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Signs of the end of times (Mk 13:1-37)
The whole chapter is concerned with the signs toward the end of the world and what the Christians should do before Christ returns. This long passage is also found in Matt 24:1-44 and Luke 21:5-36.
Chapters 11 and 12 record Jesus’ entering Jerusalem and the incidents that happened in and around Jerusalem. Every day he entered Jerusalem, he would enter the temple with the disciples. Nearly all the recorded events took place inside the temple.
(prophesy the destruction of the holy temple)
“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!’ ” (v1) In today’s world, we are easily attracted by the outer appearance of the buildings, such as the commercial buildings and towers. People have the tendency of building the state-of-the-art buildings and towers to boast of their architecture. The advanced countries even try to compete with each other to build the tallest building or tower in the world, exactly like the ancient people who desired to build the tallest tower in their era: “let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name (為要傳揚我們的名).” (Gen 11:4) The ancient people were so lofty and thought that there was nothing they could not do if they gathered their efforts together. They even had the ambition to reach as high as God. Following the era of Noah’s flood, as God saw people becoming more arrogant, He confounded (混淆) the single language of mankind so that they could no longer communicate with each other. As a consequence, they were forced to give up their grand plan of building their dreamed city and tower: “So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound (變亂) the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” (Gen 11:8-9)
Back to the magnificent holy temple. Jesus responded to the splendor of the holy temple with an extremely negative statement, “Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (v2)
(the history of building and destroying the temple)
According to the history of Israel, the temple was first built by King Solomon around 1000 BC. It was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Then, it was rebuilt in 516 BC by the Jews who returned from Babylon. The temple was renovated and expanded by King Herod not long before Jesus was born. So, the temple that the disciples were staring at that time was the magnified version of the temple. But Jesus said the temple would be completely destroyed and flattened. This prophesy came true in 70 AD when it was burnt and destroyed by the Romans who wanted to extract the gold embedded in the building.
(the meaning of the destruction of the holy temple to the Jews)
The holy temple had always been the place where the Jews worshipped their God. It served as the place where they encountered God. It was the sign of God’s presence with His children. When the Babylonians conquered Judea and captured the people of Judea, the destruction of the temple fulfilled the prophesy of the prophets that God was no longer with them. After the Kingdom of Babylon was destroyed by the Persians, under the great mercy of God, the Persian King approved the captured Jews to return to their home land and even sent the command to let them rebuild the temple. So, the rebuilding of the temple represented that God was with them again.
Now in Jesus' times, after the Son of God was abandoned by his own people and was crucified, the Roman soldiers were dispatched to Jerusalem to suppress the revolt of the Jews in 70 AD. They destroyed the temple, once again representing that the Jews were deserted by God. The Jews were then scattered all over the world and were nearly annihilated under the rule of Hitler the German dictator during World War II. In that massacre, 6 million Jews were slain.
In November of 1947, the United Nations held a council and passed a vote to separate the territory of Palestine into an Arabian state and a Jewish state. An internal battle immediately broke out between the Arabians and the Jews in the territory of Palestine. In 14th May, 1948, the Jewish leaders in Palestine declared independence and re-established the nation of Israel. And that was over 2000 years since the Jewish country was destroyed by the Babylonians (586 BC)! This is certainly a miracle in the history of mankind. It once again proved that God has not forsaken His people—the Jews.
Although the Jews have their own nation again, it is nearly 2000 years since the holy temple was torn down by the Roman soldiers in 70 AD. The location of the ancient temple, however, is already occupied by a Muslim temple nowadays. The people of Israel still cannot rebuild their own Jewish temple on the same site.
(the spiritual meaning of the temple in NT)
The holy temple has an entirely different meaning in the NT period.
1. 'The holy temple' refers to Jesus himself
It is interesting to note that after Jesus departed the earth, the temple was physically destroyed. Jesus’ resurrection signaled the uselessness of the physical temple in Jerusalem because he himself serves as the new temple for us.
