The Beginning Of The End (Mark 13:1-8)

It’s back-to-school week for many families. Most high schoolers and college students will get to class and be handed a syllabus. A good syllabus gives a basic roadmap of what you’ll be covering in the next semester, important texts you’ll need to consult, and what’s expected of you.

Mark 13 has those syllabus elements. A couple days before the crucifixion, four disciples find themselves in a seminar with their Rabbi. As Mark records the scene, we’ll find that he suddenly looks right at us and says, “You readers need to understand this.” This text is full of prophecy and principle and is foundational for our understanding of eschatology.

What is eschatology? That simply means what the Bible teaches about the end times. The end of human history, the end of the world, and the eternal life that follows.

Eschatology is one of those topics that people tend to get very passionate about. They say if you want to stay out of a fight at Thanksgiving don’t talk about politics or religion. If you’re among a group of Christians who go to various churches and you don’t want to get into an argument, there are certain things you don’t bring up. Gifts of the Spirit. Predestination. Eschatology.

Among faithful believers there are some who say the Church is going to be raptured, some who say it isn’t. Some who believe that there will be a literal, 1,000 year Kingdom on earth, some who say we’re in the Kingdom now. Even when people agree, there’s disagreement. Among Christians who believe in the rapture, some say it’s before the Great Tribulation, some say after, some day part way through, some say a different part of the way through. Some say there is a partial rapture.

How can there be so much disagreement? Well, there are a lot of things that feed into our doctrinal positions. What church traditions have we been exposed to? What authors do we read? But most of all when dealing with the end times: How do we think Bible prophecy should be interpreted?

Here at Calvary, we believe that the Bible should be interpreted literally. Or, as some scholars put it, the “grammatical-historical method.”^[1] That means we assume a prophecy is literal unless we’re given clear and convincing textual evidence that it’s meant to be understood figuratively.

Some other believers assume that prophecy is allegorical. But that creates problems. We know many prophecies are or were literal. So, how do we pick and choose which are really going to happen and which are just an allegory? All the prophecies about Jesus’ first coming really happened. And even tonight, we’ll see Jesus make a specific prophecy about something that really happened later in history. How then can we move to His next set of prophecies and say they’re just an analogy or allegory for the Christian life? It’s not a consistent way of interpreting the Scripture.

So we assume Bible prophecy is literal. That doesn’t mean the Bible never uses allegory or illustration in prophecy. Sometimes it does. And when it does, it gives us a heads up!

A large portion of the entire Bible is prophetic in nature. But there are certain passages that are foundational to our understanding of what is still going to happen in God’s plan for this world.

For example, Daniel 9 gives us the extremely important 70 Weeks Prophecy. Revelation 6 through 19 shows us the Great Tribulation. Chapters 20 through 22 show us the Millennial Kingdom and the eternal state. Ezekiel 40 through 48 show us the Millennium and how things like worship and tribal allotment will happen in that period. 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 speak to us about the rapture and the second coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15 teaches about the nature and quality of the resurrection.

And then there’s the Olivet Discourse. It’s a lecture Jesus gave to four of His disciples about the end times. It’s recorded in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

While we work our way through it, we want to keep a few things in mind. First, it deals with the Great Tribulation and the second coming. It does not show us the rapture or the Millennium.

Second, it has a great emphasis on God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. When you go to Matthew, you see that it flows from Jesus pronouncing the destruction of Jerusalem because they rejected Him as Messiah. The Lord then imposes judicial blindness on the nation.^[2] The Olivet Discourse refers to the Temple and the Sabbath. It those ways, it’s extremely Jewish in character.

