospel, which is known as the Olivet discourse, we’ll break it up into 2 maybe 3 sermons. I wrote in my notes at the beginning of the week to remind myself and to help me stay on task in this chapter… don’t miss the forest for the trees. If you are in to taking notes write that down on your bulletins or somewhere especially when it comes to studying eschatology [study of end times]. Don’t miss the forest for the trees. We sometimes get so caught up in the details of the end time events that we miss the beautiful overall picture.

, “Beloved what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. Now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know when Jesus returns, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

So as we look at this discourse Jesus gave of the end times, we’re not going to get caught up with minute details, but focus on the plain things Jesus teaches us. So whatever predetermined ideas you may have about the end times, set those aside for now and we’ll focus on what Jesus says. i.e. don’t read into the text your own personal understanding, we’re going to use Hermeneutics [branch of study that involves interpretation].

The end times is not some theological rubics cube we have to try to sort out, and you get frustrated with because you can never get that thing to all go the same direction, so you say, “I give up, I know it goes together some how, but I can’t figure it out. I’ll leave it to those smarter than I to figure out.” No, as I’ve said before, the main things are usually the plain things. OK so let’s not miss the forest for the trees as we get into it.

So three principals of Hermeneutics that we’ll use in this study is...

1. God’s word is for clarity not confusion. God is not a God of confusion, neither is His word a book of confusion.

2. God’s word is practical not theoretical. i.e. God’s word is for life not just for theoretical ideas of the mind

3. In God’s word we understand what’s obscure in light of what’s clear. typically the clear things help our understanding of what’s not clear…and don’t forget…not everything is for our knowing.

Stand for the reading of the word of God []

Few things spark greater interest than the study of eschatology [end times]. Christians and non-Christians alike are fascinated by the issue. unfortunately with this great interest there is also comes many ideas, some of which are absolutely unwarranted. Many through the years have been obsessed with predicting when the end will be, no one has swung at it and missed more than the Jehovah’s witnesses, who have predicted nine dates of the end… 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1984.

But they’re not the only ones to make this mistake, in 1988 many evangelical’s looked silly by buying into Edgar Whisenant’s 88 reasons the rapture is in 1988. Even more recently many said the end of time would be 12/21/2012, when the Mayan calendar ended. The list goes on and on with failed attempts to pin point the end, but what we need to remember is, Jesus said…no one knows!

As Jesus addressed this issue of the end, you’ll notice He doesn’t encourage us to set dates, or identify the Antichrist, or the false prophet, or the 4 horseman of the Apocalypse. Instead he says…be on guard and stay awake. Since we do know the end will come quickly, we must always be ready…it’s not easy but it’s worth it. We are going to walk through this first 13 verse, verse by verse.

The grandeur and destiny of the temple []

Jesus leaves the temple for the last time. Just as in , when the glory of the Lord departed the temple…so here, Jesus the full embodiment of the glory of God leaves the temple. One of the disciples attention is drawn to the temple. He says see what manner of stones and what building are here.

The Second Temple [Herod’s temple]. All three accounts of the Olivet Discourse in the synoptics have this same background. Jesus departing the Temple area with one calling attention to it’s grandeur and beauty. It was called Herod’s temple because of Herod the Great who began a renewal of the post-captivity temple, the first temple built by Solomon had been destroyed by Babylon. The second temple was worked on all the way till days of Jesus, so it’s construction too at least 46 years.

The Great building. Jesus even referred to it as a great building. Josephus, a Jewish historian of the first century described the temple as lavish, and massive, with white marble blocks of stone. Some weighing in at 100 tons, measuring as much as 40 feet by 12 feet, by 18 feet. The building was impressive.

Thrown down. Jesus took this opportunity to get the disciples attention, He says, “you see this great massive impressive building…it’ll be utterly destroyed. Jesus obviously knowing all things, looks to the future at the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 when the temple complex would be completely destroyed by the Romans. Josephus described it in his book “Wars of the Jews” he said, Jerusalem and the Temple looked as if there had never been anyone inhabiting it.” i.e. it was a wasteland of rubbish.

Though Jesus gives no reason why to his disciples at that time for it’s destruction, we know after the fact that the Temple and the sacrificial system that had been maintained there was a part of the old order that would soon be done away with. So when we couple this prediction of Jesus with the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple, we see the coming destruction of the temple not as simply a response of Imperial Rome to insurrection, but as the judgment of God upon the rebelliousness of his people.