In the Book of John, after Jesus for the first time cleansed the temple by driving out the traders, the Jews asked him, “ ‘What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?’ Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then said the Jews, ‘Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up (再建立起來) in three days?’ But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them.” (John 2:18-22) Jesus referred the temple to himself and said he would raise up the temple again in 3 days, referring to his resurrection from the dead 3 days after. Thus, the resurrection of Jesus Christ means the rebuilding of the holy temple again.
Christ has become the medium where we the believers encounter God, just like the Jews encountered God in the ancient temple. Mark 15:38 says that the moment Jesus died on the cross, “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” The author of Hebrews tells us in Chapter 10 that Jesus came to the world to offer himself as sacrifice, replacing the old covenant’s way of offering sacrifices in the temple. As a result, we are granted access “into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” (Heb 10:19-20) In fact, there is no need to have a temple physically located in Jerusalem for His people to worship Him. Even in eternity, there won’t be any temple in the heavenly kingdom. In Rev 21:22, John envisioned: “I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Nevertheless, it does not mean that the holy temple will not be rebuilt in future. We will discuss this point later when we come to verse 14 about “the abomination of desolation (那行毀壞可憎的)”.
2. 'The holy temple' refers to the believers
Paul keeps saying that we are the temple of God where the Holy Spirit dwells. He clearly says in I Cor 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” II Cor 6:16-17 also says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’” He instructs us that we should not indulge our flesh or worship idols and make our body sin.
Even after King Solomon has built the glorious temple for God, he said to God before the altar, “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (I Kings 8:27). Henceforth, the gorgeous look of the church building means not much to God; it is how we manage our own body or life to honour God that matters far more, be it the OT or NT times.
After Jesus left Jerusalem, he went up the mount of Olives and “sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple” (v3). That was the mountain where Jesus and his disciples rested after they came out of the city every evening. (Luke 21:37) It was also the site where he was taken up to heaven. (Acts 1:12) Jesus’ four close disciples (the two pairs of brothers) were interested in the prophesy of the destruction of the temple. “Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?’” (v4) In response to the disciples, Jesus began to talk about the major events that would take place in future. All these events are signs leading to the end of the world. Jesus wanted his disciples to take note of them so that they might be aware that the end of the world was imminent, which means the return of Christ will be approaching. Thus, they should be well prepared in advance of His return. Jesus of course did not just foretell the signs to the disciples alone, but mainly to the believers near the end of ages.
Now it is already 2000 years from the time Jesus foretold the signs. Some of the signs have been witnessed by the whole world. Indeed, our generation is very close to the era Jesus spoke about. Hence, we must pay special attention to those signs and better prepare ourselves to welcome our Lord back to the earth.
(1st sign: false Christs)
The first sign that Jesus started to say is that there will be false Christs in future who shall come in his name to deceive the people: “And Jesus answering them began to say, ‘Take heed lest any man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.’ ” (v5-6) This is the first and foremost sign that Jesus wanted his disciples to “take heed”.
In verses 21-23, Jesus again mentioned the coming of false Christs in ‘tribulation’ period. He warned his believers, “if any man shall say to you, ‘Lo, here is Christ’; or, ‘lo, he is there’; believe him not. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed; behold, I have foretold you all things.” Why are there more deceivers in times of suffering? It is because in those days, the believers will become more impatient to wait for the coming of Christ and thus have a stronger desire to yearn for his return. So, those deceivers will take advantage of their impatience to deceive them. What’s more dangerous with these deceivers is that they can perform signs and wonders to make people believe that they are the true Christ. Even the believers can be deceived by them. So Jesus kept warning: “take heed”.