Third, we need to keep in mind the Scriptural connections. Not just the other Gospels. The Olivet Discourse is connected to Daniel’s prophecies and has very close harmony with Revelation, particularly chapter 6.^[3]

Fourth, the prophecies Jesus makes here are definitely meant to be understood literally. He begins with a specific prophecy that is absolutely, 100% proven to be true. He ends with a discussion about how He is literally coming back one day, which is a fundamental and essential doctrine. Yet, some Christians and commentators will say things like, “The Olivet Discourse is not to encourage eschatological forecasting.” Most of what Jesus mentioned happened in 70AD.^[4] They say it’s purpose is not to give details about the future.^[5] They label Jesus’ lesson here as “apocalyptic literature,” which they say is “highly figurative, symbolic, even extravagant.”^[6] But then they will quietly acknowledge this speech does not have many of the features of apocalyptic literature.^[7]

The fifth thing to understand as we go through this text: Even though we are not going to be present for any part of the Great Tribulation, there are still commands and directives that apply to us. Jesus concludes His lecture by saying, “What I say to you, I say to everyone.”^[8]

That’s a very long introduction but I think it’s important because how important this section of the book is. And prophecy can be difficult to understand. But here’s the encouragement: God wants you to understand. He wants to reveal. He wants us to be aware so we can be alert. So, let’s take a look at the first few verses and start into this remarkable lecture from Jesus.

Mark 13:1 – ¹ As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”

Herod’s Temple was magnificent. Twice as large as Solomon’s. It was made of white marble. One whole side was covered in plates of gold.^[9] Over the doors was a huge vine of solid gold. You could pay to add a cluster.^[10] Some individual stones were over 40 feet long, weighing 100 tons.^[11]

Yet we know that Temple was not only spiritually bankrupt, but God’s presence did not dwell there.

Even Christians can be distracted by the worldly and the material. We want to keep the spiritual in focus. There’s nothing wrong with having a lovely building, but that’s not what should impress us the most or be the thing we’re most excited about. What good is a palace without God’s presence?

Mark 13:2 – ² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.” 

This literally happened in 70AD. Now, Jesus wasn’t happy about it. Matthew and Luke explain how Jesus wept and lamented over Jerusalem and the terrible disaster that was coming.

Jesus wasn’t speaking figuratively here. Josephus – who saw it happen – said the destruction was so complete you could plow the temple mount like a field.^[12] The Romans were so effective in razing the temple that the exact location on the mount is still disputed today!^[13]

Mark 13:3-4 – ³ While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

They walked out of Jerusalem, across the valley, up the mount where they had a little base of operations. The location is prophetic in and of itself. In Ezekiel, the glory of the Lord departs the temple and where does He go? The mount of olives. Now, just days before Israel will reject their Messiah, He departs the temple and goes to the same place. And where is Jesus going to return when He comes back again? The mount of olives!^[14]

The disciples were confused. They thought the Messiah was going to establish a Jewish Kingdom. How could the temple be destroyed? They ask for specific information so they can be ready.

The answer Jesus gives is not what they asked for. Instead, the Lord will give them com sign posts, commands, encouragements, and ways to understand the flow of human history.

The Olivet Discourse is the longest uninterrupted teaching of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark – one of only two. It is incredibly important as far as Mark is concerned. And as you read it, notice not only the elements of prophecy, but notice how often the Lord gives us commands. He starts with one.

Mark 13:5-6 – ⁵ Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.

There were a string of Jewish figures who claimed to be the Messiah. That pretty much ended in 132 AD with a guy named Bar Cochba.^[15] But throughout history there have always been people who claim to have the power or the answers that only the Messiah has. Whether it’s a political leader or someone who claims spiritual authority, we need to watch out for these false Christs so that we’re not deceived by them.

If these pretend messiahs are so effective and able to deceive many, how can we keep ourselves protected? How do we watch out? Jesus said if we continue in His word we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.^[16] The Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Know the word and you will not be deceived.

Mark 13:7-8a – ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. ⁸ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

For those that want to confine the predictions in the Olivet Discourse to the battles of 70AD, we simply have to admit that terrible though they were, they did not in any way compare to the carnage of WWI or WWII or many other terrible wars throughout history.

