INTRODUCTION:

            Over the past couple of weeks, we have been going through a passage of Scripture that has been entitled “The Olivet Discourse.”  The day is Wednesday of Passion week; Jesus has spent the majority of the day in the temple courts instructing the people and answering the questions of the religious leaders.  It is now late in the afternoon when Jesus and His disciples begin to make their way back to Bethany where they have been staying.  As they leave the city and begin to ascend the Mount of Olives one of the disciple’s comments on the beauty of the temple complex, Jesus then reminds them that it will be destroyed.  At some point Jesus and His disciples stop their climb and sit down on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple.  Mark tells us that four of the disciples, Andrew, James, John, and Peter begin to question Jesus concerning the destruction of the temple.  In their questioning they ask three questions: The first question was, “Tell us, when will these things happen?”   “These things” refer to the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem.  The second question was, “What will be the sign of Your coming?”  And the third question was, “What will be the sign of the end of the age?”  For Jesus’ full response to these three questions, we had to look not only at the Mark passage but the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke as well.  Jesus began by answering the third question which we looked at three weeks ago.  Two weeks ago, we looked at the first question and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple which took place in 70 A.D.  That same Sunday we began to look at Jesus’ response to the second question as Jesus first described the coming seven-year tribulation.  The return of Jesus Christ represents the apex of human history.  It is our blessed hope, it is our sincere longing, and it is our eager expectation.  Though death immediately ushers a believer into the presence of their Savior; the glorious resurrection of the body awaits the future day when the Lord Jesus will come to take His bride to heaven in the rapture and resurrection.  Following that at some point will be the seven-year tribulation on the earth.  After this time of epic judgments and persecution for the Jewish people and for believers, the Lord will return to this earth with His raptured and glorified saints, along with the angels, to destroy His enemies and to establish His promised kingdom.

            In today’s Scripture passage, having surveyed the events leading up to His return, Jesus now focuses on His second coming entirely.  First, He describes to the disciples His spectacular appearance.  Second, He shares a parable to illustrate His point.  Third, He highlights the sovereign authority of His Word in predicting the future.  Finally, He issued a command to those who will be alive on the earth at the time of His return.  Let’s pray and then get into our passage of Scripture.

--PRAY--

 

SCRIPTURE:

            Turn in your Bibles to Mark 13:24-37, our passage for this morning.  Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.

     Mark 13:24-37,

            “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.  Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.  Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.  Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.  It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.  Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.  What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ” (Mark 13:24–37, NASB95)[1]

THE GLORIOUS RETURN (Mark 13:24-27)

            As Jesus began to give the sign of His second coming, He spoke on four aspects of His return, first what the sequence of the events would be, second the staging, third, the sign, and fourth, the gathering of the saints.

            Jesus first spoke of the sequence of the events, after He had warned the disciples and His future readers about the abomination of desolation that would mark the beginning of the second half of the tribulation and the horrible persecution and judgment that would follow, Jesus explained that in those days, after that tribulation, once the second half has reached its limit of time, then Jesus will return.  “In those days” can only refer to the three and a half years of the second half of the tribulation.  Only when the tribulation ends and its judgments are exhausted will the Lord return to conquer His enemies, rescue His people, and establish His earthly reign and rule.

            Mark records Jesus describing a cosmic disturbance for history’s most climatic moment, a total black out after God extinguishes the sun, the moon, and the stars begin falling.  In the parallel passage of Luke 21:25-26 he writes, “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Luke 21:25–26, NASB95)[2]  In response to these cosmic events, unbelievers who are alive on the earth will be terrified and confused. 

            Against the pitch-black darkness, suddenly the Lord Jesus in power and glory will be revealed from heaven.  The brightness of His glory will dispel the darkness, so all the inhabitants of the earth see Him descending in the clouds.  The disciples had asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming?”  In response Jesus had explained to them that God’s wrath would be released on the world and the people on earth under the influence of the Antichrist will persecute and seek to annihilate the Jewish people and any Gentile believers, all this will immediately precede the second coming.  But the ultimate sign will be Jesus Himself when He appears in glorious and undiminished brilliance.  Just as Jesus Christ ascended more than 2000 years ago, He will one day descend to the earth.  “Then all the world will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26, NASB95)[3]  In describing this future event, Jesus borrowed the language of the prophet Daniel in Daniel 7:13-14, where the prophet declared, “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.  And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14, NASB95)[4]  He will come in the clouds, and the Son of Man will appear with great power and glory, returning to establish His kingdom and destroy the ungodly.  On that day heaven will open to reveal the conquering King.  Rather than riding the humble foal of a donkey as He did at His earthly entrance into Jerusalem, He will be seated as the eternal Sovereign atop a royal white horse.  The apostle John described the majesty and power of Jesus in our Scripture reading this morning from Revelation 19.  Let me share those words with you again.  John writes, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, ‘Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.’ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:11–21, NASB95)[5]  With perfect righteousness and absolute authority, the Lord Jesus will judge His enemies including the Antichrist whom He will cast into the lake of fire.  Satan will be bound for a thousand years, and Christ’s millennial reign will begin.  Seated at last upon His earthly throne, the Lord Jesus Christ alone will perfectly rule the nations as their sole Sovereign and King.