(2nd sign: wars)
Another sign toward the end of ages is the frequency of wars and battles: “wars and rumours of wars” (v7). Minor wars have occurred frequently in this and last centuries. Big wars such as World War I and II took place in last century. The ammunition used was more powerful and more damaging than ever, such as the atomic bombs. Nowadays, there is always rumour of nuclear wars. What worries everyone, even the heads of the nuclear-armed countries, is that more and more countries have acquired the technology of developing nuclear weapons and have been making efforts to be one of those threatening countries, such as North Korea and Iran. The world is becoming more dangerous than ever. Plus, the strong nations continue expanding their defense budgets to design or purchase more powerful weapons every year. They keep on wrestling with each other in the quality and quantity of destructive weapons, making the world more dangerous.
(3rd sign: catastrophes)
Catastrophes such as “earthquakes” (v8) followed by tsunami not only destroy the land but claim many lives. Small earthquakes happen almost every day. Large earthquakes of magnitude over 6 according to Richter scale are taking place more and more frequently. No matter how advanced our technology on seismology is, it is still very difficult to forecast when and where such earthquakes will occur and how large the magnitude of them.
“There shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” (v8) While earthquake is natural catastrophe, famine can be natural and man-made. Natural phenomenon such as long dry seasons or heavy rainfall can destroy the crops of the farmland and cause shortage of food supply in third world countries. Economic depression for the wealthy countries will affect their contribution to the public funds of helping the poor in the poor countries, mostly in Africa. Every day, thousands of people, especially children, die of starvation in these countries.
(4th sign: persecution for the sake of gospel)
“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.” (v9) Jesus told the believers to “take heed” again, for they will be arrested and mistreated by the oppressors. In face of such situations, they must stand firm with their faith and courage as a strong witness of the Lord.
After Jesus had risen to heaven, the apostles and the early church believers were persecuted heavily under the rule of the Roman emperors. In recent human history, we have seen how the church ministers and Christians in China were persecuted by some local officials in various provinces. Nowadays, situations like this still occur from time to time in mainland. Anyhow, the gospel continues to be spread everywhere, because Jesus said clearly: “the gospel must first be published among all nations” (v10). Thanks to the mass media and the networking technology, the gospel message can reach the very remote corners of the world.
The Book of Revelation indicates that there will be the 'great tribulation' period at the end of times. The anti-Christ will appear and become the ruler of the world. Christians will be persecuted and go through severe trials. Rev 13:7-8 reveals that the anti-Christ will be given power “to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.” Rev 13:14-18 continues as saying that the people will be demanded to “make an image to the beast…and as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed”. The anti-Christ will “cause all…to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Jesus said that the believers would be betrayed by their family members and “cause them to be put to death” (v12). They “shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” (v13). Jesus told the believers, “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.” (v11) (Luke 21:14-15, “not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom.”) When the believers are delivered to the persecutors, they should keep silent and let the Holy Spirit guide them to speak. Or they may be too frightened to stand for the truth. For this reason, he encouraged them,“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (v13) These are the believers who “overcame him (the anti-Christ) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death”. (Rev 12:11)
(5th sign: persecution of the Jews as well as the believers by anti-Christ)
Now, it comes to the time when the Jews will be persecuted in the last generation during the great tribulation period as mentioned above. The section from verses 14 to 23 covers this tribulation period and is specially warned by the author to the readers, “(let him that readeth understand)” (v14), because it is the critical time when the anti-Christ will persecute the Jews and the believers.