Jesus indicates here that war is always going to be a reality until the Messiah returns and puts a stop to war forever. Meanwhile, believers are commanded to “[not] be alarmed.” What does that mean? It means that even if our own society becomes engulfed in war, the Lord is with us. He has help and hope and power and presence and grace for us. And as geopolitical conflicts happen, we don’t need to jump to hasty conclusions.^[17] We don’t want to become sensational in our interpretation of current events because when we do, we tend to make mistakes.

Some Thessalonians Christians did just that. They assumed the Day of the Lord had already happened and they had missed it. One of the great encouragements of the Olivet Discourse is that no one is going to miss the second coming. It’s preceded by the sun being darkened and stars falling from the sky. All the people alive on earth will see Him arrive.^[18]

Mark 13:8b – There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Are earthquakes increasing? This week we saw the images of a devastating earthquake in Colombia. The truth is, we’re able to record more earthquakes than ever before because of technology. Does that mean the number is increasing? 2024 had a few less than average. 2025 had a few more. We want to be alert because Jesus told us to, but He also wants us to understand that the world is always going to be defined by these consequences of sin.

Now, once the Great Tribulation starts, then there are going to be some clearly observable phenomenon, detailed in this discourse and in Revelation, which clearly increase in frequency and intensity. And we need to remember that the Olivet Discourse is about the Tribulation. But the suffering is not the end focus. It’s not the labor pains that we really look forward to, but the birth at the end. The return of Christ, the establishment of His Kingdom, and eternal glory forever.

As a refresher, here’s how we understand what the Bible reveals about the end times: We’re in the Church age. It continues for an unspecified amount of time. Suddenly the rapture will occur. The dead in Christ will rise and Christians who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

After the rapture, maybe not immediately, but at some point after, the Great Tribulation will begin. From earth’s perspective, it begins when Israel signs a 7 year peace treaty with a world leader who the Bible calls the Antichrist.

After 3 and a half years, the Antichrist comes into the temple, declares himself to be God,^[19] and then sets up the abomination of desolation. This is another reason why we know Jesus wasn’t talking about 70AD. In 70AD the temple was destroyed but not desecrated.^[20]

After 3 and a half more years, as the world is engulfed in war and wrath, Jesus will return in His second coming, destroy the armies of the world at the battle of Armageddon, and carry out what we call the “Sheep and Goats” judgment described in Mark 13. After that, Christ will set up a physical Kingdom covering the whole earth for 1,000 years, with its capital in Jerusalem.

After 1,000 years, Satan is released from the Abyss where he was held since the end of the Tribulation. He leads a final rebellion against Jesus which is immediately crushed. Jesus then carries out the Great White Throne judgment where the devil is judged, as are all unbelievers.

After this comes eternity in hell for those who rejected Christ and eternity in the new heaven and new earth for all those who were saved.

Meanwhile, nothing needs to happen before the rapture occurs. It is always imminent. It was imminent in 70AD and it’s imminent today. The world is going to continue to experience things like wars and earthquakes and famines. There are specific earthquakes and famines in the Great Tribulation, but even beforehand the world will continually know trouble and tribulation, small ’t.’ Our part is to understand God’s plan and to follow the commands He gives.

In this Discourse, Jesus will say watch out, be on guard, don’t be alarmed, don’t be deceived, don’t worry, endure, don’t go after false Messiahs, notice the times, work and be alert. And because we understand Bible prophecy is literal, we should expect the world to be trending toward the future described by Jesus. And this knowledge should not worry us, but be a tool we use to spread the truth. To spread the hope of the Gospel. And to be an active part of God’s work in the dispensation we find ourselves in. We’re not going to be in the Great Tribulation – praise the Lord – but here we are in the church age. What’s our part? We have a big one. A joyous part to play. And as we go, Jesus really wants us to be spiritually awake and aware. That we have a living faith in God’s word, in God’s ways, in God’s will for this world. Not distracted by materialism or worldliness, but engaged with the revelation of the Word and the power of the Spirit as we live this life as God’s people.