Mark Chapter Thirteen
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
[Text parallels Matthew 24:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6]
13:1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As they were leaving the Temple grounds one of Jesus’ disciples noted the beauty of the Temple buildings and pointed them out to Him. Jesus asks him, “Do you see these great buildings?,” essentially asking the disciple to take a good look at them. Jesus then states that at some point in the future the Temple will be completely destroyed, as there will not be one stone left that wouldn’t be smashed.[1]
Signs of the End Coming
[Text parallels Matthew 24:3-14 and Luke 21:7-19]
13:3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
This verse begins Mark’s rendition of the “Olivet Discourse,” an insight to events that will occur near the end of time.[2] Jesus, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were sitting on the Mount of Olives at a location where they could see the Temple. Remembering what Jesus said earlier about the destruction of the Temple, the disciples ask Jesus several questions regarding the end times (note that Mark only records two of the questions).[3]
13:4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
The disciples ask when the destruction of the Temple will occur and what will be the sign when all these things will soon begin. Jesus begins with a warning regarding false teaching and false Messiahs. He tells them not to be led astray as many people will claim to be Him and lead many astray. How do so many get fooled to believe these frauds? That is primarily due to the lack of understanding, sadly many modern churches are not equipping believers with the knowledge of God’s Word (see Ephesians 4:11-16). Ignorance of the Bible is perhaps Christianity’s greatest problem today. It’s a good thing that the problem is easily remedied, one can start reading and studying the Bible immediately.
13:7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Even though the questions recorded by Mark do not specifically refer to the end times, it is implied, as Jesus begins to talk about signs.[4] As mentioned earlier, there are two primary viewpoints regarding these verses: 1) catastrophic events such as earthquakes, wars, and famines will occur in history, but are not considered signs; or 2) these are signs that directly precede the end times. Many also interpret birth pains to refer to these events occurring more often and with greater intensity as the end times get closer.[5]
13:9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Jesus offers another warning, this one aimed at the disciples. In Luke’s gospel account he states that these things will occur before any of the events Jesus spoke about (see Luke 21:12), in fact the persecution began shortly after Jesus returned to heaven. Using similar wording when He warned about persecution at the time, He sent out His disciples as apostles (see Matthew 10:16-23), Jesus now warns that they will face rejection from both Jews and Gentiles, that their persecution will allow them opportunities to evangelize, and that they will be successful. When they are brought before authorities they are not to be anxious as the Holy Spirit will provide them the words to speak. But they will be hated and some killed for Jesus’ name sake. The disciples did indeed face severe persecution and many were martyred (as recorded in the book of Acts and secular history). Jesus chose these men to start an “Apostolic Movement,” to spread the gospel message and that movement is still very much alive today due to the power of God through the Holy Spirit.
The second half of verse thirteen is often misinterpreted. Some believe that Jesus is saying that salvation can be earned through perseverance. However, the Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not obtainable through any “good works,” including perseverance (see Acts 15:1-11; Romans 3:19-28; 11:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:7-11; Titus 3:5). Others believe that Jesus is implying that believers can lose their salvation, which again is not what the Bible teaches (see John 6:35-40; 10:27-29; 17:11; Romans 8:26-39; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Jesus is saying that those that endure suffering for His sake give evidence to the world that they are indeed Christians and that they will be saved (Greek ‘sōthēsetai’,[6] delivered, rescued from danger).
The Abomination of Desolation
[Text parallels Matthew 24:15-28 and Luke 21:20-24]
13:14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter.
The phrase “abomination of desolation” (or abomination that causes desolation) is probably foreign to some Christians (unless they studied the Old Testament or prophecy). Jesus even pointed out that this subject may require additional study, when He said “let the reader understand.” An abomination of desolation is something that is considered an abomination to God that causes the daily processes of the Temple operations to come to a stop. Mark is the only one to describe the abomination as something standing, Matthew identifies it as the abomination that was “spoken of by the prophet Daniel” (see Matthew 24:15), however, that also requires additional study to narrow down the meaning.[7] It is likely that Jesus is describing a statute of a pagan god that is placed in the holy place of the Temple (see Matthew 24:15). This abomination would effectively ‘pollute’ the Temple and therefore it could not be used until it was cleansed again.
Jesus warns that once the abomination is seen, then those in Judea are to leave town immediately and head for the mountains. He further expresses the urgency by stating that anyone on the top of their homes (both ancient and modern middle-east homes often use the roof to sleep on) to not go inside to collect their belongings and that those in the field (farming, etc.) should not go back to their homes to get their cloaks, they are to leave without delay. He also adds that it would be difficult for those that are pregnant and for those nursing infants during this time. He gives them instructions that they should pray that this event not occur during the winter.