Jesus began by saying, “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation (那行毀壞可憎的), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (…), then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains.” (v14) (Matt 24:15, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place” ; Luke 21:20-21, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains.”) The prophet Daniel has mentioned “the abomination of desolation…stand in the holy place” in his vision, which is found in Daniel 11 & 12. In Daniel’s vision, an angel spoke the prophesy to him about the war between the south and north kings. The angel said in Dan 11:31, “And arms shall stand on his (the north king’s) part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (他必興兵，這兵必褻瀆聖地，就是保障), and shall take away the daily sacrifice (除掉常獻的燔祭), and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate (設立那行毀壞可憎的).” At the end of the Book, an angel concluded the prophesy, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up (從除掉常獻的燔祭，並設立那行毀壞可憎之物的時候), there shall be 1290 days (about 3 1/2 years). Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days.” (Dan 12:11-12)
In Daniel’s vision about the battles between the north and south kings, he mentioned that a vile man shall obtain the north kingdom by flatteries: “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant (同盟的君也必如此). And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people (「與那君結盟之後、他必行詭詐、因為他必上來以微小的軍成為強盛。」)…He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south…shall
not stand, for…they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow…And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief (心懷惡計), and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper (計謀卻不成就), for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
Then shall he (北方王) return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant (他的心反對聖約); and he shall do exploits (任意而行), and return to his own land. At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Chittim (基提戰船) shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant. So shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant (聯絡背棄聖約的人). And arms shall stand on his part (他必興兵), and they (這兵) shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (褻瀆聖地、就是保障), and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries (作惡違背聖約的人，他必用巧言勾引), but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (惟獨認識神的子民必剛強行事). And they that understand among the people (民間的智慧人) shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help (稍得扶助); but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try (熬煉) them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed.
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished…he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces (保障的神); and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god (他必靠外邦神的幫助，攻破最堅固的保障), whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory. And he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain (凡承認他的，他必將榮耀歸給他們，使他們管轄許多人，又為賄賂分地與他們).
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him (到末了，南方王要與他交戰); and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown…But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many (要將多人殺滅淨盡). And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain (他必在海和榮美的聖山中間設立他如宮殿的帳幕); yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him…
There shall be a time of trouble (大艱難), such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt…
[one angel asked another angel] ‘How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?’... [another angel answered] ‘it shall be for a time, times, and an half (一載、二載、半載), and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished’…then said I (Daniel), ‘O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly…And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to 1335 days.’ ” (Dan 11:21-12:12)
In the above long passage, the prophesy focuses on how a north king rises to power and later raises war with the south king. This south king is described as ‘the prince of the covenant’, possibly referring to the ruler of Israel. Eventually, they shall sit down and make a covenant (the holy covenant). But the north king intends to break the holy covenant. He returns to fight with the south king again but loses the battle because the south king is helped by the warships. Then he conspires with those who forsake the holy covenant to overthrow the south king and succeeds. He takes away the daily sacrifice in the holy land and sets up ‘the abomination of desolation’. Preachers of the gospel will then share the gospel in Israel but will be severely persecuted. The north king even exalts himself above every God. He shall honour the God of forces in his own country. At the end of the time, the south king raises war with him. He comes down with great army and shall overflow many countries. He shall enter ‘the glorious land’ (Israel). As he hears of the tidings from the east and north that troubles him, he rises and destroys again with great fury. Then he shall build his own palace ‘between the seas in the glorious holy mountain’. Eventually, he shall come to an end.
The holy covenant made between the two kings may refer to the building of the holy temple again in Jerusalem and the reestablishment of the worship ceremonies as well as the sacrificial rituals as prescribed in the Book of Moses, which is always in the minds of the Jews nowadays. Later, the north king will break the holy covenant and abolish the Jewish worship and place an idol in the holy temple instead (‘shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.’ Dan 11:31, 12:11). That is when the tribulation period begins for the Jews in Israel. This period will last for 3 1/2 years. The place where the anti-Christ builds his palace lies ‘between the seas in the glorious holy mountain’. That is believed to be Jerusalem of Israel situated on the mount of Zion between Dead Sea on the east and Mediterranean Sea on the West.
