Introduction In Chapter 13 Jesus conducts a briefing with Peter, James, John and Andrew. It concerns the end times. The subject is the Temple and The Tribulation. Jesus gives two broad predictions and two mind-blowing parables. Jesus predicts the total destruction of the Temple and points to a series of signs--signals--that precede the Coming Kingdom. Jesus has predicted spiritual deception and false messiahs (vv.4-6); international global conflict (vv.7-8a); earthquakes and famines (13b); political and family persecution (vv.9-13); global evangelism (v.10); the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit (v.11). Now Jesus turns our attention to a series of events that are chilling. He speaks of the desecration of the Temple (vv.14-16) and unprecedented horrors (vv.17-20). Later Jesus will speak of the false rumors of Christ s return (vv.21-23); fearful celestial phenomena that include the sun, the moon and the stars (vv.24-25). Jesus will speak of His second coming and the gathering of Israel (vv.26-27). The Desecration Of The Temple (v.14) Mark 13:14 20 (NKJV) 14 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. Jesus gives His disciples the sign or signal, the identifying event that marks the mid-point in the future tribulation. In Daniel 9:24-27; Daniel 9:27 (NKJV)27Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. a Prince that should come... he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease...he shall make it desolate Daniel 12:11; and from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. An abomination was any object that had as its primary function to serve as an object of worship or veneration and was therefore detestable or repugnant disgusting. In the Old Testament it was usually used of pagan idols or acts that were degrading or repulsive. Desolation here probably means to make empty or void--whether of human population or spiritual favor. We might think of an act which makes abandoning the Temple an absolute necessity. 1
standing where it ought not --means standing in a place where it ought not to be--that is--it stands as God--or in replacement of God--or as a substitute for God. I believe this is a reference to the man of sin; the antichrist; the one who stands in the Temple and declares he is the Messiah--he is God. The issue is more than personal unbelief, or corporate unbelief; it is a universal; worldwide attempt to replace God in His own Temple--so that all believers witness the event (v.4). The act of corrupting the Temple is so evil Jesus gives it a name; we sometimes forget how repulsive unbelief and rejection are to Jesus and to God. Whatever this is--its fulfillment at least when Jesus spoke was yet future--.the reference would have been understood by the Jewish reader to mean the pollution of the Jewish Temple by Gentiles. To the Jews, all idolatry is an abomination (Deuteronomy 29:17; 2 Kings 16:3). The Jewish temple was defiled in 167 B.C. by the Syrian king Antiochus IV (also called Epiphanes, meaning illustrious ) when he poured swine s blood on the altar. This event was predicted in Daniel 11:31. The temple was also defiled by the Romans in A.D. 70; when they captured and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. However, these events were but anticipations of the final abomination of desolation prophesied in Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 (Wiersbe; Be Dilligent; p. 126). In order to understand the prophecy--we must due a brief bible study in Daniel 9:24-27. We must make it ever so brief! Chapter 9 deals with human (Gentile) history as it relates to the Jews. In Chapter 9 Daniel is 90 years young! He was reading Jeremiah 25:1-14; and the Lord reminded Daniel that the children of the captivity would be there for 70 years! The Temple was gone but at the time of the evening sacrifice Daniel offered himself and his prayers. According to the Jewish Law the land was to be set aside every 7th year (Lev.25:1-7). Because of their failure to keep this law (and other reasons) the people of Israel went into captivity; one year for each sabbatical cycle they failed to observe. Daniel was now introduced to another set of Sabbaths or sevens; seventy-weeks or seventy sets of seven; a total of 490 prophetic years for the Jews. The seventy-sevens have to do with Daniel and His people and the Holy City of Jerusalem; your people...your city (Dan.9:24). And God had specific purposes to fulfill in that time period; the removal of sin--and the bringing of righteousness (Dan.9:24). I am going to suggest to you that the anointing in the Holy Place in the Temple is the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to reign in glory from His temple in Jerusalem. Let me give you a brief outline of those 490 years; verse 25 signals an event that will trigger the 490 year decree (see Nehemiah 2:5); permitting the Nehemiah and the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the CITY (not the Temple); it is interesting that the last seven year period will be an agreement; a covenant by the Antichrist to protect the Jews; a decree at the beginning--and a decree at the end. 2
History gives four different decrees relating to the Jews and Jerusalem; Cyrus; Darius, and Artaxerxes; all made decrees concerning the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 1; 6; and 7); Artaxerxes decreed that Nehemiah could return and build the walls of the city (Neh.2); this was 445 B.C.; and the decree spoken of by Daniel (9:25); took place about 100 years after Daniel s prophecy. The Angel Gabriel spoke of 69 weeks or 69 sevens; 7 and 62--69 X 7 =483 years. Keep in mind a prophetic year in the Bible are not 365 days--but 360 days; it has been calculated by scholars (The Coming Prince; Sir Robert Anderson); that there were 483 prophetic years between the decree--in 445 B.C. and the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (in our text--the day before yesterday!!!). The angel divides the 483 years into two parts; 7; 7X7=49 years; and 62 weeks; 62X7=434 years. Why? It took 49 years to rebuild Jerusalem; this was done (as the angel said) in troublesome times. If you don t believe me; read the book of Nehemiah. 