The Gospel of Mark
Chapter 13: The Great Tribulation
And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples says to him, Teacher, see what stones and what buildings! And Jesus answering said to him, Seest thou these great buildings? not a stone shall be left upon a stone, which shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what is the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any one mislead you. For many shall come in my name, saying, It is *I*, and shall mislead many. But when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be not disturbed, for [this] must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes in [different] places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these things [are the] beginnings of throes. But *ye*, take heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to sanhedrims and to synagogues: ye shall be beaten and brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them; and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they shall lead you away to deliver you up, be not careful beforehand as to what ye shall say, [nor prepare your discourse]: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak; for *ye* are not the speakers, but the Holy Spirit. But brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye will be hated of all on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end, *he* shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not, (he that reads let him consider [it],) then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains; and him that is upon the housetop not come down into the house, nor enter [into it] to take away anything out of his house; and him that is in the field not return back to take his garment. But woe to those that are with child and to those that give suck in those days! And pray that it may not be in winter time; for those days shall be distress such as there has not been the like since [the] beginning of creation which God created, until now, and never shall be; and if [the] Lord had not cut short those days, no flesh should have been saved; but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has cut short those days. And then if any one say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ, or Lo, there, believe [it] not. For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and give signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But do *ye* take heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand. But in those days, after that distress, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give its light; and the stars of heaven shall be falling down, and the powers which are in the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory; and then shall he send his angels and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from end of earth to end of heaven. But learn the parable from the fig-tree: when its branch already becomes tender and puts forth the leaves, ye know that the summer is near. Thus also *ye*, when ye see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall in no wise pass away, till all these things take place. The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away. But of that day or of that hour no one knows, neither the angels who are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. Take heed, watch and pray, for ye do not know when the time is: [it is] as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch. Watch therefore, for ye do not know when the master of the house comes: evening, or midnight, or cock-crow, or morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. But what I say to you, I say to all, Watch.
The low condition of the Jewish people has been revealed, and the leaders of every party have been condemned in the presence of the Lord. They have rejected Him and are about to crucify their MessiahMessiah is a Hebrew word (Maschíach) meaning “the Anointed One.” In the New Testament, the Greek form “the Christ” is used and applied to the Lord Jesus alone. The Jews,... More. This supreme act of wickedness will bring the nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More under God's judgment, leading to the great tribulationIn the Bible, tribulation stands for oppression and persecution, such as the first Christians had to go through (2 Thes 1:4) and in particular the earthly people of God, Israel,... More foretold by the prophets. This will create hardships, dangers, suffering, and persecution for the true disciples of the Lord—the faithful remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More within an ungodly nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More. To prepare them for these challenging days, the Lord speaks privately with His disciples, warning them of the dangers they will face and teaching them how to respond in the midst of these trials.
In verses 1 and 2, one of the disciples draws the Lord's attention to the beauty and grandeur of the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle. It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More. The Lord acknowledges that the buildings are impressive, but states that what men admire has become a den of thieves in God's eyes and is destined for destruction. Not one stone will be left standing upon another.
In verses 3 and 4, this alarming statement prompts one of the disciples to ask, "When will these things happen, and what will be the sign of their fulfillment?"
In the discourse that follows, the Lord does more than simply answer these questions. While the disciples are focused on specific events, the Lord is concerned for their suffering and dangers amid those events. Furthermore, in Mark's account, the Lord specifically warns His disciples about the importance of bearing testimony to Him within the nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More that has rejected Him.
It is crucial to understand the warnings and instructions by remembering that the disciples represent the faithful Jewish remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More. Consequently, the ministry referred to by the Lord is not distinctly a Christian ministry associated with the establishment of Christianity. However, many principles and truths apply to both God's earthly and heavenly people. This ministry began with the twelve disciples during the Lord's earthly ministry and continued among the Jews until the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More was rejected at the stoning of Stephen. A faithful remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More among the Jews will revive it once the Church is taken away and will extend to all nations.
The gospel they preached, and will preach again, is not precisely the same as what is proclaimed today. While it will certainly include ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More and His work and emphasize God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More in forgiving sinners based on His actions, it will specifically announce that He is coming to reign. It will also proclaim that repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More and forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More of sins through faith in ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More is the pathway to entering the blessings of the earthly kingdom (Revelation 14:6-7).
(Verses 5-6) The Lord begins His discourse with five warnings. First, He cautions the disciples against false Christs. Many will come in the name of Christ, with some even daring to claim, "I am Christ," and the Lord adds that such individuals will "deceive many." This warning highlights the Lord's concern for the godly remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More within the Jewish nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More. Christians, who are grounded in Christian truth, would not be easily deceived by someone claiming to be the ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, as they know that the next time they will see ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, it will be in the clouds. The godly remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More, however, will rightly be looking for ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More to appear on earth, making them more susceptible to deception from those claiming His return.
(Verses 7-8) Secondly, the disciples are warned not to conclude that the end is near simply because of "wars and rumors of wars." The Lord states, "Such things must need be" in a worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More that has rejected Him. Wars, earthquakes, famines, and troubles are just the beginning of sorrows, not signals of the end.
(Verses 9-11) Thirdly, the disciples are cautioned that their testimony will lead to conflict with worldly authorities. This persecution, however, will serve as a means for God to present the gospel before powerful rulers and kings. Furthermore, the gospel must first be preached among all nations before the end arrives. In light of this impending testimony and the associated persecution, the Lord instructs His disciples not to worry beforehand about what they should say when they stand before these authorities. Instead, they will receive what to say in that hour, for they will not be the speakers but will serve as the mouthpieces of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More.