Apart from Jesus giving a little bit of message about the work of the anti-Christ, the apostles Paul and John also hinted some important messages about the anti-Christ in II Thessalonians and the Book of Revelation respectively. Paul in II Thessalonians warned of the appearance of the anti-Christ before the return of the Lord: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him…that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (因為那日子以前，必有離叛反教的事，並有那大罪人，就是沉淪之子), who opposeth (他是抵擋主) and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (甚至坐在神的殿裡，自稱是神)..And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time (現在你們也知道，那攔阻他的是甚麼，是叫他到了的時候才可以顯露). For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (只是現在有一個攔阻的，等到那攔阻的被除去). And then shall the Wicked be revealed (那時這不法的人必顯露出來), whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (這不法的人來，是照撒但的運動，行各樣的異能、神蹟，和一切虛假的奇事，並且在那沉淪的人身上行各樣出於不義的詭詐).” (II Thes 2:1-10)
Paul’s message clearly reveals that the anti-Christ "exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (II Thes 2:4) That seems to reveal another message that the holy temple may have been rebuilt in Jerusalem by the moment he claims himself as God. Paul also says that this anti-Christ shall come with power to do signs and miracles to deceive people.
In Rev 13, John saw the vision of a beast after the seventh trumpet was sounded, and “they worshipped the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast…And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue 42 months (3 1/2 years). And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God…And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:4-8) John then saw the vision of another beast who “had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders…and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…saying to them…that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all…to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Rev 13:11-18)
John’s vision reveals that the first beast (the anti-Christ) has the Satanic power to speak “great things and blasphemies” for 42 months. He will make war with the believers and overcome them. He will also have the power to make people worship him. In addition, he will be assisted by another ‘beast’ to exercise power to make people worship the anti-Christ and make an image for the first beast (the anti-Christ). Those who do not worship the image will be killed. They will also be forced to put a mark in their right hand or forehead, which is the name of the anti-Christ represented by the number 666. What Jesus referred to as “the abomination of desolation” (“standing where it ought not”) (v14) (Luke 21:20, “when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies”) is that the anti-Christ enters Jerusalem and claims himself as God. In addition, he sets up his own image in the holy temple for people to worship. (Dan 11:31, “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”; II Thes 2:4, “he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”)
After the anti-Christ conquers Israel, Jesus gave warning that “let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains. 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: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.” (v14-18). (Matt 24:20, “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”) He warned that the Jews should immediately run away without going home to fetch any belonging. But for the pregnant women and those carrying sucking babies, they may not have enough time to escape. Jesus also hinted that winter time will cause the flight of the Jews a lot more hardship. Tribulation falling on the Sabbath Day will cause those who keep the Sabbath rigidly wait to die instead of fleeing. Interestingly enough, what Daniel says at the end of the vision: “from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days” (Dan 12:12), is in line with John’s vision: “power was given unto him (first beast) to continue 42 months” (Rev 13:5). They both number the time period of tribution for the Jews to be 3 1/2 years.
During that harsh time of 3 1/2 years under the rule of the anti-Christ, Jesus said “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.” (v19) The tribulation will be more severe than any time before or after. In light of the severe affliction, the Lord “hath shortened the days”, “for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen”; otherwise, “no flesh should be saved”.(v20) In other words, 42 months of hardship for the Jews is long (or short) enough for testing the faith of God’s children.
