Follow #42 -- The Great Tribulation -- Mark 13:14-23

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.

Last Week

On the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple precincts, Jesus continued teaching about the end of the age. Peter, John, James, and Andrew sat riveted as their Master explained the end times.

With his first words, the section we studied last week, Jesus told them of the birth pains that would come upon the earth in preparation for his return. Before his reign, and before the new heavens and earth, our world will endure increasing trouble. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, natural disasters, and pestilences will increase leading up to the second coming of Christ. The believer is not to be alarmed or afraid but instead operate in line with the gospel, preaching it with their words and works until he comes. Persecution will increase, but God's people must endure.

The Abomination Of Desolation

Then Jesus told his men about an event called "the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be" (14). The abomination of desolation: Mark gave a parenthetical comment when he said, "Let the reader understand" (14). What are we to understand? What is the abomination of desolation?

Daniel

To explain this phrase, we must consider its origins because Jesus was not the first to use it. It comes from the book of Daniel. Matthew's account of the Olivet Discourse makes it clear Jesus knew it came from Daniel (Matthew 24:15). And Daniel, written 600 years before the time of Christ, wrote three times about the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).

Each time Daniel spoke of the abomination of desolation, it's clear he wrote of a future event that had something to do with the defilement of the sacrifices in Jerusalem's temple.

Antiochus Epiphanes

It is fascinating, though, that Jesus brings up this event to his followers because, in their day, they thought the abomination of desolation Daniel spoke of had already happened. The reason they felt this way is that nearly 200 years before their time, a Syrian ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes had invaded Jerusalem, set up an altar to Zeus in the temple, and sacrificed a pig on it. He desecrated the temple. It was an abomination to the Jews. And the temple was made desolate as a result.

So, to the disciples, the abomination of desolation Daniel spoke of had already occurred. But Jesus comes along and tells them the event is still future. It seems the terrible actions of Antiochus Epiphanes were only a foreshadowing of the ultimate and eventual fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies.

Titus

And after Jesus spoke, he died and rose and ascended. And the church was born. As the gospel spread out from Jerusalem, eventually God's judgment was expressed on Jerusalem's temple. God was done with that mode of worship. So, in accordance with Jesus' prediction that not one stone would remain on top of another, the Romans invaded and desecrated and destroyed the temple in 70ad. They made it desolate.

So it is natural to wonder if Jesus was merely referring to those events when he said the abomination of desolation is coming. But, though Titus' ransacking of the temple might've been a foreshadowing of partial fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies, Jesus seems to have spoken of a yet future day. Just as Antiochus Epiphanes wasn't the full fulfillment, it's possible Titus wasn't either.

The Man Of Sin

One reason we might think this way is because the Bible teaches about a coming "man of lawlessness" whose actions will immediately precede the Day of the Lord or the end of the age.

Listen to Paul's description:

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (ESV)—1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV)—8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

This "man of lawlessness" is often called the Antichrist by believers, and he is the beast of the book of Revelation. According to the original prophecies in Daniel, he is a coming world dictator who will establish a seven-year peace covenant, particularly over the Middle East (Daniel 9:27). This likely means he will pave the way for a rebuilt temple on the old temple mount -- an astounding feat considering its current Islamic occupants. But halfway through his peace treaty, his true nature will be revealed, and he will demand the worship that only belongs to God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

But how could people be so deceived? Revelation calls him a beast. Daniel calls him a horn who does terrible things. But those images reveal God's perspective. People love him. To the world, he's not repulsive but energizing and widely received. He brings seeming peace. He'll essentially be a world dictator who leads humanity into what appears to be a golden age until he shows his true colors and the judgment of God is released upon him.

He is not the opposite of Christ, where Jesus is nice, and this guy is evil, but anti-Christ as in instead of Christ. I mean, he will be opposite Christ, but he'll also be a hero to many. I think he will offer the benefits of Christ's kingdom -- peace, justice, mercy for all -- but without Christ.

And many have tried to identify him throughout church history. The Pope, Nero, Hitler, Mikhail Gorbachev, Napoleon, and nearly every American President have all been popular candidates. But everyone has been wrong.

So one day, a world ruler will come and complete Daniel and Jesus' "abomination of desolation" prophecy.

I should say this is one of the more difficult verses in Mark to interpret. Mark said, "Let the reader understand" (14). And I've tried my best to explain to you how I understand it. As I've been candid to tell you, others have not seen anything about the end times here, but think the abomination of desolation happened with Titus and the Roman invasion in 70ad. But I think the best view sees a still future fulfillment of Jesus' words, partly because of what he said next.

