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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
A SIGN OF JERUSALEM’S END,
AND A SIGN OF CHRIST’S RETURN

[“Look Out and Keep Alert”]
Key word: Watch

Mark 13:1, 2 – Temple to be Destroyed

|| Matthew 24:1-3; 321 Luke 21:5-7

321	Matthew 24:1-3: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. Mark chapter 13 is considered word by word in the commentary on Matthew.

MK13:1 Now as they were leaving the Temple courtyard one of Jesus’ disciples asked him: “Teacher, look at the kinds of stones and all the buildings!” MK13:2 But, Jesus said [to the disciple]: “See all these impressive buildings? Not a stone will be left upon a stone 322 and everything not torn down!”

322	Not a stone will be left upon a stone: Compare Luke 19:44.

Mark 13:3-8 – Warnings About Expectations

|| Matthew 24:4-14; 323 Luke 21:8-19

323	Matthew 24:4-14: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:3 Now sitting upon the Mount of Olives with a view of the Temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew 324 asked Jesus in private:

324	Peter, James, John and Andrew: Only Mark tells us who the apostles were on this occasion. The Greek plural YOU will be used throughout much of the Nazarene’s prophecy, indicating that much of it applies solely to these early disciples.

MK13:4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? 325 And what will be the sign when all these things reach a conclusion?” 326

325	When will all this happen: That is, the destruction of the Temple.

326

The sign when all these things reach a conclusion: That is, indicating when the Temple will be destroyed. Mark has the apostles using the Greek SYNTELEISTHA [conclusion, consummation]. The word is similar to that at Matthew 24:3 and Daniel 9:27. [Compare also Hebrews 9:26.] It should be noted that Mark does not include any mention of the Parousia.

MK13:5 Then Jesus began to answer them, saying: “Be careful that no one misleads you 327 [apostles]!

327	Be careful that no one misleads you: The four apostles wanted to know “when” and Jesus begins by a caution concerning this. History confirms that millions have been, indeed, misled by twisted misapplications of what follows.

MK13:6 For many will arrive claiming my authority, 328 saying, ‘I am the Anointed!’ 329 – and they will deceive many. 330

328	Claiming my authority: Or, in my name. In one way or another these will claim special revelation or specific assignment by Jesus himself.

329	I am the Anointed: Or, the Christ. Some will claim to be the Messiah himself, others that they as a body are the ‘Anointed’.

330	They will deceive many: The historical results are foretold: a large portion of the Church membership will be deceived.

MK13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be alarmed, 331 for such things must happen.

331	Do not be alarmed: False prophets will point to particular events, or a combination of events, that will be indications of the end. World events should not throw the Saints off balance.

MK13:8 Because nation will rise up against nation, 332 and kingdom against kingdom. 333 Also, there will be earthquakes and famines 334 in various places. These things are [only] a beginning of birth pangs. 335

332	Nation will rise up against nation: Before the destruction of the Temple there will occur a variety of wars and reports of wars.

333	Kingdom against kingdom: The language may echo Isaiah 19:2.

334	Earthquakes and famines: Nor should natural phenomenon mislead indicate the end.

335	A beginning of birth pangs: These events, no matter what they are, precede the destruction of the Temple.

Mark 13:9-13 – What Will Happen to the Apostles?

|| Matthew 10:17-22; 336 Luke 12:11, 12

336	Matthew 10:17-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:9 “As for you [apostles], be on your guard, 337 for they will hand you over to sanhedrins, and in synagogues 338 you will receive beatings. You will stand before rulers and kings on my account 339 as a testimony against them.

337	As for you [apostles], be on your guard: Jesus continues to speak directly to the four apostles.

338	Sanhedrins, and in synagogues: Jesus clearly speaks to Jews who would know what these words mean. The Book of Acts records the fulfillment of all of these prophecies regarding the early disciples.