In those days of persecution, moreover, “false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” (v22) The Jews and even the believers may tend to believe that some false Christs are the Lord Jesus Christ, as they are anxiously hoping for his second advent. Jesus cautioned the believers that “if any man shall say to you, ‘Lo, here is Christ’; or ‘lo, he is there’; believe him not.” (v21) Why? Jesus said that all the people on the earth shall “see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (v26; Matt 24:30). Jesus said similarly in Matt 24:26-27, “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, ‘Behold, he is in the desert’; go not forth; ‘behold, he is in the secret chambers’; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” When the Lord returns, he will descend with the clouds from heaven, just like his ascension to heaven (Acts 1:11, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”). All the eyes shall see him descend. Rev 1:7 says, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
“But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” (v23) Jesus reminded the believers to ‘take heed’ again so that we will not fall into the traps of Satan and the false Christs. He has also predicted a very important sign for the Jews in Israel (God’s elect), especially the non-believers. This is also the last chance for the people of Israel to be saved, as Paul said referring to ‘the remnant of Israel’, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery…that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.’ ” (Rom 11:25-27)
As regards ‘the remnant of Israel’, Paul has twice quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah in Romans 9, “Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, ‘Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.’ ” “And as Isaiah said before, ‘Except the Lord of Sabaoth (萬軍之主) had left us a seed (存留餘種), we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.’ ” (Rom 9:27,29) Paul also quotes in Romans 11 the dialogue between Elijah and God to explain that the remnant of Israel shall believe Jesus Christ as the Messiah they have been aspiring to see: “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, ‘Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.’ But what saith the answer of God unto him? ‘I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.’ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Rom 11:2-5)
(6th sign: the coming of the true Christ)
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken” (v24-25). All of these are the omen of the Lord’s coming. Matt 24:29-30 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” The true Christ will come as promised: “and then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory”.(v26) This is the manner of his return.
He “shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” (v27) Paul says in I Cor 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” This is the moment for the resurrection of all the believers, which means the power of 'death' is subdued: “Then cometh the end…when he (Christ) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power…the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (I Cor 15:24,26) “When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ” (I Cor 15:54) Paul also says in I Thes 4, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (I Thes 4:16-17) The above verses clearly describe how all the believers in human history shall receive the coming of the Lord in that glorious day.
How shall we be changed? This question has been proposed by Paul in I Cor 15:35, “But some man will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?’ ” And he answered, “So also is the resurrection of the dead…It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body…And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (I Cor 15:42,44,49) Our resurrected body comes in a spiritual form, in the manner of the resurrected Jesus.
On the day of the Lord’s descension with the clouds, the believers shall all be changed, both the dead and alive. But that glorious day is unpredictable, as Jesus said, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” (v32) The same glorious day for the believers will be a terrible day for the non-believers, since he comes back not only to save the believers but also execute judgment upon the non-believers. Jesus said in Matt 25:37, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” When the day of the flood came, it was the day of salvation for Noah’s family but the day of destruction for the rest of the world. Also, it caught everyone by surprise at the coming of the flood, as they were living their normal lives without any omen. So shall this be for everyone on earth in the day of Christ’s coming. In Matt 24:38-41, Jesus said, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day the Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” The one taken up of course shall meet the Lord in the air whereas the other left shall receive eternal punishment. Peter also said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” (II Peter 3:10)
Along with the second coming of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of the anti-Christ shall collapse. After the tribulation period is over, the anti-Christ will raise a great war with the Lord Jesus Christ. This battle is called the battle of Armageddon, which may be located in Megiddo of Israel. Rev 16 mentions the location of the battle that is called Armageddon in the sixth vial (第六碗) of God’s wrath: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan), and out of the mouth of the beast (anti-Christ), and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Rev 16:12-16) Please note that Rev 16:15 (‘Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame’) is inserted between verses 14 & 16, linking the battle of Armageddon with the Lord’s coming. This message corresponds with the message in Rev 19: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean…And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” (Rev 19:11,14,19)
What is the final outcome of the anti-Christ? Rev 19:20-21 continues: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Along with it comes the fall of the kingdom of the anti-Christ, which is announced by an angel in Rev 14, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Another angel said, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God...and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” (Rev 14:8-10). “Babylon” implies the kingdom of the anti-Christ.