434 years later we come to Messiah; the Prince; who is cut off (His death on the cross); for the sins of the world. The death on the cross accomplishes those things listed in Daniel 9:24. What happened after the death of Jesus? Did the religious leaders and the overwhelming population believe the message of hope and receive Christ? No. They lied about Him, persecuted His messengers; stoned Stephen; and refused to acknowledge that Jesus was both King and Lord. The nation that cut off the Messiah was soon to be cut off--and the armies of Rome marched on the City of Jerusalem and destroyed it. All that changed when the modern state of Israel came into existence on May 14, 1948. And then the City of Jerusalem was reunited in 1967. Rome is called the people of the Prince who will come! Who is this prince? The Prince Peace? The Messiah? No. Not the Christ. The antichrist. He will be the leader of a restored Roman Empire. I believe the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was an illustration of a future invasion and future destruction that might take place in our lifetime. A future Prince will make a future pact for the protection and preservation and peace of the Jewish State and the Jewish City of Jerusalem. The final seven years is the completion of the 490 year period. Between the death of Jesus and this final covenant by the Future Prince; we have the age of the Church; the great parenthesis in God s program. The 490 year period only elapses and is in operation as Israel is and acts in God s will; according to God s plan. When the religious and civil authorities crucified Christ; the clock stopped ticking; when the Antichrist signs the covenant of peace and safety for Israel and Jerusalem--the clock will start ticking once again. This seven year period is known as The Great Tribulation; the time of Jacob s sorrow. It is described here; and in Revelation (chapters 6-19). Some suggest that after 3 and one half years Gog and her allies will invade the Holy Land (Ezekiel 38-39). God will judge them. The Antichrist will invade the land; break the covenant and set 3
himself up as the World Dictator. He will cause the renewed worship in the Jerusalem Temple to cease and desist (see 2 Thess.2) and force the world to worship his image. This is the abomination of desolation (Matt. 24:15; John 5:43; Rev.13). How will this period end? The Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth; meet the rebel armies on the plains of Armageddon-- and defeat them (Rev.19:11-21)( adopted in part from Wiersbe;SEE Wiersbe Expository Outlines of the Old Testament pp.577-579) There are no quotation marks in the Greek text; yet the text has Mark give a brief parenthetical warning--for readers at a future time--not hearers when Jesus gave the message. The message will have special meaning to a future generation when these events take place. None the less Jesus gives a message to those who are living in Judea--to head for the hills. The warning clearly applied to an event in the immediate future; Jerusalem would be destroyed by the invading armies of Rome; the Temple would in fact be sacked and destroyed; but also to the far future population living in Jerusalem at the time of the end. The Flight For Life (vv.14b-18) (14b) let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains Tragically those who were alive in Jerusalem during the time of the Roman invasion; did not follow the advice of Jesus. Most sought refuge in the city! Those who ignored the advice of Jesus were for the most part--slaughtered, butchered, killed. In Book 4 of Josephus he describes the events when the Romans sacked the city and the plundered the treasure and killed the occupants. For those who obeyed the command; they fled to the city of Pella--in the Decapolis Area and prayed for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Jesus warns the urgency and necessity for flight (vv.15-16); to circumstances that hinder flight (vv.17-18); and to a final deterrent or hindrance to flight (vv.21-22)(lane; The Gospel of Mark; p.467). 15Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. In both ancient and modern Jerusalem houses have flat roofs; built close together. People would use the roof like a porch to relax or pray; the roof might be accessed by an outside staircase and therefore did not require that you go downstairs in order to escape. The picture is one of jumping from house top to house top until you can find a place suitable to beat a hasty retreat. 16And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. In ancient days workers would usually leave their outer garment at home. The danger is so great and the opportunity so limited; nothing was to prevent their immediate flight to safety. 4
Better to lose your clothes than your life. 17But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! The Lord extends a special consideration to expectant mothers. Political and social and cultural upheaval are hard on everyone; but most certainly for pregnant mothers. Jesus indicates this is a time where survival will be difficult for the most physically fit and mentally prepared. 18And pray that your flight may not be in winter. Some older New Testament manuscripts simply read; pray that this will not take place in winter. Snow and ice and freezing frost make travel conditions difficult if not deadly. Mark s Gospel excludes something that is included in Matthew s Gospel. There Jesus says pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath (Matt.24:30). Mark s Gentile readers would not have cared. In the chapter Jesus has said; be warned or take heed (vv.5, 9, 23, 33). Do not be troubled (v.7) Endure (v.13) Pray (vv.18; 33) Watch (vv.33,35, 37). When the antichrist makes his appearance; the comforts of home won t matter; personal possessions won t matter; we grieve the people who face physical limitations and travel restrictions and religious restrictions! Unprecedented Tribulation (v.19) 19For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. Human history has been filled with tribulation; but Jesus predicts in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation. Think about what Jesus is saying! The Scriptures tell of judgment in the past; Noah s generation; Sodom and Gomorrah; the inhabitants of Jericho; the passage is almost a word for word citation of Daniel 12:1; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never been since there was a nation till that time. A time like no other time. And then throws in a jab against the material and physical atheists who believe the universe exists as some kind of cosmic accident; with no rhyme or reason. God created the universe. In Luke s Gospel we read (21:26); Men will faint from fear over the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 5
