Mark Sermon Manu Week 29

Intro/Welcome

Eschatology — Study of the End Times

Why should you care about this?

If you were going to take a road trip to Colorado

Would you want to know the traffic patterns?

Would you want to know if there were accidents?

Would you want to know construction?

Would you want to know the weather conditions?

Would you want to know that condition of your vehicle?

Why?

to be prepared.

to not be surprised

Also, becuase it is reality.

it will do not good hoping the construction isn’t there

or that the winter blizzard will pass by

Jesus teaches on the End Times becuase it is a reality

and he wants us to be prepared

he wants us to understand our purpose

and he wants us to persevere

he wants us to experience his passion

You might be thinking that this subject has nothing to do with me

But it has everything to do with you

your current circumstances

your response to those circumstances

Jesus paints a picture of reality

a reality that we often don’t want to see

But Jesus will tells us to SEE — to Watch Out — To understand

Because when we do SEE

we will then know our purpose and our path foreward

So do you want to SEE?

do you want to know the truth?

do you want to know the REASON for the affliction you face?

do you want to know how to endure?

Bible

We’ll be in Mark 13:1-37 today.

Go therein your Bibles

Pray

Isaiah 61:1–4 (ESV)

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Context

Mark 13:1–2 (CSB)

1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”

2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

The First thing we need to see is that the most elaborate, the most beautiful structures and systems we build

will not stand in the end

It’s all coming down.

1 Corinthians 3:10–17 (CSB)

10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.

14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

There is a day of reckoning coming.

Therefore— take careful how you work.

What are you building?

This is an extremely practical question

Are you doing what the Lord has called you to do?

Or at least, are you sure you are not doing what the Lord has not called you to do?

Psalm 127:1 (CSB)

1 Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.

Temple

Jesus has already disowned the temple building

The temple (the dwelling place of God) is Jesus Himself

and will be the church.

Mount of Olives

Mark 13:3–4 (CSB)

3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things happen?

And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Matthew 24:3 (CSB)

And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

They have two questions for Jesus

When will this happen?

When will they be completed?

In other words, when is it going to start and when is it going to end

Aren’t those the questions we love to ask God?

Tell me exactly when

When will I get this job, have this relationship, make this move?

When will this season end? this affliction?

We want to know when.

But Jesus doesn’t give them either

in typical God fashion, he paints a picture for them.

He’s going to say “here’s how you will know”

Fig Tree

Mark 13:28–29 (CSB)

28 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree:

As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.

WHY?

b/c our relationships with God is...

not about KNOWING everything,

but about TRUSTING HIM with everything.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

He wants us to know, that HE will in-fact be WITH US all along the WAY

See and don’t be Deceived

Notice the first thing Jesus says in response

Mark 13:5–6 (CSB)

5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you.

6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.

Watch out — SEE

See that you are not deceived — led astray

Why?

Many will come in my name — in the name of Jesus? in the name of God?

saying “I am he” — “ego eimi” — I AM

or I am the Christ — the Savior — the Anointed One

Mark 13:7–8 (CSB)

7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed;

these things must take place, but it is not yet the end.

8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.

These are the beginning of birth pains.

That’s still happening

Who is Jesus talking to?

Is he talking to just the four or to everyone?

Is he talking about the destruction of Jerusalem or the end of the World?

The answer is both.

Biblical Prophecy — has multiple fulfillment

a near and a far

Like two mountain peaks.

What he’s about to describe is truth of both the fall of Jerusalem which will occur in their lifetime

and in the Second Coming — and many times in between

in other words

the fall of Jerusalem is actually a many fulfillment of the Fall of every human city when Christ comes back.

So he is talking both about now and then

meaning what he says applies not just to the disciples present, but to believers in every age.

This is how I read the book of Revelation and this discourse

It spans the entire time between Jesus first coming and his second coming

known as the Church Age.

and all throughout that age there are many ‘fall of jerusalem’ like occurences

To the Disciples

But now he hones in on the disciples specifically

Mark 13:9 (CSB)

9 “But you [yourselves], be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

This is exactly what will happen to these four men in the book of Acts

but also of many of his followers in every age.

But then Jesus gives both the REASON and the POWER

To the Nations

Mark 13:10 (CSB)

10 And it is necessary that the gospel [FIRST] be preached to all nations.

This is the reason they will go before Kings — to be a witness

to the power of the Gospel to the ends of the earth

to all creation

to every tongue, tribe, people and nation

It is necessary for them to be persecuted so that the GOSPEL can be spread.

