Mark Chapter 13 Continued
Mark 13:12 "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."
This Scripture has come true in our
In World War 2, many youngsters betrayed their own parents and caused them to be killed. They felt that they were being patriotic.
Jesus knew all of this would happen, because of His foreknowledge.
Perhaps, not a physical killing but a killing of the spirit so many times happens, if you start to work for God.
Close friends and family members forget that you even exist.
More than that, they are openly hostile.
They are opposed to your ministry more than the world is.
Mark 13:13 "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."
“Endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (see note on Matt. 24:13).
This endurance does not produce salvation; it is
Christ will eventually deliver such believers out of the present evil system into God’s eternal kingdom (Matt. 10:22).
In a world that has gone crazy over the flesh and the lust thereof, the Christian is hated.
I truly believe the reason they hate the Christian (someone who is
They especially feel this guilt, if they have known the truth and walked away from it. Notice the last part of the verse above.
There will be hardship, because we see there is something to endure.
When you become a Christian, your worldly problems are not over; you just are better able to cope with them, because you may call on the Lord for His help.
You are not alone.
God will give you strength.
Don't fall for the (heaven now here on earth) teaching, which would have you believe there are no hardships to face.
We are overcomers.
To be overcomers, there has to be something to overcome.
Pray for strength, wisdom, and understanding to see you through.
The fight is worth it, because eternal life with Jesus awaits those who overcome.
Mark 13:14 "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 Judea flee to the mountains:"
“The abomination of desolation”:
This first referred to the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanies, the king of Syria, in the second century B.C., when he sacrificed a pig on the temple altar.
That event was similar in character to what Jesus refers to here. i.e., the Antichrist’s ultimate desecration when he sets up an image of himself in the temple during the tribulation (see notes on Dan. 9:27).
“Standing where it ought not”:
Matthew 24:15, indicates the location as the “holy place.”
On the only other occasion where this phrase from Matthew appears in the New Testament, it clearly refers to the temple (Acts 21:28).
This specifically implies that the temple will be rebuilt in the future and that the daily sacrificial system will be reinstated.
“Standing” indicates that the abomination of desolation will be continuous, actually lasting for 3- 1/2 years (Dan. 12:11; Rev. 12:6).
“Let him that readeth understand”:
This indicates that Jesus was not issuing these warnings to the disciples or to others of their generation who would not experience this event, but to believers in the end time.
Those who will read these truths will be prepared and “understand” the trials they are enduring.
“Flee to the mountains”:
The Greek word for “flee” is related to the English word “fugitive,” a person who is on the run to escape danger.
Jesus warns those who live in Judea to escape the holocaust by taking refuge in the mountains (see note on Matt. 24:16).
See (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11).
This “abomination,” is something or someone detestable to God, probably refers to two things.
One could be the desecration of the temple in the course of the fall of Jerusalem, A.D. 70.
The other may well be the Man of Sin of the end time (2 Thess. 2:4).
Biblical prophecy often has both near and a remote point of reference.
(Daniel chapter 9 verse 27), will give you some information about this abomination.
My favorite Scripture on this is found in:
Daniel
Many believe that all of this happened long ago when the temple fell into foreign hands, and terrible things were brought even into the holy place.
I believe we have to look back to Daniel to truly understand what this is speaking of and when it is to occur.
The beginning of chapter 12 of Daniel is speaking of the time when the graves open, and mankind goes to be judged of God.
You really should carefully read chapter 12 of Daniel over and over.
This 14th verse from Mark tells you to go back and study Daniel so that you will understand.
In Daniel (12:4), sets the time.
Daniel was told to shut up the words till the time of the end.
I believe this was speaking of the 70th week of Daniel.
The 9th chapter of Daniel told us when the 70th week would be.
I personally believe the 70th week is the seven years of the great tribulation upon the earth. This seven is a week of years.
There will be a seven year peace treaty signed with Israel and the antichrist system. I believe this begins the seven years.
In the middle of the seven years (3 1/2 years after it was signed), the antichrist will set himself up in Jerusalem and pretend to be God.
I believe the antichrist represents the abomination.
There is an abominable temple that is sitting on the very spot of the old temple today, but it will come down.
In Luke, we see the abomination spoken of as when enemy troops surround Jerusalem. Perhaps all of these things will happen.
In (12:11), of Daniel that we just read earlier, we find that whatever this is occurs at the middle of a seven year period (1290 days into the seven year period).
The blessed will wait until the 1335th day.
Anyone caught in Judaea at the time would be forced to flee to keep from bowing their knees to this false god.
Mark 13:15 "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:"
“Not go down”:
So urgent will be the need to flee that if a person happens to be on the roof of his house (see note on 2:4), when he hears the news, he is to run down the outside stairway and leave town without going inside his house to retrieve any belongings.
Mark 13:16 "And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment."
“Garment”:
The Greek word refers to the outer cloak.
Jesus warns those working in the fields not to take the time to retrieve their cloaks that may be at home or some distance away at the entrance to the field.
This shows what great haste a person must take to get away from this evil.
No worldly goods will be important at that time.
The idea will be to get out of there as fast as you can.
Mark 13:17 "But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!"
“With child … give suck”:
Jesus certainly felt compassion for those women who will be hindered from fleeing quickly because they carry children.
But He may have been warning them about atrocities that could include unborn children being slashed in the wombs and tiny infants being crushed (Hos. 13:16).
Mark 13:18 "And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter."
“In the winter”:
This refers to the rainy season in Israel, when streams could become impassable and it would be difficult to glean food from barren fields.
Mark 13:19 "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."
“Affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation”:
This reveals that the tribulation Jesus was referring to is in the future and that it will be the greatest that has ever occurred.
