Jesus' Final Teaching on Future Events

Theme: Expect hard times, but God's plan wins!

Possible readings: 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Review

The ministry of Jesus as He taught his Disciples.

Jesus taught the crowds.

Jesus even taught the religious and political elitists.

1. Be Wise. (1-8)

A. …When looking around right now. (1-2)

What Jesus said must have seemed unfathomable!

We know from history that this literally happened in 70 AD.

Matthew 23:38 ESV

38 See, your house is left to you desolate.

Jesus had declared it Desolate because it lacked spiritual life and had become a wasteland of spirituality!

Enjoy mankind’s achievements, but don’t think they can stand up against God’s plan.

Barb and I have been able to travel as see some interesting places: Parthenon, Norte Dom, and even the Temple Mount. Today they are just ruins.

B. … When considering the future. (3-4)

These guys genuinely wanted to know what Jesus thought! - 4

Even if others were not interested in being wise - they were interested!

C. ...When hearing spectacular things. (5-8)

Multiplying of bad teachers.

Mark 10.38-41 the disciples had tried to stop other teachers.

World events show God is working His plan.

Natural disasters

Man-made claims that are disastrous!

2. Be At Peace with God’s Plan. (9-13)

A. … While standing your guard. “Take heed” “Watch out”

5, 9, 23, 33

We are told to stand our guard against wicked people!

2 Peter 3:17 HCSB

Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability.

B. ...While being persecuted for your faith. 9-10; 12-13

This is happening around the world today.

China is destroying the church buildings of non government registered churches.

If the gender police in Victoria get their way it will be happening there, and they expect to make their views standard nation wide.

Mark 10.30, 2 Tim 3.12

C. When you need to speak up. 11

This goes with His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. When on trial for your faith, never doubt that is God who they want to judge!

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This is seen many times throughout the book of Acts and throughout church history.

I too have personally felt that peace when in trouble for evangelism in other countries. If you have not heard about those experiences, you can ask me personally another time.

3. Be Informed. (14-27)

A. A double reference to knowing the Old Testament.

Mark 13:14 NKJV

“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

“spoken of by Daniel the prophet” also found in MT 24.15

“Standing where it out not” is in the literal Jewish temple as a person proclaims to be God.

“Let the reader understand” referring to the reader of the book of Daniel because when Christ was saying this the Gospel of Mark did not yet exist.

B. A double picture.

Mark (3) True Signs of the End of the Age (13:14–23)

the Romans when they were in the process of destroying it in A.D. 70. Titus, for example, entered the holy of holies and removed various items and took them to Rome to adorn his victory procession

When Rome destroyed the temple

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 13

refers to the image that the Antichrist (“the Beast” of Rev. 13) will put into the Jewish temple (Dan. 9:27; 2 Thes. 2:3–10) and force the godless world to worship.

In the middle of the Tribulation period yet to come.

Both Times this was to be a warning sign to the Jews to get out of town!

C. These warnings are specifically for the Jews in Jerusalem, but important because the tribulation will impact people everywhere.

Jesus is not calling on Christians to be the best preppers!

The call is to pray! v 18

Mark 13:18 ESV

Pray that it may not happen in winter.

D. Know that God has control of those days!

Mark 13:20 NKJV

And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

E. Know what you believe! (21-23)

Christians already have our Saviour. We are not looking for some new Messiah. While we look forward to the true King of Kings returning, we are not looking for a new way or a person who lives here on earth trying to prove to be a saviour of mankind.

The Jews are still looking.

F. The Second Coming of Christ. (24-27)

Note the words “After the tribulation” (24). We believe in a literal 7 year tribulation where God pours His wrath out on all people who refuse to acknowledge Him as God.

Then we return to the earth with Jesus as He rides in on a white horse with His double edged sword. The word “angels” in v 27 means messengers or one sent to announce.

These verses are a description of Revelation 19.11-20.5

4. Be Careful. (28-37)

A. Responding correctly from knowledge. 28-32

Parable of the fig tree

There are stories that back when people first came south of the equator from northern Europe that many planted crops in the wrong months of the year out of ignorance. While there are crops that can grow during our winter, many crops won’t grow. It is best to know the season and not just the month.

Jesus is telling them to know more than the what a fig tree looks like. Know the seasons. Know when to expect fruit, and when it is a waist of time to look for fruit.

We called off our trip to the Summer Olympic Games because we do not expect to see fruit.

There are seasons when, as a church, we do not expect to see local the local fruit from evangelism.

B. Watching diligently. 33-37

Parable of the servants of the house

Timing is everything! If I would have known that an investment was going up 100% this week, then I would have not sold 20% of my holdings last week.

Jesus says :

Mark 13:33 NKJV

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

“Take heed” = “Be on your guard”

Mark 13:37 NKJV

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

5. Be On The Correct Side. (14.1-2)

A. Proverbs is full of verses about plotting evil, or devising evil (Pr 6.14; 12.20; 14.22; 16.27; 24.8; 30.32) and that is what is happening in these verses!

During a time when the Jewish leaders should have been drawn to God as the celebrated the Passover and related feasts, they were plotting to Kill the son and take his inheritance.

The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard (Mt 21:33–46)

B. These wicked leaders feared the people more than they feared God!

This has never worked out well in history! Nor does it work out well today.

Conclusion: Expect hard times, but God's plan wins!

While evil people will do evil things and sinners will continue to sin, do not be alarmed. Be wise. Be at peace. Be watchful. Be informed. and Be Careful. As believers, the Bible promises us that we will see persecutions. These should not shake our faith, but confirm it. Whatever happens, we know God’s plan wins!

“Be Wise” came before “Be Informed”. How are we standing on wisdom as we continue to understand the times we live in?

Being at peace in tribulation comes from confidence we are where God wants us. How sure are you that you are where God wants you?

You will not know you are on God’s side if you do not know God’s plan. Can we do a Bible study with some here to help you understand God’s Story of Hope and His Way to Joy?