The Great Tribulation: Mark 13:14-23
““14) 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. 15) The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 16) and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 17) 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. 19) For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20) Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21) And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; 22) for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23) But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:14-23
In these few verses, Jesus switched His discourse to the Great Tribulation. He transitioned completely to His second coming and the end of the times. (See the questions as asked in Mathew 24:3) He started addressing the “sign of your coming and of the end of the age.”
Two things stand out about His answer. First, He gave a strong geographically specific answer. He focused on Jerusalem and Judea. His answer related to how the Jewish people would see the tribulation unfold from a Jerusalem setting. The brunt of the anti-Christ attack will be aimed against Israel.
This is also true of the book of Revelation. Though it includes a great multitude from every nation, the main focus was on Israel. (Read Revelation 7)
Second, many false Christs and false prophets will arise showing signs and wonders so to lead astray even the elect, if possible. Paul warned about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11. Like the sorcerers who came against Moses in Egypt, Satan always tries to duplicate Gods power with false signs and wonders.
The significant thing about Paul writing about the end times in the books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians was to show that the Great Tribulation would extend beyond Israel. Satan will try to deceive the whole earth.
According to Revelation 12:13-17, Satan will target both Israel and Christians in the end times. He will undoubtedly exploit modern technology to export his propaganda. The Great Tribulation will affect people world wide.
Mark did not go much deeper with his record of the teaching of Jesus on the actual Tribulation. In the next section, he moved rapidly to the return of Christ.
I have found it is better to focus on the return of Christ rather than the tribulation. Many are so focused on the tribulation period, they totally neglect the fact that the main focus is the return of Christ. We are always to fix our eyes on Jesus and not our circumstances.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
““14) 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. 15) The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 16) and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 17) 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. 19) For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20) Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21) And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; 22) for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23) But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:14-23
In these few verses, Jesus switched His discourse to the Great Tribulation. He transitioned completely to His second coming and the end of the times. (See the questions as asked in Mathew 24:3) He started addressing the “sign of your coming and of the end of the age.”
Two things stand out about His answer. First, He gave a strong geographically specific answer. He focused on Jerusalem and Judea. His answer related to how the Jewish people would see the tribulation unfold from a Jerusalem setting. The brunt of the anti-Christ attack will be aimed against Israel.
This is also true of the book of Revelation. Though it includes a great multitude from every nation, the main focus was on Israel. (Read Revelation 7)
Second, many false Christs and false prophets will arise showing signs and wonders so to lead astray even the elect, if possible. Paul warned about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11. Like the sorcerers who came against Moses in Egypt, Satan always tries to duplicate Gods power with false signs and wonders.
The significant thing about Paul writing about the end times in the books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians was to show that the Great Tribulation would extend beyond Israel. Satan will try to deceive the whole earth.
According to Revelation 12:13-17, Satan will target both Israel and Christians in the end times. He will undoubtedly exploit modern technology to export his propaganda. The Great Tribulation will affect people world wide.
Mark did not go much deeper with his record of the teaching of Jesus on the actual Tribulation. In the next section, he moved rapidly to the return of Christ.
I have found it is better to focus on the return of Christ rather than the tribulation. Many are so focused on the tribulation period, they totally neglect the fact that the main focus is the return of Christ. We are always to fix our eyes on Jesus and not our circumstances.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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