The Mark Of The Beast

But before moving on, it might be wise to ask a question: what about the mark of the beast spoken of in Revelation 13? Is there a chance the Covid vaccination is the mark or preparing us for it? I hesitate to answer the question because it’s not how I’d like to spend our time together. I will not tell you whether to get the vaccine or not. But -- strongly -- I know the vaccine cannot be the mark. Why don't I?

First, Revelation portrays the world adopting the mark of the beast after the man of sin reveals his true identity in the temple. In other words, no abomination of desolation in the temple, no mark of the beast. Put another way, for the vaccine to be the mark, we'd have to be in the second half of the tribulation, worshipping one world ruler.

Second, true believers will be incapable of receiving the mark. I'm not sure the church will even be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed, but even people who come to Christ during the tribulation will be able to withstand the temptation to take the mark (Revelation 12:10-11, 13:15).

Third, Revelation depicts the people who receive the mark as worshippers of the beast (Revelation 13:13-15). Intentionally -- not accidentally -- they devote themselves to him and give him the worship only God deserves.

Fourth, Revelation does not describe it as a secret mark, a trick world leaders play on the population, but as something the world willingly embraces on their forehead or right hand (Revelation 13:16-17).

Fifth, if the mark is literal, it will be a tattoo-like mark on the forehead or right hand, not a vaccine.

And sixth, I don't believe the mark must be literal because the rest of Revelation says believers have the seal and name of God on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:4). We generally take this to mean we belong to God, not that he tattoos his name onto us.

I think the mark could easily be a knowing allegiance and worship of the supreme leader of the world after he defiles the temple, in the middle of the Great Tribulation, three-and-a-half years before Christ returns.

As I said last week, God has given us common grace, so the vaccine might be God's mercy. And while I don't worry that this vaccine might be the mark of the beast, I do worry that life will go back to normal one of these days, and God's kindness will not lead to man's repentance. I fear we will be lulled to sleep by a false sense of security. I fear a vaccine could cause us to trust ourselves rather than God.

And we certainly must keep our ultimate faith and trust pointed towards God. He will be the one to get us through.

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.

Housetop?

All these exhortations have a Jewish bent to them. Housetops were used in that region as a place for leisure in the cool of the evening. You could dine, relax, sleep, store goods, and pray on the flat roof of your home. And Jesus had already said it was the citizens of Judea who should flee when the abomination of desolation occurs. Many Christians, when the armies of Titus began arriving at Jerusalem, did flee the city before the greatest destruction came.

Some would say this is evidence Jesus' words were focused only on the first generation of the church that started in Jerusalem. I take it as a clue that God will turn his attention again to the people of Israel in the last days and that, quite possibly, the church will be removed before these events occur.

Hardest Tribulation Ever

Jesus called this time the hardest tribulation ever: "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" (19). It's so severe that we should praise God that he will cut short those days (20). No one would survive without divine intervention. And God will not allow those days to go one forever. For the sake of the elect, people, I think, who come to Jesus during the great tribulation, God will shorten those days (20). It is the greatest tribulation ever.

Daniel predicted this time would come as well.

Daniel 12:1 (ESV)—1 “...And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."

Overview Of Revelation 6-19 (The 70th Week Of Daniel)

This time of tribulation is also sometimes called the 70th Seven Of Daniel because Daniel predicted a future seven-year period of pain. Others have referred to this as the time of Jacob's trouble Jeremiah predicted (Jeremiah 30:7).

My view is that the time of trouble Jesus described is found in the apocalyptic language of Revelation 6-19. Allow me to give you a brief overview of the events found there.

First, God's judgment is pictured as bound in a scroll in heaven. Jesus will take that scroll and loosen the seals, of which there are seven.

The first seal will introduce a white horse rider; this is likely the man of sin or Antichrist. The second seal reveals a red horse rider, and with him comes worldwide violence. The third brings a black horse rider or worldwide financial collapse. The fourth is a pale horse, where a quarter of the world's population dies from famine, sickness, and beasts. The fifth seal reveals many will be martyred for their belief in Jesus during this season. The sixth seal reveals cataclysmic disasters. And the result of these first six seals is that people hide from God but generally do not repent of their sin or turn to him. There will be much evangelism due to new tribulation believers, but many will still reject God.

