But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand

"So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, He shortened the days. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming into the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."

- Mark 13:14-27

Jesus has introduced the topic of the end times, which is intermingled with a discussion of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. On Saturday, we read that a disciple remarked on the glories of the beautiful, impressive temple in Jerusalem. Jesus replied that not one stone would be left upon another of the great buildings before them. John and James Zebedee, and Peter and Andrew took Jesus aside to ask Him, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" Jesus began with a warning, that many would come in His name. He spoke of earthquakes and famines and wars, but told that this was only the beginning of sorrows. He said that there would be betrayal, martyrdom, arrests, and the Holy Spirit would speak testimony for those delivered to the authorities. But the gospel must be taken to all nations. "Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

"So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, He shortened the days. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand." In these verses, Jesus seems to be primarily referring to the destruction of the temple, and the siege of Jerusalem. In A.D. 70, the Roman General Titus (who would later become Emperor) defiled the temple by entering into it and standing where he ought not. That is, in the Most Holy Place. Later, as discussed on Saturday, not one stone would be left upon another (except what is now called the Wailing Wall, a retaining wall outside the courtyard). Finally, the temple would be burned. My study bible points out that "the Church in Jerusalem fled before this great tribulation occurred. This was a time of great suffering and consternation, vividly recounted by the Jewish historian Josephus, an eyewitness." It seems to me, also, that in these verses there is combined with a description of the tribulation to come in Jerusalem, a general understanding of the tribulation that may befall Christians, also touching on times of the end of the age. My study bible is careful to point out that Christians have suffered many great tribulations throughout the centuries -- in the twentieth century alone, many millions have been martyred -- and, it says, "there will likely be great trials in the future." But one thing is consistent here, and that is Jesus' warning not to be deceived. When these times come, they will be plain to all -- and so, He will promise, will be His return.

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming into the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven." Clearly here, the reference is to the end of the age. But again, what is clear, despite all the speculation and things we do not know, is that His Second Coming into the world will be plain to everyone. There is nothing secretive and hidden here, and as He says, "I have told you all things beforehand."

We must consider the period and the understanding of the intermingling of a discussion of the end of the age with the destruction of the temple, and the "abomination of desolation" (a prophesy from Daniel). The end of the temple constitutes an initiation, if you will, into the times of the end: that is, this period in which we find ourselves awaiting His return. My study bible points out there have been many tribulations for Christians, many periods of struggle, difficulty, suffering and persecution. As we start to move through the 21st century after Christ, so we await and watch, and see what the times hold for us as the world shifts and changes and in a sense becomes smaller and faster. Events are transmitted instantaneously from one place to another, great movements happen through electronic transmission of information, markets and financial systems instantaneously connect globally and affect one another in places as diverse as Africa and China. What one nation does in one place may affect us all the next day. This applies as well to weather systems, famines, and the pollutants (sometimes by catastrophic accident) that may affect even our air and oceans. And we seem to live almost globally with "wars and rumors of war." We are entering into a period that might be defined, according to some, by its unpredictability or instability and the anxiety that accompanies this phenomenon. But through it all, we know one thing, that the events of "the end" and His return will be unmistakeable when -- and probably only when (as we will read in tomorrow's reading) -- they happen. So His words remain for us: we endure through all things, until the end. This applies to our individual lives and whatever difficulties we have in our struggle with faith, and to the life of the Church in its entirety, and through all periods of tribulation. We wait, and we watch. We are to be discerning and not to be fooled. We abide with Him in faith, awaiting His return, and look to be about His business as He has taught. Here and now, we practice the love He has taught us. We remain with Him, deepening our relationship through prayer and through the expression of the light He brings to us. We are to help and encourage one another to faith, and the gospel of His good news of this kingdom must go to all nations (perhaps even via the internet!). And we remember His great teaching and commandment to love one another as He has loved us, as recorded by John. This is our guidepost through the time in which we find ourselves now.