Mark 13:24-27

The grand finale of the gospel preach by Jesus Christ is that there is a sure hope for the future.  Jesus said, “in those days” all heavenly bodies relinquish its power, all eyes will see Jesus display authority, and all believers will be gathered from everywhere to Himself. 

All Heavenly Bodies will Relinquish Its Power

            “But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, 25AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.—Mark 13:24, 25

When the tribulation is over, the heavenly bodies will relinquish its power and the powers that are in heaven will be shaken signaling the coming of the Son of Man which, intend not to destroy the cosmos but to frighten it.

All Eyes will See Jesus’ Displays Authority

            “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. —Mark 13:26

            BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen. —Rev 1:7

            They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”—Acts 1:11

            “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14“And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. —Dan 7:13, 14

This upheaval is all about the splendor of Jesus power and glory depicting the very presence of God, which, means no longer in the temple but in Jesus, the Son of Man.

All Believers will be Gathered from Everywhere

            “And then He will send forth the angels and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. —Mark 13:27

The Son of Man will gather God’s elect no mattered how scattered and far-off they may be.  The elect is gathered to Jesus from everywhere converging all creation at a single point:  The Son of Man— the focal point of redemption.  Jesus coming was his promise, and the gathering of believers to Him is our realize hope.

Conclusion

No matter how fearful and uncertain events become, we may rest assured that the “son of man” will surely make sudden and decisive appearance.  No one knows when this will take place.  Verse 32 says that no one, not even he, knows when the day will be; but the fact that his coming is the important point, we must be watchful, discerning, and prepared.

Mark 13:14-18

Jesus was telling His disciples that the mystery of the end will be kindled with the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be, which will usher so much blasphemy, urgency, and difficulty.

Ushered with So Much Blasphemy

“But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. —Mark 13:14

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.—2 Thess 2:3-4

Mark 13:14 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 closely depict a blasphemous antichrist who at some future time will unleash severe tribulation on the people of God, which will usher the return of the Lord.  The mystery “abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” admonished Christians to watchfully and faithfully stand on their guard knowing that there is no perfect sign and time for Christ return.

Ushered with So Much Urgency

“The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 16and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. —Mark 13:15, 16

Jesus said that when the end is now at hand, the sudden uprising of such event will pose so great danger and the time to flee without delay is the only best way.  Like a burning building, gathering up possessions is no longer worth an option. 

Ushered with So Much Difficulty

“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18“But pray that it may not happen in the winter. —Mark 13:17, 18

This end time event is distressful with very limited shelter, little food, and difficult escape if it happens in winter.  Jesus’ purpose in predicting the disaster is not to reveal the time of the end but to prepare the disciples from the deceiving appeal of the many false teachers.