            When the Lord Jesus returns, He will have with Him many thousands of holy one, a heavenly army that will include both angels and glorified saints.  The church, the bride of Christ, will have been raptured before the seven-year tribulation begins.  Mark continues to share the words of the Lord Jesus, after destroying His enemies Jesus said, “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.” (Mark 13:27, NASB95)[6]  The role of the angels will be to gather every Jew and bring them back into the land of Israel.  The background for what Jesus said in the Mark passage is drawn from Deuteronomy 30:4 which says, ““If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.” (Deuteronomy 30:4, NASB95)[7]  Those who are gathered from the farthest end of the earth will be the one-third remnant that survives the Tribulation.  Those who are gathered from the farthest end of heaven will be the resurrected Old Testament saints.  Many of the Old Testament prophets spoke of the regathering and restoration of people of Israel to their homeland, and Jesus in His Olivet Discourse summarizes what the prophets said and specifies that this worldwide restoration will come only after the Second Coming, and not before.

THE PARABLE (Mark 13:28-30)

            The Lord Jesus then told a parable to illustrate the appropriate response to His words.  He said, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.” (Mark 13:28, NASB95) The verb translated “learn” is from a Greek word that means “to accept something as true and apply it to one’s life.”  Fig trees were common in Israel and were commonly used for illustrations.  We have already seen this when Jesus cursed the barren fig tree and used it as an illustration of the barren religious system of Israel.  But Jesus is making a different point with this parable.  The parallel passage in Luke 21:29 notes that Jesus added “and all the trees,” showing that His illustration did not apply exclusively to fig trees but to any deciduous tree.  Jesus explained, “…when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.” (Mark 13:28b, NASB95)[8] Since it was springtime when Jesus spoke these words, the time when deciduous trees were sprouting new leaves, the evidence of that truth would have been all around the disciples.

            Jesus then explained His illustration and how it related to His second coming.  He said, “Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (Mark 13:29, NASB95)[9]  In the same way that one can predict the coming of summer based on the arrival of leaves come forth on the trees in the spring, so believers at the end of the age will be able to anticipate Christ’s return when they witness these things—which refers first to the abomination of desolation and then the catastrophic events Jesus had predicted would mark the future tribulation.

            Remember when Jesus was explaining the events of the second half of the tribulation, Mark had added the note: “let the reader understand;” in the same way the pronoun “you” does not refer to the disciples directly, the Lord was directly addressing those who will be alive during the future period of tribulation.  It is specifically to them that Jesus declared, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Mark 13:30, NASB95)[10]  Though this verse has been the subject of much speculation and debate, its meaning is actually quite straightforward in light of the context.  “This generation” refers to the generation entering the seven-year tribulation period, which will be the same generation alive at the return of the Lord Jesus.  To state that truth another way, the tribulation covers seven years, climaxing with the second coming, obviously a single generation will experience it all.  Jesus words are still directed to His future readers because it will be in the future when all these things take place.

THE INFALLIABLE WORD (Mark 13:31)

            Jesus then makes a statement that highlights the absolute certainty of His prophetic word, a word that will need to be preserved for the future generations.  Jesus states, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31, NASB95)[11] Jesus’ words on this matter will not pass away, they will instead be passed on to the next generation until all these things take place.  In making this statement Jesus underscored two fundamental theological realities; first, this world is temporary, and second, God’s Word is infallible.

            The Bible is clear that this earth is not a permanent planet.  Peter reminds us of this in 2nd Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people 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 destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10–13, NASB95)[12]  Not only does Peter remind us of this but also John described the destruction of this present universe with these words in Revelation 20:11, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.” (Revelation 20:11, NASB95)[13]  The current heavens and earth will be destroyed and be replaced with a new heaven and a new earth which will be the eternal home of the redeemed.  John writes in Revelation 21:1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.” (Revelation 21:1, NASB95)[14]

            In contrast to the temporal nature of the world, the words of Christ will never pass away.  Heaven and earth will one day pass away, but not before everything stated in God’s Word is perfectly accomplished.  As Jesus reminded His disciples, His word is infallible, which means it is permanent, and it cannot fail.  It cannot be broken but endures forever because it is completely true.  As the one who declares the end from the beginning, God’s Word will always accomplish what He desires.  God’s Word is as unchanging, irrefutable, and undeniable as is its divine Author.  Nothing can be added to it or subtracted from it.  Because of this, what the Lord Jesus Christ has said about the end times, and His second coming is unalterable truth.  It will happen exactly as He said it would because His words cannot falter or fail.

