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    Mark 13:1-23
    ​Lesson 91

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this Lesson: 
      
    The Olivet Discourse (part one).
    This sermon runs through chapter thirteen (lesson 92).
     
    The great tribulation.  Jesus foretells the fall of Jerusalem and the Second Coming. 
    Study Tip:
     
    Don't forget to read the margin notes for more information.
    What is the -
     
    Olivet Discourse -

    The Olivet Discourse, or Olivet Prophecy, is a prophetic proclamation by Jesus.  But was it a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, or of the end of the world, or both?  Jesus gave The Olivet Discourse to His disciples after leaving the Temple in Jerusalem and predicting its destruction.  Jesus and His followers then walked to the Mount of Olives to spend the night.  As they rested, His disciples asked Jesus when Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed, what sign would signal His return and when would the world end (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3-4; Luke 21:7).  Jesus' response seems to bounce around from the destruction of Jerusalem to the Second Coming and then to end of the world.  Many Bible scholars believe this was intentional and that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple are a foreshadowing of the end of the world.  The Bible scholar Henry H. Halley (1874-1965) wrote: "It seems plain that he had in mind two distinct events, separated by an interval of time; indicated by "these" in 24:34, and "that day" in 24:36.  Some would explain "this generation" (Matthew 24:34), to mean this nation, that is, the Jewish race shall not pass away until the Lord comes.  The more common view is that he meant Jerusalem would be destroyed within the lifetime of those then living.  To one looking at two distant mountain peaks, one behind the other, they seem close together, though they may be far apart.  So in Jesus' perspective, these two events, one in some respects typical of the other, stood in close proximity, though there is a long internal between.  What he said in a sentence may be of an age.  What happened in one case may be a "begun fulfillment" of what will happen in the other." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 445-446)  However, some students of the Bible believe that the tribulation pertains exclusively to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Roman army in 70 A. D. and has nothing to do with our future.  You will need to decide for yourself.

    The Gospel According to St. Mark

    The King James Bible    ​

    Mark 13:1-23
    Signs of the End of the Age

    ​1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

    2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

    3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

    4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

    5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

    6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

    7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

    8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

    9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

    10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

    11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

    12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

    13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

    14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

    15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

    16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

    17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

    18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

    19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

    20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

    21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

    22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

    23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.        ​​
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "As he went out of the temple." (13:1) - Jesus is leaving the Temple for the last time after commenting on the "poor widow" and her donation in verses 12:42-44 (reading 90).
     
    "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" (13:1) - "Teacher, see the beautiful buildings made out of stone!" 
     
    "There shall not be left one stone upon another." (13:2) - A prophecy from Jesus, and sure enough Jerusalem was destroyed by General Titus and the Roman army in AD 70.  The Temple was burned and pulled apart stone by stone to retrieve the melted gold.      
     
    "As he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple." (13:3) - Means; "As He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple."  From the Mount of Olives, a person could look down into Jerusalem and see the entire city, including the Temple. 
     
    "Divers places." (13:8) - "Various places."
     
    "Take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten." (13:9) - "Watch out for yourselves, they will drag you into religious courts and beat you in the synagogues." Another prophecy.  This was not the first time Jesus warned His disciples of the persecution they would face (Matthew 10:17-22).  Just as Jesus predicted, the disciples were dragged into court, imprisoned, beaten (Acts 5:40), whipped, and murdered for their faith (Acts 12:1-3).
     
    "The gospel must first be published among all nations." (13:10) - "The Gospel must first be heard in every nation."  Some Bible scholars believe this will be done in the final days by an angel preparing mankind for the Second Coming (Revelation 14:6-7).  
     
    "For it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." (13:11) - If persecuted, believers can depend on the Holy Spirit to give them the right words to defend themselves (Exodus 4:12).
     
    "Brother shall betray the brother to death....." (13:12) - Jesus is repeating the prophecy recorded in Micah 7:6 seven hundred years earlier.
     
    "The abomination of desolation." (13:14) - "The pagan idol that desecrates."  This was a prophecy, made by Daniel in Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11, that the Temple at Jerusalem would be desecrated by a pagan idol.  Many Bible scholars (Amillennialists) believe the prophecy was fulfilled in 167 BC when the King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the Temple altar and again in 70 AD when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and placed a pagan idol on the grounds of the demolished Temple.  Other scholars (Premillennialists) disagree.  They teach that these events were merely foreshadowing the actual desecration still to come.  They believe in the time of tribulation, just before Jesus returns, the world will see the Antichrist defile the restored Temple and force people to worship him (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5-7).  What do you think?  
     
    "Let him that readth understand." (13:14) - Jesus is addressing His disciples and future Christians who would not hear His words but read them.
     
    "And to them that give suck." (13:17) - "And to nursing mothers."  Jesus repeats this dire prophecy while on His way to be crucified (Luke 23:27-31).
     
    "For in those days shall be affliction." (13:19) - "For there will be trouble in those days" (Joel 2:1-2).
     
    "No flesh should be saved." (13:20) - "No person would survive."
     
    "Lo, here is Christ." (13:21) - "Look, here is Christ." 
     
    "False Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders." (13:22) - Means, Satan will fool people into following his false Messiah by performing miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
    Matthew 24:1-51 (lessons 49 and 50) and Luke 21:5-36 also describe the end of the age.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Mark 13:1-23
    Jesus Foretells the Future
     
    1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls."
     
    2 Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"
     
    3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him,

    4 "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?"
     
    5 Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you,

    6 for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many.

    7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately.

    8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
     
    9 "When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

    10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.

    11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
     
    12 "A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.

    13 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
     
    14 "The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where he should not be." (Reader, pay attention!) "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.

    15 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.

    16 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.

    17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.

    18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter.

    19 For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again.

    20 In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.
     
    21 "Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah,' or 'There he is,' don't believe it.

    22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.
    23 Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!     
    ​​
    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. Will Christians be deceived by false messiahs? (13:22) 
     
     
          


    Let me know your thoughts and opinions as we study along together.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
    ​​
    1. Yes, the false Christ will offer seemingly convincing proof that he is the Messiah, and some Christians will fall victim to
    his lies.  However, if prepared, Christians can maintain their faith.  According to the "Life Application Study Bible" (published by Tyndale House Publishing; Carol Stream, Illinois; page 1919) there are five questions believers can ask themselves as they struggle to see through the lies of false prophets. 

    ​1) "Have their predictions come true, or do they have to revise them to fit what's     already happened?  
    2) Does any teaching utilize a small section of the Bible to the neglect of the whole? 
    3) Does the teaching contradict what the Bible says about God? 
    4) Are the practices meant to glorify the teacher or Christ?  
    5) Do the teachings promote hostility towards other Christians?"
    ​Despite what anyone might tell you, no one knows the time of the Second Coming, not even the angels in heaven or Jesus Himself (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).




         Application thought for the day:
     
    When Jesus speaks of His Second Coming and the end times, He never gives the date of His return.  He simply tells us to be ready.  Are you getting ready?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible".  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    ​     © 2020 evolke