It will be of long duration and characterized by severe pressure and continual anguish.
This is the Great Tribulation at the end of the age.
(Revelation 7:14), speaks of those who were brought out of great tribulation.
I do not believe these problems above, are speaking of just normal times of trouble, but are speaking of a time of tremendous problems.
In (Revelation 12:14), we see "Time, times, and half a time" which I believe separate the seven years into the tribulation, and the wrath which is the last 3 1/2 years and are speaking of unspeakable agony.
2 Timothy chapter 3, speaks of the end times being perilous.
The times he describes, I believe, immediately precedes the great tribulation.
He describes our times exactly.
1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they shall say, Peace, and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child: and they shall not escape."
You can easily see from the Scripture above that anything that might slow you down in escaping could cause you extra pain.
A mother or a
The winter would make it extra difficult as well.
Sleeping in the open would be very cold.
There is much more in the Old Testament about this very thing, than in the New Testament.
Ezekiel had much to say about this, but that is another study.
We will move on now just by saying, I believe that this is speaking of the very near future.
Prepare and be ready to meet your Lord.
Any other solution to this problem is impossible.
Mark 13:20 "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."
“Shortened”:
Literally “mutilated” or “amputated.”
Jesus was referring to the determination of God to cut short or limit the period of time to only 3- 1/2 years (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:14; see note on Matt. 24:22).
Whom hath He chosen?
We must remember that Jesus is speaking here in Mark.
In 1 Peter
Let's take a look now at the word "elect".
We know that (2 John), is written to the elect lady (read all of 2 John).
In (Isaiah 45:4), Israel was called "mine elect".
(Isaiah 65:9), indicates that the true elect are those who belong to Jesus (the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ).
Colossians
(Titus 1:1), leaves no doubt who the elect are.
They are those of faith in Jesus Christ.
Mark 13:21 "And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:"
“Lo, here is Christ”:
Satan will cause false christs to appear in an attempt to deceive the elect into leaving their places of refuge.
False teachers will claim that Christ is in their midst or is back in Jerusalem or somewhere elsewhere in Judea.
In the (verse 5:13 of Mark), the very first thing Jesus was saying, "Take heed lest any man deceive you".
He was still saying that here.
In our society today, so many false doctrines have been brought in, that many of them are filtering into our churches.
Oriental mind control is one thing that I have noticed.
There is just a hair difference in having extreme faith and practicing mind over matter.
The main thing to remember when we are practicing faith is that we must have faith in the power of Jesus, not in our own power.
Great faith should be practiced by everyone, but remember it is in the Name of Jesus and through the power of His shed blood.
We are people, we will never be God.
The power is His; we have been authorized to use His power by speaking His name.
It is His power, not ours.
Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect."
“Signs and wonders”:
Satanic inspired
Jesus also warns of impostors (in Matthew 7:15; Deuteronomy 13 offers a similar warning). Any philosophy or religion that brings Jesus down to the level of man is false.
Any that brings man up to Godhood is false.
He is God, and we are His servants and adopted children.
He treats us as a child, but we are to serve Him.
He is Creator; we are His creation.
Do not be taken in by signs and wonders.
Even Pharaoh's magicians could do some of the wonders Moses did.
God calls the generation that bases their belief on signs evil.
The Lord does wonderful miracles through His people, and it is real and from God, but do not base your faith on the signs.
Those who follow Jesus will perform miracles in His name, but don't get your eyes on the gift or off the Giver.
As we said earlier in this lesson, try the spirits and see whether they be of God or not.
Jesus is not hidden to the believer.
You do not have to go off to some exotic place to find Him.
When you are to see Him with your physical eye, He will appear in the eastern sky. In the meantime, He dwells in your heart and in heaven now.
False doctrines elevate man.
The Truth elevates God.
To know the Truth, we must study His Word (The Bible).
Mark Chapter 13 Continued Questions
1.In verse 12, who shall put you to death?
2.In verse 13, who shall be saved?
3.Why will the world hate the Christian?
4.What is the meaning of endure?
5.Why should we not believe that heaven is here and now?
6.What awaits those who overcome?
7.When should those in Judaea flee to the mountains?
8.What book of the Old Testament did Mark say to study to know more about this?
9.In Dan.
10.Chapter 12 of Daniel takes place when, told in the beginning of the chapter?
11.What do we read about in the 9th chapter of Daniel which pertains to this in Mark?
12.What does the author believe represents the abomination?
13.What did Luke say about this abomination?
14.Verse 15, tells the person on the roof when this time comes to do what?
15.What is this showing?
16.In verse 17, there are three things that would make this time worse for you, what are they?
17.In Revelation 7:14, we read about those brought out of _______ ___________.
18.In 2 Timothy chapter 3, we read about what kind of "times"?
19.In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, we read that when they say peace and safety we can expect what?
20.If the Lord had not shortened these days ___ ________ ________ ___ __________.
21.Who did He shorten it for?
22.In 1 Peter 2:9, we find that the Christens are who?
23.Who is 2 John written to?
24.Who are the elect?
25.What are we to do when someone tells us to come go somewhere to see Jesus?
26.In verse 22, we are warned of two false things, what were they?
27.What was Jesus really saying to us throughout chapter 13 of Mark?
28.What false teaching is just a hair difference away from extreme faith?
29.What is the most important thing to remember when practicing faith?
30.The power is ______.
31.We have been authorized to use ________________________ power.
32.Any philosophy or religion that tries to bring Jesus down to the level of man is ___________.
33.God is _____________, and we are His _____________.
34.When the Lord wants us to see Him with our physical eyes, where will He be?