 

THE COMMAND FOR ALL (Mark 13:32-37)

            For those who have put their faith in Christ for salvation during this present time, the revelation of Scripture of the future events is hopeful truth; but for people alive when these future events take place, this prophecy takes on extreme urgency.  In these closing verses Jesus will declare four times that the people of that final generation should stay on the alert.  When they see the signs that Jesus described, they should recognize that His return is nearly upon them.

            Though it will be preceded by visible signs, the exact moment of the second coming will not be revealed to anyone.  As Jesus explained, “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Mark 13:32, NASB95)[15]  Although the timing of Christ’s return is fixed in the Father’s plan, Jesus stated that no one can accurately predict His second coming, to try to do so is foolishness.  Jesus even included Himself in that statement, as one who did not know the exact timing of His return.  Now understand that Jesus was not denying His deity by stating this, rather he was acknowledging the self-imposed restraints on His divine nature.  In His incarnation, God the Son, voluntarily restricted the exercise of His divine attributes and prerogatives, submitting their use to His Father’s will and the Spirit’s direction and power.  Even though at times He demonstrated supernatural knowledge and understanding, the Lord limited His omniscience to what the Father revealed to Him.  After His resurrection, Jesus resumed the full knowledge He possessed from eternity past as the second member of the Trinity.

            Jesus continues addressing the disciples but the future readers as well, especially that generation that will witness the signs when the future events begin to occur.  Jesus admonishes, “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13:33, NASB95)[16] Because no one other than God Himself will know the exact moment of Christ’s second coming, believers who are alive during the tribulation will need to be on constant watch.  In a like manner, all believers of every generation are instructed to eagerly await the imminent rapture of the church which will occur before the tribulation begins.

            Jesus illustrated the unexpectedness of the second coming by explaining it this way, “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.” (Mark 13:34, NASB95)[17]  Jesus’ illustration is of an owner of an estate who has left on a trip for an unspecified amount of time.  Before leaving, he entrusted each of his household slaves with specific duties that they were to perform while he was away.  They were expected to do so with an attitude of diligence and alertness, knowing the master’s return could be at any moment.  Jesus’ point was that believers in the future tribulation must be on the alert for His return.  Jesus goes on, “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.” (Mark 13:35–36, NASB95)[18]  Like dutiful doorkeepers, they must keep constant watch, so they are prepared and ready to welcome the master when He arrives, whenever it is.  The Roman twelve-hour watch from 6 pm to 6 am consisted of four three-hour periods.  This is what Mark uses here, and each is identified by when they ended: the evening ended at 9 pm, midnight at 12 am, the time when the rooster crowed at 3 am, and the morning at 6 am.  Jesus’ point was that His return could occur at any time, even in the middle of the night.  Therefore, the believers who are alive in those final days must guard against any temptation toward spiritual complacency, distraction, or slumber; instead, being characterized by vigilance.

            Jesus ends His discourse by repeating His charge with urgency, He warned, “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ” (Mark 13:37, NASB95)[19]  In the parallel passage in Luke 21:34-36, Jesus further explained, “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.  But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34–36, NASB95)[20]  These words include an invitation to salvation to that future generation alive during the tribulation.  It is a call to resist  the temptations of the world and place their faith in the Savior and be spared eternal destruction from the judgment of God and be welcomed into the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ forever.

CONCLUSION:

            This chapter began with four of the disciples privately asking Jesus three questions.  Over the course of three weeks, we have looked at Jesus’ response to these three questions.  The sign of the destruction of the Jewish Temple was to be the surrounding of Jerusalem by armies.  The sign of the end of the age was to be world-wide war.  The sign of the second coming was Jesus appearing  in the clouds in power and glory, His brilliance breaking through the worldwide blackout.  The first sign was given in A.D. 66, the second sign was given in 1914-1918; at the end of the tribulation, the third sign shall be given.

            The events predicted in the Olivet Discourse have either been fulfilled or are yet to be fulfilled in the future.  The truths presented in Jesus’ words serves to instruct every generation of believers throughout church history.  On the one hand, it serves as a vivid reminder that the things of this world are temporary, and that the redeemed are citizens of an eternal kingdom that is yet to be revealed on earth when the Lord Jesus returns in power and glory.  On the other hand, the truth of Jesus’ words should provide a compelling motivation for believers to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are perishing, so that they too might be saved from the coming judgment of God upon the ungodly.

 

[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[17]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[19]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[20]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.