339	You will stand before rulers and kings on my account: All of this occurs in Acts.

MK13:10 Also, among all the non-Jews the Good News must be proclaimed first. 340

340	Among all the non-Jews the Good News must be proclaimed first: Jesus predicts the Gospel message taken to the Gentiles. Just so this dominates much of the Book of Acts.

MK13:11 However, when they arrest you [apostles] and lead you away, 341 do not be overly concerned what you will speak, because whatever you speak will be given to you by the holy Pneuma at that moment.

341	When they arrest you [apostles] and lead you away: See Acts 4-5.

MK13:12 Also, brother will betray brother, and a father his son, leading to death. And children will stand up against their own parents [Micah 7:6] and will condemn them to death. MK13:13 You will be hated by all humanity because of my name, 342 however the person who endures completely will be saved. 343

342	Because of my name: These first Christians are hated, not because of the Father’s name Yehowah, but because of the name of Jesus Christ.

343	Who endures completely will be saved: Or, KJV: endure unto the end; BER: perseveres to the finish; RIE: endures to the uttermost. The Greek TELOS is without the article and so means “an end” – that is the finish of the individual’s race. [2 Timothy 4:6-8]

Mark 13:14-20 – The Great Oppression

|| Matthew 24:15-25; 344 Luke 21:20-24

344	Matthew 24:15-25: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:14 “But, whenever you [apostles] observe 345 the Abomination of Desolation 346 [Daniel 9:27] standing where it ought not – let the person reading be mindful – then let those in Judaea flee into the mountains. 347

345	Whenever you [apostles] observe: Or, when you see, experience. Jesus means: when you apostles see. Thus, within their life-time the disciples would live to see the ruin of the Temple. So here is a major sign that indicates the destruction of the Temple is about to happen.

346

Abomination of Desolation: This designation is drawn from Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. This turns out to be the Roman armies who comes against Jerusalem in 66 AD at the beginning of the Jewish Wars. The Romans minted a coin to commemorate each year [66-73 AD] of this war. Luke 21:20 describes this abomination as armies encamped against Jerusalem.

347	Let those in Judaea flee into the mountains: This is exactly what the bulk of Christians did in the fall of 66 AD. Christianity spread widely to safer areas, though Peter and Paul were executed at the beginning of this “great oppression.”

MK13:15 Let those on the housetop not come down to enter the house and gather garments. MK13:16 And the person in the field should not return to gather up possessions left behind. MK13:17 Woe to those pregnant and those nursing babies in those days! MK13:18 Continue to pray so that it may not all take place in winter. 348

348	Winter: It begins in the fall.

MK13:19 For those days 349 will be an oppression 350 of a kind that has never occurred from the beginning of creation that the God created until that present time, [Daniel 12:1] nor will ever occur again. 351

349	Days: A period of three and a half years from 66 to 70 AD. Though there is another period of 2,300 days beginning in early 66 AD and ending in the spring of 73 AD at Masada, bring an end to the Jewish Wars. [Daniel 7:21-25; 12:1-7]

350	Oppression: The Greek is THLIPSIS and is taken from Daniel 12:1.

351	Ever occur again: The oppression against Jerusalem with over one million casualties in the year 70 AD was never to be repeated. A second Great Oppression is to occur upon the end-time Saints. [Daniel 7:22; Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:17; 13:5-7]

MK13:20 For if YHWH 352 did not shorten those days it is unlikely any flesh would be saved. However, in behalf of the Elect whom He chose those days will be shortened.

352	YHWH: The Greek could suggest the Tetragram original occurred here.

Mark 13:21-23 – Watch Out For False Christs

|| Matthew 24:23-26; 353 Luke 17:23

353	Matthew 24:23-26: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:21 “And then if ever anyone should say to you [apostles], ‘Behold, the Christ is here!’ 354 or, ‘Look there!’ – none of you [apostles] believe them!

354	Christ is here: Or, here is Christ, as though Christ had returned; or, that someone, or some group is the Christ, or the Anointed.