In what days? Clearly Jesus is speaking of a future event. This is no ordinary time of hardship, persecution or terror. This is a time of unprecedented Tribulation. This is why the time period is called the Great Tribulation. You will notice that the Tribulation also has a distinct Jewish character. We read of the Temple (v.14) and compare Matthew 24:15; and of Judea (v.14). It is the time of Jacob s sorrow (Jeremiah 30:7); but it has world wide or global implications. The Church is conspicuous by her absence. The period is unique in its timing and intensity. In my possession is a little jewel entitled Palestine The Coming Storm Center by Dr. Harry Rimmer. My copy is the third edition that dates to 1941. The sub-title of the book is shadows of things to come. The copyright is 1940 and must have been written in 1940 with possible updates for the edition I possess. He writes; Men are slow to learn the lessons of history. Six great powers have tried to exterminate Israel, and one more outstanding attempt will yet be made. He was referring to the time of the great tribulation. He was profoundly aware that Hitler would make an attempt to wipe out the Jew. Again Dr. Rimmer; The Pharaohs tried it in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries B.C. The Assyrians attempted it in 775 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar made a notable attempt in 588 B.C. and Haman followed with the plan of 510 B.C. The next hopeful persecutor was Antiochus Ephiphanes, who sought to blot out the Jews in 170 B.C. The last great attempt to accomplish this hopeful plan of extermination of a great people was that of Titus the Great, who in 70 AD came closer to succeeding than any of his predecessors had! But the people of Israel are far more numerous today than they were when Titus began his efforts against them, and history should teach conquerors to keep their hands off the Jew. God has sworn that they shall never be blotted out as a people until His purposes have been accomplished through them, and this oath He will respect (See pp.66-67). Then this amazing paragraph; And now, in this 20th century, we see the conquering Hitler engaged in the same ancient folly, fondly dreaming that he can blot out his people. He has set himself to wipe them out, root and branch, and if he had his way not one human being of Jewish lineage would be left alive on the face of the earth. Certainly, he has been ardent and tireless in his merciless campaign. He has brought more misery and suffering on Israel than any man, since Titus, has been able to inflict. He has filled their days with terror and their nights with fear. By his vicious and inhuman conduct he has turned the decent elements of humanity against him, and has so far failed of his purpose. And then he writes this amazing sentence; All that Hitler has accomplished by his Europeanwide persecution may be summed up in a sentence: he has accelerated the return of Israel to 6
Palestine, thus apparently hastening his own doom! By driving the preserved people back into the preserved land, Hitler, who does not believe the Bible and who sneers at the Word of God, is helping to fulfill its most outstanding prophecy! Thus does the wrath of men sometimes serve the purposes of God (p.67-68). Divine Intervention (v.20) 20And 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. God will shorten the days for the elect s sake. God s children will not be forgotten. The Lord will cause His angels to protect a remnant. Even in the midst of wrath God remembers mercy (Hab.3:2). William McDonald: The vials of God s wrath will be poured out on the world in those days. It will be a time of calamity, chaos and bloodshed. In fact, the slaughter will be so great that God will supernaturally shorten the period of daylight; otherwise no one would survive. But the days will be shortened in order that God s elect remnant of Jewish believers will be preserved (see p. 95). Paul the Apostle was convinced that the predictions of Jesus would only take place in the end times; Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the day of Christ s Coming) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2 Thess. 2:3-4). The Bible seems to indicate that in the last days; the antichrist--possessed by Satan; will endeavor to destroy all religion--except one--the one he establishes to honor himself. He will go to Jerusalem--demand that the sacrifices and oblations cease; and that he alone be worshiped as God. The Jews will refuse. It will invite a war--so bloody--so devastating--that unless the Lord Himself intervened, human beings would cease to exist. Conclusion The signs and events seem like a laundry list of terror. The destruction of the temple; false messiahs; spiritual deception; world wars; earthquakes and famines; religious, political and familial persecution; but then notes of hope--the world wide preaching of the gospel; and the ministry of the Holy Spirit; a promise of peace by a man who pretends to be the prince of peace; but in fact will plunge the world into global war and set the stage for God s judgment. The countdown to the coming of Christ has begun... Stay tuned. 7