The seventh seal will contain seven trumpets. There will be silence in heaven when this seal is opened, probably because it contains so much disaster. With the first trumpet comes massive ecological disaster as the planet's vegetation is struck. With the second trumpet, the seas are struck, indicating massive oceanic disaster. A massive water shortage comes with the third trumpet. The fourth trumpet brings cosmic disaster as the sun, moon, and stars are struck. The fifth trumpet leads to an increase in demonic activity for five months. The sixth trumpets leads to massive death -- as much as a third of the earth's population will die. And the result of the trumpets is a total lack of repentance from the earth's inhabitants.

The seventh trumpet then leads to seven final bowls of judgment. These come in the back half of the tribulation, potentially right before Christ's return. The first bowl unleashes pains and sores on all who follow the Antichrist. The second bowl leads to the complete destruction of ocean life. The third bowl destroys the freshwater supply. The fourth leads to the sun becoming more potent -- it will have a scorching effect. During the fifth bowl, the antichrist and his kingdom will be overcome by complete and painful darkness of some kind. The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates River, which beckons armies in the east to come to fight against God in Armageddon. And the seventh bowl leads to the destruction of the world's religious and commercial systems that are designed contrary to God and his will. And the result of these bowls will be that humanity longs for everything God has judged.

And with all that, Christ will return and conquer! We will look at his return next Sunday.

Why?

All this to say, it will be a time of great pain. But why is all this necessary? What good could come from such tribulation?

First, these warnings remind us that, thought God is longsuffering, a day of reckoning always comes. As Peter said:

2 Peter 3:9–10 (ESV)—9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

So these warnings should help us know our time on earth today is meant for reaching people while God extends mercy and patience to the earth.

Second, these warnings promote holy living. As Peter went on to say:

2 Peter 3:11–12 (HCSB)—11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

When we think about tomorrow's coming trouble, we should gain a better understanding of what is of true importance today.

Third, I believe this time of tribulation will lead to the saving of many souls, particularly those of the Jewish race. To me, this is evidenced by the great multitude no one can number early on in the account of Revelation (7:9).

Fourth, the time of tribulation will reveal the heart of humanity. Many will not budge and soften towards him. The tribulation portrays most of humanity as sharply resistant to God. Just as the plagues of Exodus revealed Pharaoh's hard heart toward God, so the tribulation will reveal the heard heartedness of many.

Fifth, God has given ample witness in the cosmos, in his word, and through his church about who he is and his plan for mankind. He is the judge of all the earth, and the time of judgment must come.

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.

Signs And Wonders

Even though God can work miraculously today, modern believers should be cautious about signs and wonders, because some will use them in an attempt to lead God's people astray (22). It will not be possible, Jesus said, but days will come when it will be tempting to depart from Christ for something flashy. Remember, though, Jesus did miracles but was always reluctant to gain a following that way. He wanted people to follow him because of his words and his work on the cross, not for miracles-sake.

Like Pharaoh's magicians back in Exodus, these charlatans will possess some spiritual power. They will perform signs and wonders all in an attempt to get people thinking Christ has already come. But, as we'll see in our passage next week, Jesus' return will be as public and non-secret as it gets.

A Modern Exhortation

So Jesus told his followers to be on guard (23). We will think more about what this means in the teaching next week. But, for today, let's close by considering how the exhortation to "be on guard" points us back to Jesus' words from last week. We are not yet living in the time of tribulation. We are not living during the book of Revelation. But the birth pains have come. Wars, rumors of wars, disease, disasters, and famines abound. Persecution is on the rise.

For all this, Jesus told us not to be alarmed (13:7). He told us to be on guard (13:9). And he told us to preach the gospel (13:10). Don't be distracted. Stay focused. Live and preach the gospel because, one day, Jesus will return.

Closing Applications

1. Don't spend your time seeking the Antichrist, but Jesus Christ. Scripture does not tell us to spend our time and energy worrying about the beast's kingdom, but Jesus' kingdom.
2. Be more concerned about the spirit of antichrist than the actual Antichrist. This is what John taught us in 1 John 2:18-19. The spirit of antichrist is found in those who leave the church, making it clear they were not of us.
3. Hold onto the doctrines of common grace and the image of God in humanity when thinking of the end times. Though hard hearted, not everything mankind does is evil.
4. Since God will judge the earth and all that is in it, live a life of holiness. Don't partake of the religious and commercial systems that are contrary to God.
5. Do not be deceived by signs and wonders.
6. Do not be alarmed by the current birth pains.