"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Olivet Discourse - II (13:24-37)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous lesson, we covered the first half of Mark 13...
a. Commonly called "The Olivet Discourse", delivered by Jesus on the
Mount of Olives
b. A challenging passage of scripture, believed to discussing
either...
1) The destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70 A.D.
2) The second coming of Christ, which is yet to occur
3) Or both events, described either in turn or intertwined
2. I’ve proposed that the discourse foretells the destruction of
Jerusalem, based first upon the setting...
a. Jesus’ words spoken previously in the temple
1) His parables about Israel’s rejection of Him - cf. Mt 21:28-32,33-46; 22:1-14
2) His condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees - cf. Mt 23:27-36
3) His lamentation over Jerusalem - cf. Mt 23:37-39
b. Jesus’ prophecy regarding about the temple - Mk 13:1-2
c. The disciples’ questions, which when Mark and Luke’s account is
considered, appear to be:
1) "When will these things be?"
2) "What will be the sign when all these things will be
fulfilled?"
-- Cf. Mt 24:3; Mk 13:4; Lk 21:7
3. We then saw that in vs. 5-23, Jesus describes...
a. What will not be the sign (other than the gospel preached to all
nations) - Mk 13:5-13
b. What will be the sign - Mk 13:14
1) The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel - Dan 9:26-27; 12:11
2) Which Luke explains to be Jerusalem surrounded by armies - Lk 21:20
c. What to do when they saw the sign - Mk 13:15-23
1) Those in Judea were to flee to the mountains to avoid a great
tribulation
2) They were not to be misled by false christs or false prophets
[Up to vs. 24, Jesus described a local, escapable judgment to befall
Jerusalem. He does not describe the worldwide, inescapable judgment
taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. But with vs. 24, many believe Jesus
now addresses His second coming (cf. J. W. McGarvey’s Fourfold Gospel).
As we continue with our study, I propose that the destruction of
Jerusalem is still under consideration...]
II. THE OLIVET DISCOURSE (continued)
D. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT...
1. Events to occur "after the tribulation of those days"...
a. Cosmic disturbances - Mk 13:24-25
1) The sun will be darkened
2) The moon will not give its light
3) The stars of heaven will fall
4) The powers in the heavens will be shaken
b. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory - Mk 13:26
1) The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven - cf. Mt 24:30
2) All the tribes of the earth will mourn - cf. Mt 24:30
c. The elect will be gathered - Mk 13:27
1) For with a great sound of the trumpet, angels will be
sent - cf. Mt 24:31
2) They shall gather the elect from the four winds, from the
farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven
2. Such events certainly sound like the second coming of Christ,
but consider two reasons why they may not be referring to Jesus’
coming at the Last Day...
a. The events were to occur "immediately after the tribulation
of those days" ("in those days, after that tribulation")
- Mt 24:29; Mk 13:24
1) They are connected in time to the tribulation described
in Mk 13:15-28
2) This "coming" of Jesus was to occur at the conclusion of
the siege of Jerusalem
b. The events are similar to those used to foretell God’s
judgment of other nations
1) Babylon - Isa 13:1,6-13
2) Egypt - Isa 19:1-2; cf. Eze 32:2,7-9
2) Tyre - Isa 23:1; 24:21-23
3) Edom - Isa 34:4-6
4) Nineveh - Nah 1:1-5
5) Israel - Am 8:9
6) Judah - Jer 4:5-6,23-28
3. Jewish prophets foretold God’s judgment upon such nations...
a. Using figures of worldwide destruction, even though the
judgment was local
b. Perhaps because such judgments foreshadow God’s Final
Judgment to come upon the entire world at the Last Day
4. Like other Jewish prophets, Jesus used figurative language to
depict:
a. The judgment to befall the religious leaders of Israel (in
terms of worldwide destruction)
b. The provision made for faithful disciples of Christ (in
terms of the gathering by angels)
5. Therefore I suggest that even in Mk 13:24-27 Jesus refers to
the destruction of Jerusalem
E. ADMONITIONS TO BE PREPARED...
1. The parable of the fig tree - Mk 13:28-29
a. New branches and leaves indicate summer is near
b. When you see these things (Jerusalem surrounded by armies),
the time is near
2. It would happen before "this generation" passed away - Mk 13:30
a. Some define "generation" as a race of people (i.e., the
Jews) - cf. McGarvey, B. W. Johnson
b. But note its use by Jesus just prior to this discourse - cf.
Mt 23:33-36 (esp. 36)
c. The destruction of Jerusalem came to pass within forty
years!
3. The words of Jesus will come to pass - Mk 13:31
a. Heaven and earth shall pass away one day - cf. 2Pe 3:7,10
b. But Jesus’ words will by no means pass away
4. Of that day and hour, only the Father knows - Mk 13:32
a. Many believe at this point Jesus begins to talk about the
second coming - e.g., France, NIGTC; Short, NIBC
b. The disciples might discern the general timing with the
advance of armies toward Jerusalem
c. But the day and hour when the siege would begin, only the
Father knew
5. Therefore, take heed, watch and pray! - Mk 13:33-37
a. You don’t know when the time is - e.g., Ac 1:7
b. Don’t be caught off guard, like a servant caught sleeping
when his master returns
c. Be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you not expect
Him
d. The siege of Jerusalem might begin promptly, so flee Judea
promptly when you see the armies surrounding Jerusalem!
CONCLUSION
1. Admittedly, there is much in "The Olivet Discourse" that alludes to
our Lord’s second coming at the Last Day...
a. But it no different than prophecies by other Jewish prophets who
foretold God’s judgment upon nations and cities
b. Such figurative language was a common motif used by Jewish
prophets
c. We should not be surprised to see Jesus using the same motif in
this context
-- And rightly so, for God’s judgments upon nations in the past are
types and shadows of the Final Judgment to befall the entire world
when Jesus comes again
2. In addition to the setting leading up to the discourse, there is the
natural flow of the discourse itself that leads me to conclude it is
entirely about the destruction of Jerusalem...
a. Jesus’ disciples are told what will not be the sign - Mk 13:1-13
b. They are told will be the sign that His coming is near - Mk 13:14
c. They are told what to do when they see the sign - Mk 13:14-23
d. His coming in judgment (the fall of Jerusalem) is described in
terms reminiscent of other Jewish prophets who foretold of God’s
judgments upon various nations - Mk 13:24-27
e. Admonitions are given for them to be prepared and watchful, for
all these things will happen before the current generation passed
away, though the exact time was unknown - Mk 13:28-37
So I view "The Olivet Discourse" to describe a local, escapable judgment
which occurred as Jesus foretold in 70 A. D.
However, there is still the worldwide, inescapable judgment at the Last
Day. Are you ready for that Day? The admonitions to be prepared and
productive are very similar:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in
which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will be burned up."
"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which
the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat?"
"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved,
looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in
peace, without spot and blameless;"
- 2Pe 3:10-14
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