(Verse 12) Fourthly, the disciples are informed that proclaiming the truth through the power of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More will provoke such hostility in human hearts that they will face persecution from their own families. In fact, the closer the relationship, the more intense the hatred will be. Brothers will rise against brothers, fathers against sons, and children will turn against their parents, leading to situations where they even face death.
(Verse 13) Fifthly, the disciples are warned that their persecution will stem not only from authorities and close family but that they will be hated by all people because of their allegiance to the name of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More. However, those who endure to the end will be saved, regardless of whether that end means martyrdom or the coming of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More to earth. The ultimate test of faithfulness is perseverance. There may be moments of failure, and the love of many may grow cold, but the truly faithful will endure. For instance, Peter faltered, but his faith ultimately did not fail; he continued to the end.
(Verses 14-20) Following these warnings, the Lord discusses future events. The Church age is notably left unmentioned, and He speaks about what will occur in Jerusalem during the great tribulation that will follow this Church interval. This catastrophic time is explicitly prophesied by Jeremiah, who declares, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). Daniel, too, speaks of this period, stating, "There shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Daniel 12:1). In both this discourse and in Matthew 24:21, the Lord indicates that during this great tribulation, there will be days of affliction "such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created to this time, neither shall be."
While the destruction of Jerusalem may have foreshadowed the future, it does not fulfill the prophecy regarding this time of trouble. This passage teaches us that immediately after the great tribulation, the Lord will come to earth. It is clear that the Lord did not come after the destruction of Jerusalem. Moreover, there cannot be two instances of tribulation "such as never were." Daniel further clarifies that this time of trial for the Jewish nation will occur during the reign of Antichrist, who will be embraced by a nation that has rejected their own Messiah (John 5:43). During this wicked reign, the most horrific form of idolatry, referred to as "the abomination of desolation," will be established, leading to widespread devastation in Jerusalem and Judea.
The establishment of this abominationAbomination refers to something despicable in God’s eyes. This can be actions (e.g., abominations, see Leviticus 18:27), character traits (e.g., arrogance, see Luke 16:15), objects (e.g., idols, see Deuteronomy 7:26... More will mark the peak of humanity's hostility toward God. It will signify that the testimony of the godly remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More is complete and that they must flee from Judea to the mountains. There has been nothing in the past, nor will there be in the future, that compares to the terrible afflictions of these days. The suffering will be so intense, both for the nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More and the godly remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More, that unless the Lord shortens the days, no one will survive. For the sake of the elect, the duration of this great trialA trial is a test of the authenticity, value, or durability of something. God uses trials in the lives of believers to test and confirm their faith and perseverance and... More will be shortened.
As always, the Lord cares for His own amidst trials and afflictions. He warns, instructs, and cares for them. He is mindful of the workers in the fields and the women in the homes, and He does not overlook the weather.
In verses 21-23, the Lord warns His disciples against false hopes of deliverance and false reports about false Christs, false prophets, and misleading signs and wonders. Their safety lies in remembering the Lord's words: "I have foretold you all things."
In verses 24-25, it is said that "in those days," following the great tribulationIn the Bible, tribulation stands for oppression and persecution, such as the first Christians had to go through (2 Thes 1:4) and in particular the earthly people of God, Israel,... More among the Jews, all established authority among the Gentiles will be overturned. The divine order governing the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More will fall into disarray. Supreme power, symbolized by the sun, will be darkened. Derived authority, represented by the moon, will lose its influence, and subordinate authorities, symbolized by the stars, will lose their place and power. This era, despite humanity's claims of progress, will ultimately descend into unprecedented tribulationIn the Bible, tribulation stands for oppression and persecution, such as the first Christians had to go through (2 Thes 1:4) and in particular the earthly people of God, Israel,... More, chaos, and anarchy.
Verse 26 states that as the wickedness of both Jew and Gentile reaches its peak, God will publicly intervene through the coming of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More as the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More to reclaim the earth. His first coming was marked by weakness and humiliation; His second coming will be characterized by great power and glory.
In verse 27, the gathering of the elect of Israel, dispersed among the Gentiles, will immediately follow the coming of the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More. From other ScripturesIn the NT, the various parts of the OT are referred to as “the Scriptures”; these are the “sacred letters/writings” (2 Tim. 3:15). “Every Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable... More, we know that the Church will have already been gathered to meet ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More in the air and will be revealed with Him; however, this passage does not mention that. The Lord speaks to Jewish disciples about Jewish hopes and does not refer to truths concerning the Church that His listeners at that time could not have understood.
In verses 28-29, the fig tree, which is putting forth its tender leaves, signifies that summer is near. Similarly, the appearance of the godly remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More within the apostate nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More of Israel will herald the imminent arrival of a time of blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More for the nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More.
In verses 30-31, it is stated that the perverse and unbelieving generation of the Jews will not pass away until all these events have occurred. They may be scattered among the nations without a homeland, but, as we know, they have never been absorbed by other nations. Furthermore, the Lord's words will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. This is particularly emphasized regarding His second coming due to the unbelief in our hearts concerning God's intervention in worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More affairs.
In verses 32-36, it is said that no one knows the day of His coming—not even the Son, who became Man. Speaking in the role of a Servant, He can say He does not know the day. Since we do not know when it will happen, we are to "watch and pray." ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More is like a man who has gone into a far country, granting authority to His servants and assigning each one their work, commanding the porter to watch. Therefore, the Lord's servants are to stay vigilant, lest He return suddenly and find them overcome by the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More and spiritually asleep.
In verse 37, the Lord's final words serve as an exhortation to all His people. While not every detail of the future may apply directly to Christians, the closing instruction to watch is relevant for everyone. Believers, across all dispensations, receive their authority from the Lord and are His servants, each with a specific task assigned to them. Each one must be cautious not to fall into spiritual sleep and neglect their work for the Lord.
