This text has caused so many issues that the point has been missed. But let’s look at “the issues” first, then why Jesus taught this text.

Jesus is warning them about terrible things to come. There will be deceivers, betrayers, killers of family by family and more.

The question is whether or not this is about the prediction of the time of AD 70 or the end of the world? Obviously it is about both, so where do you draw the line to when it transitions to Jesus’ second coming? (The full text is below.

The reason it seems apparent that the first part is about the destruction of Jerusalem is manyfold.

• Jesus is answering the question about “these great buildins” which are the stones of the temple (v. 1-2)
• They are told to flee to Judea (v. 14). It wouldn’t make sense for the whole world to flee to Judea if Christ was coming back
• In Daniel it says the “abomination that causes desolation” comes with the ending of sacrifices and offerings which happened in AD 70 (Daniel 9:27)
• The phrase, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” is another phrase for terrible events. It was used for horrific events previous such as the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon (Is 13:10).

There are three statements that throw people into a bit of uncertainty.

1. The Gospel will be preached to the whole world.

Actually this one is not too much of an issue. If you look throughout the New Testament, the “whole world” which the disciples understood was their known world. And the gospel, they said, was preached to the whole world.

• Your faith is being proclaimed to the whole world (Rom 1:8)
• The gospel is bearing fruit in the whole world (Col 1:6)

2. “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect” (Mark 13:26-27)

This one wouldn’t be so much a challenge except for the next verses.

3. “This generation will not pass away until all these things have happened” (v. 30).

In some ways this is easy. That generation was alive when all those things happened and the temple was destroyed in AD 70. That one was fulfilled.

But how does this feet with the verse in #3 where the angels come in the clouds? That’s a trickier one

It would seem like the flow of the language that there are layers here, which is often the case in prophetic literature. In this case v. 24-27 are about the second coming of Christ.

Then it reviews it again the destruction of the temple with some key words. Again it uses the words of “when you see “these things.”” “These things” in particular is tip off that it is going back to the original question of the disciples.

But then in 32-37 we see an emphasis again on the second coming. It’s an A-B-A-B structure with the latter part being a mini summary.

In the next post we will look at the meaning and the point of Jesus’ teaching. If you get so caught up in the details and miss the point, what’s the point?

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The Text

13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” ² And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

³ And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” ⁵ And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

¹⁴ “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, ¹⁶ and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁷ And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it may not happen in winter. ¹⁹ For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. ²⁰ And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. ²¹ And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁴ “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

³² “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard, keep awake.^[a] For you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants^[b] in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. ³⁵ Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,^[c] or in the morning— ³⁶ lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”