In Acts 7 after the killing of Stephen — a gospel movement begins outside of Jerusalem

But secondly:

The power of the gospel is manifested in affliction

This cannot be underscored enough.

Jesus himself would suffer for the gospel — he is the gospel.

Gospel Power

But how?

How are we going to get the power / ability to endure that kind of affliction?

Mark 13:11 (CSB)

11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Luke 21:13–15 (CSB)

13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness. 14 Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, 15 for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Jesus will give words and wisdom through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus will be with us

Jesus will empower us.

Jesus suffers for us AND Jesus suffers with us

Affliction

And it’s going to get bad.

Mark 13:12 (CSB)

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

This is happening in our day

If a muslim converts to Christianity they can be put to death

they will likely be disowned and lose everything

Rifqa Bary - Hiding in the Light

Leaving Islam for Christianity cost her more than she imagined, but gave more than she could have dreamed. Rifqa Bary grew up in a devout Muslim home, obediently following her parents’ orders to practice the rituals of Islam. But God was calling her to freedom and love. He was calling her to true faith. He was calling her to give up everything. Hiding in the Light is the story of Rifqa’s remarkable spiritual journey from Islam to Christianity. It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. Most of all, it is the story of a young girl who made life-changing sacrifices to follow Jesus—and who inspires us to do the same.

Mark 13:13 (CSB)

13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Why is Jesus telling us this?

to scare us?

no, to tell us the truth

to point us to reality

so that we would not be surprised by the trials as Peter says

1 Peter 4:12 (CSB)

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.

so that we can endure

expect to be hated for standing up for Jesus

and the things that Jesus taught.

Jesus endured for us AND Jesus will endure with us!

Romans 5:3–5 (CSB)

3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Are you surprised by your trials? by the affliction?

Jesus is pointing us to this bigger picture

this ultimate reality

When we zoom out and see this broad picture we begin to see as He did.

We are in a cosmic battle.

What is the source of all this pain, persecution and affliction?

ultimately it is Satan and Demons

Paul says this in Eph 6.

Ephesians 6:10–12 (CSB)

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

What this means is the affliction is not your fault

The struggles are not your fault.

The persecution is not your fault

It is the fallen world we live in

it is the brokenness in every human being

spurred on by the satanic and sinister forces at work in the world.

Ukraine is just the latest example in a virtually unending history of violence and exploitation

US is not the norm, and we have enough of our own injustices.

Jerusalem

Now he’s going to shift back into talking about Jerusalem

So he has this pattern of starting specific and the zooming out to the broad view

just like you would zoom out on your camera

Mark 13:14–18 (CSB)

14 “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house, 16 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 17 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 18 “Pray it won’t happen in winter.

Daniel 9:27 (CSB)

27 He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

he’s describing the destruction of Jerusalem

Luke comments on this specifically

Luke 21:20 (CSB)

20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.

now he begins to zoom back out to more general global language

Mark 13:19–20 (CSB)

19 For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation until now and never will be again. 20 If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.

It gets really bad

for the sake of the Elect — that is the Church — God cuts off the affliction.

False Messiahs and Prophets

Mark 13:21–23 (CSB)

21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

I have told you everything

Watch out!

Why?

many will go out an decieve

False Messiahs and False Prophets

Do we have any of those today?

False Christ’s - science, self actualization,

False prophets - god won’t judge, God just wants you to be happy, god wants you to be whoever you are and whatever you feel, god doesn’t care about suffering and sin and evil (he does that’s why he sent Christ)

The Second Coming

Mark 13:24–27 (CSB)

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

apocalyptic language

similar things in the prophets and revelation

The poing: Jesus is coming back

and when he does he will gather his church

he will deal with satan, sin and death.

Matt 25 gives us a picture of this — the sheep and goats

So when?

when you sees these things — you know the time is near

in fact

Mark 13:30–31 (CSB)

30 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

‘begin to take place’

in other words, this is starting now and it is a picture of multiple fulfillments.

BE READY

So this is what it’s going to look like

now what do we do with that?

first we watch — we see

2nd we endure by the power of the holy spirit

3rd we fight as soldiers in the kings army

But when?

Mark 13:32 (CSB)

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—but only the Father.

the exact time is not the point

the point is to be about the father’s business

Mark 13:33–37 (CSB)

33 “Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.

34 “It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

How? what does it mean to stay vigilant — to stay awake

Interesting other place these words show up

In gethsemmene

Mark 14:37–38 (CSB)

37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour?

38 Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Application

Prayer