This interpretation raises two concerns, one is that the holy place that Jesus mentioned (as recorded by Matthew) would require the presence of the Temple, which was destroyed in 70 A.D. and was never rebuilt. The other concern is how does a non-priest see what is going on inside the Temple? Both of these concerns were addressed earlier.[8]
13:19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
Jesus then speaks of a period of tribulation, an end-time event of incredible anguish that Jesus states that there has never been anything like it before and nothing like it will ever occur again. He also notes that the suffering will be so bad that if God had not shortened the days, no human would have been saved (same Greek word noted above, meaning to be rescued). But for the sake of those that had accepted Jesus as their Savior, God shortened the days. As pointed out earlier in the Introduction to the Olivet Discourse (found at the beginning of Matthew chapter 24), there are a number of popular ways to interpret this discourse. One highly-debated issue is the timing of the events (as each gospel account reads differently). Some believe that verse twenty proves that Christians will go through the tribulation, while others believe God will remove the believers before the tribulation,[9] and that the ‘elect’ referenced here are those who accepted Jesus later, during the tribulation period.[10]
13:21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
Jesus again warns about false christs and false prophets, as many will come that are able to perform various signs and wonders that are so convincing that they could, if possible, lead believers astray. He forewarns them that they should stay alert and watch out for these frauds.
The Coming of the Son of Man
[Text parallels Matthew 24:29-31 and Luke 21:25-27]
13:24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then 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.
When the tribulation period was over, dramatic changes will take place. The sun will extinguish, leaving the moon and earth dark. The stars will fall from the sky and all the celestial bodies will be shaken. These events were prophesied, in the Old Testament Isaiah wrote: “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:9-13, see also Isaiah 24:1-23; 34:1-4; Joel 2:10-11, 30-32; 3:15) In the New Testament Peter wrote: “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.” (2 Peter 3:10, see also Revelation 6:14; 20:11; 21:1)
At this time Jesus will return. Jesus describes Himself as coming in the clouds with great power and glory. At that time He will send out the angels to gather believers from around the world. Matthew records that this will be heralded with the sound of a trumpet (see Matthew 24:31). In context the reference to the elect will be those believers who will accept Jesus as their Savior after the tribulation began (after the rapture).
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
[Text parallels Matthew 24:32-35 and Luke 21:28-33]
13:28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Jesus gives a quick lesson on how prophetic signs work. When a fig tree begins to turn green everyone knows that summer is getting close. In the same way when the things Jesus spoke about begin to take place, it is to be understood that they are signs of Jesus’ return and that the time of His second coming is near. When those signs begin to appear, His appearance is imminent and that the generation alive at that time will not die before the events Jesus spoke about in this discourse have completely taken place. Jesus adds that while heaven and earth will pass away,[11] His words are eternal.
No One Knows That Day or Hour
[Text parallels Matthew 24:36-42 and Luke 21:34-36]
13:32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Jesus now addresses the disciples’ first question, “When will these things be?” (see verse 4). He makes it abundantly clear that no one knows when these things are to take place, nor are they to ever know. Instead of trying to “figure out” when Jesus is coming back, Christians are to “Be on guard, keep awake.” Jesus compares His return with a story about a man who is about to go on a trip and puts his servants in charge of his home, commanding them to stay awake. They are to be prepared for the owner to return at any time.
It would be difficult to read this passage without noticing the often-used expression “stay awake” (or keep awake). According to Mark, Jesus used two Greek words to express this concept: 1) ‘agrypneite’[12] meaning to totally abstain from sleeping; and 2) ‘grēgoreō’[13] to watch, also to refrain from sleeping. Is Jesus telling His followers to always stay awake? The answer would be both ’no’ and ‘yes’. No, He is not asking Christians to physically stay awake, but He is telling believers that they need to remain Spiritually vigilant. That means to always be mindful that they belong to Jesus. Since the time of His return is unknown, Christians need to be actively pursuing what Jesus commanded and refrain from sin or any activity that takes their eyes (and mind) off Jesus. The concept of watching is being aware, which would include being aware of what is going on in close proximity around them as well as being aware of what is going on in the world.
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[1] See commentary and Considerations under Matthew 24:1-2.
[2] See the Introduction to the Olivet Discourse at the beginning of Matthew chapter 24.
[3] See “The Initial Questions” section of the Introduction to the Olivet Discourse.
[4] See “Looking for Signs” section of the Introduction to the Olivet Discourse.
[5] See commentary under Matthew 24:6-8.
[6] Strong’s Greek 4982.
[7] See Considerations under Matthew 24:23-28 "Breakdown of the Abominations and Desolations in the Book of Daniel."
[8] See commentary under Matthew 24:15.
[9] In an event known as the ‘Rapture’, see the Introduction to the Olivet Discourse in the beginning of Matthew chapter 24 for more detail.
[10] See commentary under Matthew 24:21-22.
[11] See commentary under Matthew 24:34-35.
[12] Strong’s Greek 69.
[13] Strong’s Greek 1127.