A question about when []

Mount of Olives. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, directly across the Kidron valley from the temple. It was the perfect vantage point to gaze at the Temple. I recall standing there when I was in Israel looking over the city, you can see everything from the mount of olives. Of course now there is no temple there but what is there is the golden dome of the Muslims.

Tell us when. And just like people today, the disciples want to know…when will these things happen. They couldn’t imagine life without the temple, it was the center of Jewish religious life, so without the temple…well that would have to be the end of days. They associated the destruction of the temple with the end of time.

The disciples were concerned about when, while they should have asked the question why? Why would the temple be destroyed? The destruction of the temple was necessary because it would be no longer necessary. As the book of Hebrews tells us, Jesus was the sacrifice once for all time, the sacrificial atonement of Jesus death upon the cross would destroy the need for any other sacrifice ever again…so the temple is no longer necessary.

There are some today who have this idea that the temple must be rebuilt before the Lord will return…they’re missing the point! The NT tells us that Christians are the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sacrifice did away with the need for sacrifice, therefore the temple is not necessary anymore. Those who have that idea have focused on a tree and missed the forest.

What will the signs be? The disciples ask what anyone would ask, what are the signs of this? I believe the disciples had the assumption that this destruction of the temple would be the consummation or inauguration of the Messianic Kingdom. There desire for a sign stood in contrast to the responsibility of being on constant watch. And that’s what we must be careful of as well, not caught up in when these things will happen or the signs of things and forgetting to be on guard and be on watch. Live as if Jesus is returning today. We’ve got to do better, many of us are asleep at the wheel today.

Signs of the times: deceivers []

Take heed. Jesus begins the discourse with take heed, literally means to be on watch, on guard for danger. The key to understanding the discourse is in the phrase, “the end” What did Jesus mean? End in Greek is ‘telos’ it means goal or conclusion. The root of the word is in the verb ‘fulfilled’ verse 4, which indicates the disciples were referring to the end of the age. But in these first 13 verses Jesus assures us “the end is not yet” [v.7], and “he who endures to the end, shall be saved” verse 13. Jesus doesn’t give us signs of the end but signs of the times deceivers, wars, catastrophes, etc. i.e. these signs are not the signs the end is near but only that the end is coming some day…so take heed, be on guard, watch out for danger.

Many will come and claim ‘I am he’. Jesus said many will come and claim to be Christ returned. In fact in the first century there were many false claims of men who said they were Christ. Some of these reports lead to various revolts of the Jews against Rome, which were crushed and ultimately resulted in the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. In A.D. 135 the Jews lost their homeland altogether under the false claims to be the messiah by Simon Bar-Kokhab. This has happened through out history, as recent as David Koresh who lead the Branch Davidian sect who claimed to be the returned Christ in 1993.

Many will be deceived. We may easily sit back and say, how foolish those people who buy into that are…but the words of Jesus are clear, many will be deceived, but by the grace of God we could be as well.

Signs of the times: Wars []

Wars and rumors of wars. indeed some of the wars in Palestine resulted from the false Messiahs, and even while Mark was writing this gospel there were reports of rebellious movements that lead to catastrophic destruction in Palestine. But regardless of war, Jesus was not so much warning as encouraging His disciples, as well as us. Jesus says do not be troubled, no need to be frightened or alarmed by this, it is necessary for such things to happen.

Nation will rise against nation. Such things are to be expected as a natural part of the history of the world, it’s inevitable in human history, reflecting human depravity. The same was then the same is now.

The end is not yet. This is meant as another encouragement, this does not mean the end, it just means things are going as they are expected to. Deceivers and wars would come, the disciples need not be worried the end is not yet, the same is true today, deceivers and wars will come, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Every generation thinks, ‘this is the end’ if we pay attention to the words of Jesus when the end is near…we’ll now it, we will see that next week.

Signs of the times: Catastrophes []

The third sign of the times is natural disasters, like wars these should be expected and should not cause alarm the the end is at hand. Earthquakes.

Famines.

Troubles. means any kind of disturbance, or other natural disaster, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. I’ve heard people say, there is more natural disasters then before, it’s the end…I say look at the words of Jesus…he says this is only the beginning of sorrows [birth-pains] KJV. Birth pains is a good way to describe it. A mother begins to have birth pains well before she ever gives birth…but the beautiful thing is the process of birth/compared to the return of Christ. The mother is in pain during labor but after birth comes overwhelming joy…there will be pain as we await the return of Christ, but when he finally does return…of what joy there will be. The troubles of this age help us look forward to the joy of the coming of the Lord.