(7th sign: end of heaven and earth)
The day of the coming of Jesus Christ is not only the final day for the destruction of the anti-Christ but also the final day for the end of heaven and earth: “Heaven and earth shall pass away.” (v31) How shall heaven and earth pass away? Peter describes as such, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (II Peter 3:10) He says that in Noah’s day, “the world that then was, overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (II Peter 3:6-7)
However, before the heaven and the earth pass away, Rev 20 tells us that there will be a millennium in which Satan will be bound for a thousand years, which is also the millennium for the believers: “And I (John) saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season...Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev 20:1-3,6) Then Satan shall be released for a moment. He will deceive the nations again and fight the final battle with the saints and end up being cast into the lake of fire: “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle…And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are,and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev 20:7-10)
The kingdoms of the world will be replaced by the Kingdom of Christ ultimately, as John envisioned an angel announcing such great news at the 7th and last trumpet in Rev 11:15, “And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.’ ” (Rev 11:15)
That is the advent of the new heaven and earth as well: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.’ ” (Rev 21:1-3)
(watch for the signs; do God’s work)
Jesus lets us know the signs prior to his return. The signs are all that he can tell us, because the day and hour of his coming is kept secret, even from himself. After revealing all the signs, he concluded his long messages by telling us 4 times to ‘watch’ (警醒) (including the parable in verse 34):
- “Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is” (v33);
- “commanded the porter (看門的) to watch” (v34);
- “watch ye therefore” (v35);
- “what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (37).
There are two implications with the word “watch”:
- Pay attention to the signs as they begin to loom. If we look at verse 33, this “watch” has the same implication as “take heed” (v5,9,23,33) in Jesus’ wording. He meant that we should take note of those signs and be well prepared, that we should hold on to our faith in him and not to be deceived by the anti-Christ or bow down to him. He told us to “learn a parable of the fig tree: When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.” (v28-29) (Luke 21:29, “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees…”) As we see the signs showing up over time, we shall be more confident that Christ’s day of return is getting near. He confirmed that these signs must show up first prior to his return: “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (v30-31) We shall step up our faith to wait for his glorious return.
Jesus spoke a similar parable in Matt 24 and told us to watch and make ourselves ready to welcome him back, “But know this, that if the goodman of the house (家主) had known in what watch (幾更天) the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready (預備), for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh (因為你們想不到的時候，人子就來了). ” (Matt 24:43-44) This parable emphasizes the attitude of the person waiting for someone to appear at any time, or he may suffer irreparable loss.
- Don’t sleep but do God’s work. While we are watching for the signs to appear, we should not hang around or sit idle but waste no time to perform the tasks we are supposed to do. Jesus spoke another parable to encourage us to do so: “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 (分派各人當做的工), and commanded the porter (看門的) to watch. 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. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” (v34-36) We are the servants hired to take care of the master’s house. We ought to be diligent whether the master is present or not. We should not be the lazy servants taking advantage of the absence of the master and doing nothing and be a sleeping servant.
Jesus also spoke a similar parable in Matt 24: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath
made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord
when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”
(Matt 24:45-47) Those believers who work hard for the Lord shall be greatly rewarded.
Finally, Jesus solemnly spoke to the disciples and specifically to us who, if not living in the last generation, are living very close to the last generation, “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (v37)
(implication)
In Matt 24 & 25, after telling the signs, Jesus followed by saying three parables:
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the parable of the unfaithful servant (faithful and wise vs unfaithful and evil) (Matt 24:45-51)
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the parable of the ten virgins (wise vs foolish) (Matt 25:1-13)
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the parable of the talents (good and faithful vs wicked and slothful [又惡又懶] ) (Matt 25:14-30).
He demands that the believers be faithful, wise and good servants and not to be unfaithful, foolish and wicked servants. In Ephesians 5, Paul exhorts us with these words: “Wherefore he saith (所以主說), ‘Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (基督就要光照你了).’ See then that ye walk circumspectly (你們要謹慎行事), not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time (要愛惜光陰), because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephe 5:14-17) He also said, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord (總要察驗何為主所喜悅的事). And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephe 5:8-11) The above exhortation is concerned with the performance of the faithful, wise and good servants. That is also the performance of those of us who are waiting for the Lord’s return with the ‘take heed, watch and be ready’ attitude.