Jesus Points to Daniel Lesson Text: Mark 13:14-27

Jesus Points to Daniel

Lesson Text: Mark 13:14-27

Related Scriptures: Daniel 12:5-13; Joel 2:1-17; Matthew 24:15-31; Luke 21:20-28 TIME: A.D. 30 PLACE: Jerusalem

GOLDEN TEXT—“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great

power and glory” (Mark 13:26). 

Introduction 

It has been said that the theme of the Old Testament is that Christ is coming, the theme of the four Gospels is that Christ has come, and the theme of the rest of the New Testament is that Christ is coming again. There is some truth in this approach.

Discussions concerning the Second Coming often provoke significant debate among those who believe the Bible to be God’s Word. Sadly, more fire than light is often generated! Those who accept the divine origin of the Scriptures do not always agree about the details of end-times events. Since these things have not yet occurred, we must be cautious about being too dogmatic concerning our preferred understanding of the last days.

Two extremes must be avoided. First, we should not entirely avoid the study of last things, or eschatology, because of the controversial nature and the uncertainty of the topic. Second, we should be careful not to develop tunnel vision regarding prophecy and fail to study anything else, thus avoiding the serious study of other important Bible doctrines. 

LESSON OUTLINE GREAT ABOMINATION—Mark 13:14 

GREAT AFFLICTION—Mark 13:15-23 

GREAT APPEARANCE—Mark 13:24-27

 

Exposition: Verse by Verse GREAT ABOMINATION 

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 Judaea flee to the mountains:

{Mark 13 (with parallels in Matthew 24 and Luke 21) is called the Olivet Discourse because Jesus spoke about Jerusalem’s destruction “as he sat upon the mount of Olives” (Mark 13:3).}Q1 

Christ arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday amid the shouts of enthusiastic pilgrims (11:1-11). At the end of the day, He retired to Bethany. The next day (Monday), the Lord returned to the city, chasing money changers from the temple and departing again at the end of the day (vs. 19). On Tuesday, He returned to Jerusalem once again (vs. 20). 

The religious leaders took this opportunity to question Christ about His authority (vss. 27-33), paying taxes to Caesar (12:13-17), marriage in the afterlife (vss. 18-27), and the greatest commandment (vss. 28-34). Each of these attempts were silenced by Jesus’ answers. 

Before leaving the temple courts, Christ delivered a scathing denunciation of the hypocritical Pharisees (Matt. 23). As Jesus and His disciples departed, the disciples marveled at the grandeur and beauty of the temple. The Lord then dropped something of a bombshell: “Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2). 

In response, Jesus’ closest disciples asked Him when these things would take place (vs. 4). Jesus began by telling them that false christs would arrive (vs. 6), “wars and rumors of wars” would occur (vs. 7), and earthquakes and famines would be frequent. These signs, however, were just “the beginnings of sorrows” (vs. 8). There would also be intense persecution of the faithful (vs. 9). 

We now come to one of the most significant signs mentioned in this discourse: “the abomination of desolation” (vs. 14). Not only is it significant; it has also been the subject of seemingly endless debate! 

The chief question that affects how we understand Mark 13 is whether Christ was primarily talking about the Jerusalem of His day, the Jerusalem of the end times, or both! While some Bible scholars lean one way or the other, others think that Jesus was dealing with both the Jerusalem that would be destroyed in A.D. 70 and a rebuilt Jerusalem after that time, perhaps including an end-time temple. 

Henry Halley wrote, “It seems plain that he had in mind two distinct events, separated by an interval of time; … 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 interval between” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, Zondervan). 

{Since Daniel speaks of the abomination of desolation (cf. 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11), Christ was not delivering new revelation to His disciples but interpreting what had already been foretold.}Q2 Some believe this refers to events that will occur during the Great Tribulation. {Some suggest Daniel’s prophecy referred primarily to what occurred during the Maccabean period, when the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes (ruled 175–164 B.C.) desecrated the temple by erecting an image of Zeus and sacrificing swine on the altar. 

However, since Christ spoke of “the abomination of desolation” as something future (Mark 13:14), it could not have had its only meaning in a past event. Christ understood the abomination of desolation to be a person, most likely the same as Paul’s “man of sin … who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thess. 2:3-4).}Q3 “This person is the end-time Antichrist … . He will make a covenant with the Jewish people at the beginning of the seven-year period preceding Christ’s second coming” (Walvoord and Zuck, eds., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Cook). 

GREAT AFFLICTION 

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. 

Future conditions (Mark 13:15-18). From what the Jewish historian Josephus related concerning the razing of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, we know that it was horrific for those caught in the city after the Roman assault began. Once the people saw “Jerusalem compassed with armies,” they would “know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20). Consequently, there would be no time to take anything out of their homes (Mark 13:15). Such a time would be especially difficult for nursing mothers or during winter. {It is difficult to determine whether Christ was dealing primarily with events that would occur during the lifetime of His disciples or with end-time events.}Q4 He seems to have been referring at least partly to the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in A.D. 70, which included the destruction of the temple and caused many Jews and Christians to flee the city. The historical records we have of those events depict a horrifying scene that matches the warnings Jesus gives here. 

