Abomination of desolation - Mark 13:14
The
abomination of
desolation is language drawn from Dan. 11:31 which predicted a desecration of the temple which was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C. He set up an altar to Zeus in the temple and sacrificed pigs on it. Jesus answered the disciples' question by referring to the coming destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. Some interpreters also find here a reference to events in the days immediately preceding the second coming of Christ. (Compare 2 Thess. 2:4.) Jesus' clear command to them was to
flee to the mountains to escape the destruction of the Romans.
Danger would come quickly - Mark 13:15
Jesus' command to not go into one's house fits the fact that houses typically had flat roofs that were used as additional living spaces and an outside stair way for access. Jesus' point was that the danger would come so quickly that no time could be lost in escaping.
Jesus expressed his sorrow - Mark 13:17
Jesus expressed his sorrow for all those in those days of destruction who could not leave the city quickly because they were pregnant or had infant children.
Tribulation - Mark 13:19
Historical sources such as the Jewish historian Josephus confirm the magnitude of the
tribulation involved with the destruction of Jerusalem. That tribulation was a foretaste of the destruction at the end of this age.
Jesus reassured disciples - Mark 13:20
Jesus reassured his disciples of God's mercy and care for them. God would
shorten that tribulation to
save his
elect. God's chosen ones will be preserved in the middle of his most severe judgment on sin.
False messiahs and prophets - Mark 13:21-22
The political upheaval of the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem created fertile opportunity for false messiahs and false prophets.
Be on guard - Mark 13:23
Again Jesus warned them to
be on guard. The reason he spent this whole chapter telling them about the future was so they would not be taken by surprise, but would be faithful.
Jesus' second coming - Mark 13:24-27
Jesus then told them about other future events. These were events that would surround His return in glory. These verses were intended to help the disciples distinguish between the destruction of the temple that they had asked about and Jesus' own second coming. This was necessary because of the terrible tribulation surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem that led to false messiahs arising.
After the tribulation - Mark 13:24
Jesus said
after the tribulation. With those words
he separated the days of the earthly events he had already spoken about from the cosmic events he next described. He described them using the language of the Old Testament prophets (Isa. 13:10; Joel 2:10; 3:15; and especially Joel 2:31 with its reference to
the great and dreadful day of the Lord). There is difference of opinion about whether these words should be interpreted literally or figuratively. What is clear is that at the second coming of Christ there will be universe-wide cosmic changes as God's people and the new heavens and the new earth are prepared for each other. See 2 Pet. 3:12, 13; Rev. 21:1-4.
Titles of Jesus - Mark 13:26
The
coming of the Son of Man picks up the language of Dan. 7:13. See the article on the Titles of Jesus. The clouds are a symbol of the divine presence (9:7; 14:62). This is the visible, powerful appearance of Jesus in all his
glory at the end of this age. (Note v. 7.) This second coming stands in complete contrast to Jesus' birth which was hidden from most and clothed in weakness.
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