Mark Chapter 13

Mark chapter 13 parallels Matthew 24 and Luke 21 with John 16 giving us teachings on how to live during the end times. Instead of going over the same things with each retelling, I’m going to add notes when something is said in these accounts that wasn’t included in Matthew 24 and compare the verses against one another to give me greater clarity.
End Times Matthew 24:1-13
End Times Matthew 24:14-25
End Times Matthew 24:25-51

Mark Chapter 13

¹ And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

² And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

What Jesus came to do on this earth to do was to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He followed the Law completely, never sinning and remaining perfect. Then he presented himself to the Chief Priest of the Temple, the Lamb of God, to die for the sins of mankind, thus fulfilling the Law once and for all. The Temple the disciples were showing him was created to worship God and make sacrifices for our sins through the law, but after Jesus fulfilled the law and was the final sacrifice for sins, mankind no longer needed to go up to the temple to sacrifice a sin offering… now is the time Jesus told the woman of the well about in John.

• John 4:20-26 ²⁰ Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.²⁵ The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.²⁶ Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

I wonder if the destruction of the temple in 70 AD had anything to do with Jesus fullfilling the law? It comes to mind when I read this… as does the verse about the veil of the temple being torn down the center.

• Matthew 27:50-51 ⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The veil of the temple was a massive, thick curtain in ancient Jerusalem that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, the earthly dwelling place of God. It is most famous for tearing from top to bottom at the exact moment of Jesus’ crucifixion, symbolizing humanity’s direct, unhindered access to God.-from got questions.org

The veil of the temple was 60 feet high, 30 feet wide and 4 inches thick. From got questions.org the veil was made of “72 twisted cords—made of fine linen in blue, purple, and scarlet—and was so incredibly heavy that it reportedly took 300 priests to manipulate and clean it”

³ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

⁴ Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

⁵ And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Like Matthew 24, the first thing the author records Jesus as saying about the end times is to take heed lest any man deceive you. Deception is going to be a major problem in the end times. The fact that Jesus tells us to take heed is also telling us that there is an option to not be deceived. First, be humble and realize that our human intellect is no match for the deception that’s coming. Second, read the word of God, the best way to combat a lie is with the truth. People who know the truth are not deceived. The issue is there are so many who get their teachings from people and not from personal study of the word. The very first thing any teacher who actually fears God is going to tell you is to study the word yourself. Man makes mistakes, God never does… his word is perfect and knowing it so that it is your solid core is what will keep you from being led astray by deception. Listening to a great teacher who teaches the truth is wonderful…but it will never be a substitute for actually studying the word yourself…it can’t replace personal study.

⁶ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁷ And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

⁸ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

⁹ But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

¹⁰ And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

¹¹ But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

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.

We are seeing the beginning of this now. Children are breaking away from their parents for political reasons and are betraying them on social media by doxxing them and placing them in danger.

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.

We are starting to see this now in greater ways. Christian persecution is on the rise. Whole churches are being killed… blasphemy laws are being used to lock up people and try them in courts where the penalty is death if convicted.

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:

Daniel 9:27,Daniel 11:31,Daniel 12:11- click to read on Gateway

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.

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.

²⁸ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

²⁹ So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

³⁰ Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

³¹ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

³² But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

³³ Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

WATCH AND PRAY- We are to be watching and praying and this is how we won’t be deceived. To be watching, we must have an open bible before us to show us the truth.

³⁴ For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.