Final conflict (Mark 13:19-20). {If Christ had been referring only to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, however, those events would have been the worst that the world has ever seen.}Q5 There appears to be a further fulfillment that is yet to come. Jesus’ words have an ominous end-times ring. 

{Since these last days would be so catastrophic, the Lord would shorten them. Otherwise, no one would be “saved” (vs. 20), likely a reference to physical survival, not salvation from sin.}Q6 {“For the elect’s sake,” that is, for those who are redeemed, God has “shortened the days” (vs. 20) of this time.}Q7 “God set limits on the duration of the end-time Tribulation … . While all this proved true indirectly in A.D. 70, the language of this verse suggests God’s direct intervention in judgment, an unmistakable characteristic of the endtime Tribulation” (Walvoord and Zuck). 

False Christs (Mark 13:21-23). False christs and prophets have arisen since the time of Christ and will continue to do so until the end. Christians are to be on guard against deceivers and not believe those who proclaim that they have found the Christ or received some new revelation from God (cf. Gal. 1:8-9). As church history shows us, many have deceived and have been deceived in exactly the way Jesus described in Mark 13. The same kind of deception continues today. Therefore, we must pay attention to the many warnings given throughout the Scriptures concerning false teaching. 

{These spiritual counterfeits claim miraculous powers. If they show “signs and wonders” (vs. 22), it is either mere trickery or done by the power of Satan. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (II Cor. 11:13-14).}Q8 That a person can perform miraculous signs does not necessarily mean he is a true child of God (cf. Matt. 7:21-23). 

False teachers, whether ancient or modern, have one goal: to deceive God’s people, “the elect” (Mark 13:22). Since Satan has already deceived unbelievers, they are not his primary targets. Jesus’ words “if it were possible” (vs. 22) seems to be an optimistic indicator that true believers will not be deceived, although Paul suggests otherwise in II Thess. 2:1-2. 

{As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Jesus’ declaration would serve as a reminder to early disciples and modern believers. “Mark closes with another exhortation to remain alert and on guard; we must do our own part to resist the temptations of the false prophets” (Barker and Kohlenberger, eds., The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Zondervan).}Q9 In short, we must not assume that because we are among the elect, we have no role to play in protecting ourselves and our churches from religious charlatans. 

False teachers often claim special insight about the end times. We should listen cautiously to those who claim knowledge about prophetic themes that they say have been kept hidden until they wrote a book on it! 

GREAT APPEARANCE 

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 

26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds,

from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 

Sun darkened (Mark 13:24-25). While “tribulation” can refer to any time of testing or affliction in general, these verses speak of the Great Tribulation, which will precede Jesus’ return. The Greek word rendered “tribulation” in verse 24 is also used in verse 19. Daniel 12:1 says, “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (cf. Jer. 30:7; Rev. 7:14). 

“After that tribulation” indicates that Jesus’ coming would follow this time of trouble (Mark 13:24). “If these verses apply exclusively to the events of A.D. 70 then Jesus Christ should have returned shortly thereafter. That He did not return then supports the view that verses 14-23 refer to both the destruction of Jerusalem and the future Great Tribulation before Christ will return” (Walvoord and Zuck). 

Prior to the return of Christ, cataclysmic events will occur in the heavens. How these events will be interpreted by people who see them is not stated here (cf. Rev. 6:12-17). While such events might cause some to think the end is near, Matthew’s account indicates that many will go about their daily business as in Noah’s day. “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:38-39). 

As to stars falling and heavenly powers being shaken (Mark 13:25), this “may refer to: (a) physical forces controlling the movements of the celestial bodies which will be thrown out of their normal course, or (b) spiritual forces of evil, Satan and his cohorts, who will be greatly disturbed by these events” (Walvoord and Zuck). 

Son descending (Mark 13:26-27). After all of these events have occurred, “then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). {Or as Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.”}Q10 

Christ’s coming in power and glory is vividly described in Revelation 19. In spite of the fact that “the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, [will gather] together to make war against [Christ] … and against his army” (vs. 19), they will be decisively defeated by the King of kings. Then the beast and the false prophet will be “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (vs. 20). 

Angels will gather the elect together “from the uttermost part of the earth” (Mark 13:27), thus fulfilling one of Jesus’ parables, in which wheat and tares grow together until the harvest (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world” (vs. 40). We dare not wait until the end of time to try to get ready to meet God. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). 

As Christ finished his discourse, He told His disciples three things. First, just as the leaves of a fig tree indicate summer is near, so these signs indicate the nearness of Jesus’ return (Mark 13:28-30). Second, this generation would not pass away until these things began to take place. Indeed, Jerusalem was destroyed in His listeners’ lifetimes. Third, since no one knows the precise time of Christ’s coming, we must be ready for that day (Mark 13:32-37). —John Alva Owston

Union Gospel Press, Union Gospel Press. Bible Expositor and Illuminator (pp. 206-214). Union Gospel Press. Kindle Edition.