Signs of the times: Persecution []

Expectation of hostility: Jesus warns again in verse 9 ‘watch out’ this sign of the times is different from the others, as it is directly against believer-disciples. Jesus wanted his disciples and us to be warned of opposition for His name sake. We must be on guard or those persecutions may turn us aside from faithfully following Him.

They will deliver you up to councils.

You will be beaten in the synagogues. Local synagogues administered such discipline, including the forty stripes save one, which Paul’s experience gives specific evidence to Jesus prediction.

You will be brought before the rulers. Notice how matter of fact Jesus is about these things that will happen to them. You will be arrested, beaten, betrayed, and put to death, and even hated for the sake of Jesus. All the disciples except John would die martyrs death. You read the book of Acts and all these things Jesus says here happen rather quickly. All throughout history Christianity has endured persecution.

Fox’s book of Martyrs is a book of the history of Christian’s who faithfully gave their lives for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. While arresting, beating, and being put to death for Jesus name may sound surreal to us in America, it’s a reality to many brothers and sisters around the world today.

It’s estimated that nearly 70-80 million Christians have given their lives for the sake of Christ, 45 million have been in the 20th century alone. The 20th century was the bloodiest century in Christendom. Some say, that’s evidence the end is near…maybe. I personally believe it has less to do with the end be close and more to do about what Jesus said in verse 10

The gospel must be preached to all nations. I believe the rise in Christian martyrs is due to the fact that the gospel is being taking to places it never has been before…thus fulfilling what Jesus said must happen…the gospel must be preached. The primary work of this age is the preaching and spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must do better!

Signs of the times: Withstanding persecutions []

Jesus took back up the subject of persecution to provide more detail about its nature and how it was to be resisted.

Knowing what to say. Jesus gives insight into how to deal with persecution, when you’re taken up and arrested don’t worry beforehand or premeditate on what you’ll say, but whatever is given you in that hour speak, it’s from the Holy Spirit. Now some have suggested because of this saying of Jesus a Pastor shouldn’t prepare before hand but speak what’s given them at that moment…well, those who have suggested that have plainly misunderstood what Jesus is saying right? This is in the context of persecution, that does not mean preparation for a sermon or testimony invalid.

Rejection for Jesus sake. A reality of the times is rejection for Jesus sake, and that may come in the form of the family circle. Jesus words make clear that such betrayals can result from bearing witness to the gospel. in fact Jesus says you will be hated for my name’s sake.

Enduring to the end. Perseverance is the proof that our profession is real. It will be tough, but our Lord will be faithful to keep us by His power. Vance Havner said, “Faith that fizzles before the finish was faulty faith from the first.” This is especially true when we experience severe persecution. It was certainly true in the first century, and it is true in the 21st century, and it will be true in the future as history moves toward its climatic end with the return of king Jesus.

Upon surveying this first section of this discourse about the end times what stands out to us? I think it should be the plain things. Jesus gave the disciples warning and encouragement about the distressing things that lay ahead and which they must experience-things that also characterize this present age. We find warning and encouragement about distressing things and what lies ahead that we do not know.

Jesus warning and encouragement serve to exhort the disciples to be on guard against temptation and error, to avoid fear and alarm, to preach the gospel faithfully, and to endure whatever would come their way. We are exhorted the same way, we must be on guard against temptation and error, to follow after wrong ideas that would bring fear and alarm…our focus should be on preaching the gospel faithfully and enduring whatever comes our way.

The disciples were admonished to be faithful to the end of the age without being unduly preoccupied about the timing and details of the end. The same goes for us today, so are so preoccupied by the end that they miss the present opportunities to share Jesus, the hope that we have, and the strength we have to endure to the end.

The primary focus and intent of chapter 13, Jesus Olivet discourse is not to disclose eschatological information but to promote faith and obedience in a time of distress and upheaval.

Some ask me, “don’t you believe we’re living in the last days?” and I say, “yes, we have been for the last 2,000 years, it may be 2,000 more.” Our focus should be on what Jesus focused on, walking in faith and obedience in troubling times and sharing the gospel to the nations.

Don’t miss the forest for the trees. When we look at eschatology don’t get all focused on the tree, when we have a forest of hope. “Sometimes I like the read the conclusion of a book to see what I have to look forward to. Well, I read the conclusion to this book, the Bible, and guess what…We win!!!