MK13:22 For pseudo-anointed and pseudo-prophets 355 will arise and give signs and wonders 356 to keep leading astray – if that were even possible – the Elect.

355	Pseudo-anointed and pseudo-prophets: Or, false christs and false prophets.

356	Signs and wonders: Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11.

MK13:23 But, you [apostles], keep on the watch! I have foretold it all to you [apostles]!

Mark 13:24-27 – Events After the Oppression

|| Matthew 24:29-31; 357 Luke 12:25-27

357	Matthew 24:29-31: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. At this juncture Jesus telescopes to another great oppression against the end-time Saints, the actual end of three and a half years. [Daniel 7:22; Revelation 7:14; 11:3, 4; 12:17; 13:5-7]

MK13:24 “But, in those days after the Oppression, [Daniel 12:1] the sun will be darkened and the moon will not be illuminated MK13:25 – and the asteroids will fall from the sky as the heavenly dynamics are shaken. [Isaiah 13:10] MK13:26 It is then they will observe the Son of Humankind arriving in clouds [Daniel 7:13] with much power and glory. MK13:27 Then he will send out the angels and they will gather together his Elect from the four winds 358 [Isaiah 11:12] – from one end of earth all the way to the end of the sky.

358	Gather together his Elect from the four winds: Compare Matthew 25:31 and Revelation 7:1-3, 9-17.

Mark 13:28-31 – A Fig Tree Lesson

|| Matthew 24:32-36; 359 Luke 21:29-33

359	Matthew 24:32-36: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:28 “Now, all of you, learn a parable of the fig tree: whenever its branch is already tender and begins to produce leaves – all of you realize that summer is near. 360

360	Summer is near: In the case of Mark 13:14 the surrounding of Jerusalem by Roman armies. In the case of the end-time Saints the oppression and the celestial phenomenon.

MK13:29 Just so, you, whenever you observe these things occurring you will realize that He is near, even at the doors. MK13:30 I tell you this truth: that this generation 361 will not pass away until all of these things happen.

361	This generation: This word likely involves two periods: a] that contemporary generation that witnessed the end of Jerusalem; and, b] the end-time generation who experience the celestial phenomenon.

MK13:31 The sky and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Mark 13:32-37 – Not Knowing the Time, Remain Alert

|| Matthew 24:42; 362 Luke 19:12, 13; 12:38, 40

362	Matthew 24:42: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK13:32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows 363 – not the angels of heaven, nor even the Son – but only the Father.

363	Now concerning that day or hour no one knows: Either the first period of oppression against Jerusalem, or the second period of the Great Oppression and the Parousia. Compare notes on Acts 1:7. See verse 34, 35 where it is the “day and hour” of the Master’s “returning.”

MK13:33 Stay alert and remain awake, for you have no idea about the appointed time. MK13:34 It is just like a person who leaves his own people and his house and goes on a journey – leaving his slaves 364 in charge, to each slave his own particular work, and then commands the doorkeeper to remain awake.

364	Slaves: See notes on Matthew 24:44, 45 and Luke 12:32-49.

MK13:35 So then, also you, remain awake! For you have no idea when the Lord of the Household is returning 365 – whether in the afternoon, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or early in the morning 366 –

365	Returning: Or, coming, arrival – the parousia. Mark or Luke never uses the Greek PAROUSIA [presence] but synonyms that mean the same thing – coming, arrival, returning.

366

Afternoon, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or early in the morning: This is less than 24 hours. The fact the sun is darkened and the moon does not give its light indicates something global, where it is day on one side and night on the other. When ever I Christ would return it would be a different time zone on various places around the globe. Note the two groups – one working, and one sleeping – in Luke 17:34, 35. The Parousia is not a long drawn out generational span of time.

MK13:36 so that having arrived suddenly he does not find you sleeping. MK13:37 Now what I am saying to you [apostles] I am saying to everyone: Stay awake!”

Review Questions on Chapter Thirteen