By: Dale Weckbacher
Text: Mark
13:1-13
Mark 13:12-13
And
brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and
children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And
you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to
the end will be saved.
Signs are all around us. We see them on the road as we drive providing
direction on where we are and where to go and keeping us safe by telling us
when to stop, when to yield, and how fast to go. The weather provides signs that tell us of a
coming storm or a sunny day. Our bodies
even provide signs of potential health issues, directing us to seek
professional help from a doctor. In Mark
13:1-13, the disciples ask Jesus for signs pointing to the end of the age. Jesus provides seven signs that can be
troubling for those that do not know Jesus as their savior but that let
believers in Christ know that the day of Jesus’ glorious return is approaching where
the evil in the world is defeated (Revelation
19:11-21). Until then, God’s people
are to spread the good news of the Gospel so others can become disciples and
join us in eternity with Christ for God does not want anyone to perish (Mark
16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Peter 3:9).
We live in a divided world
dominated by hatred, including hatred aimed at believers in Christ. While the signs provided by Jesus in Mark
13:1-13 are troublesome, Jesus did say we would experience trouble in the
world but also reminds us that He overcame the world with his death, burial,
and resurrection (John
16:33). These signs should not
create anxiety and fear but instead interpreted to provide encouragement as the
signs point to the imminent return of Jesus.
These signs indicate trouble but also encouragement by pointing to the
soon return of Jesus.
1) False
teaching leading people astray (Mark
13:5-6) – False teaching is nothing new with the Apostle Paul warning his
protégé Timothy (1
Timothy 4:1-5). Peter also warned
the early church about false heresies that even deny Christ (2
Peter 2:1-3). The extremes in the
church today are moralism which goes against the gospel of grace by giving the
impression one must earn their salvation through moral living or the liberal
interpretation of grace that does not preach about sin giving the impression all
are saved regardless of sin in their lives.
It is important to remain grounded in the Word of God and the Gospel to
avoid falling into the trap of false teaching.
2) Wars
and rumors of wars (Mark
13:7) – Wars have been present in the world throughout history. Presently the United States is engaged in
conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan with rumors of potential conflict in
Iran. Instantaneous communication
through social media and the Internet means that the world instantly knows of any
new war or rumor of war. This is a
two-edged sword for not only are wars escalating, but the world instantly knows
of any new war or rumor of war. However,
this is a sign of the pending return of Christ that can bring comfort to
Christians but also a reminder to pray for those serving in the military that
protects us.
3) Natural
disasters (Mark
13:8) – My family and I went through the Pompeii exhibit in Phoenix a
couple of years ago. The exhibit
included some of the victims of the volcanic eruption that are frozen in time
because they had no warning of their impending doom. Each year in the United States, people living
on the east coast and Gulf coasts must prepare for possible evacuation during
hurricane season. Fortunately, meteorologists
can fairly accurately track hurricanes, providing ample warning unlike the total
surprise of the victims in Pompeii. Fortunately,
instantaneous communication via the Internet and 24-hour news mean warnings go
out to potential victims. However, this
is also a two-edged sword for it creates the perception these disasters are
dramatically increasing in frequency and intensity. Natural disasters are a reminder of the fallen
and cursed world in which we live and reminds us that when Jesus returns, the
curse on the earth will cease and natural disasters will end.
4) Legal
persecution for faith in Jesus (Mark
13:9) – Legal persecution for one’s belief in Christ is not something new
for even Jesus did not escape legal persecution and went on trial twice prior
to his crucifixion (Matthew
26:57-68; 27:11-26). Even in
countries like the United States where there is constitutional protection of
religious expression, legal persecution exists limiting the expression of
religious values and beliefs that can even cost someone their livelihood. (1) While these legal persecutions can be personally
and financially devastating, they are an example of one placing their treasures
in something of eternal value and not giving in to legal pressures to renounce
or back off in expressing a belief in God.
5) The
global spread of the Gospel (Mark
13:10) – While the technology that has made communication instantaneous means
the rapid spread of news of wars, rumors of wars, and natural disasters, it
also presents an opportunity to spread the good news of the Gospel. The objective of this blog is to provide a
tool for building a Godly worldview in a world dominated by ungodliness. I often provide an opportunity for readers to
make a decision to accept and follow Jesus and encourage readers to share these
posts with their friends who do not know Jesus as their savior so they have an
opportunity to accept Him.
6) Persecution
by family and friends (Mark
13:12) – The toughest and most emotionally devastating persecution is that
coming from close friends and family. While
social media, email, and the internet allow instantaneous connection with
friends and family across the world, it also presents an opportunity for
persecution from these same friends and family.
However, persecution coming as a result of sharing the good news of the
Gospel with a friend or family member is not actually a rejection of us
personally but rejection of Christ who died for them to make a pathway towards
eternal life (John
3:16; Romans 5:8). When persecuted
for a belief in Christ it is important to remember the qtip, quit taking it
personally, and pray for them for as long as they are alive, they have an
opportunity to accept Christ.
7) Hatred
of Christians (Mark
13:13) – The eternal fate of Satan is the pit of hell (Revelation
20:7-10). Aware of this there is animosity
between Satan and the people of God.
This is not surprising and was foretold in the Garden of Eden (Genesis
3:15). As Christians, we need not
fear hatred by the world for we know that in the end, we inherit eternal life
with Christ. Instead of reciprocating
the world’s hatred of Christians with more hatred, Christians should love those
in the world by praying for them to accept Jesus as their savior and join us in
eternity.
Perhaps you are reading this and
have not accepted Jesus as your savior by asking Him to forgive your sins. If I am speaking to you, I invite you to pray
with me now,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent
three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord
of my life.
If you just prayed, know that
your sins are totally forgiven, and you now have a bright future of eternity
with God your creator. You can now look
at the signs Jesus mentioned with joy and expectation for they mean Jesus will
return to straighten out what is wrong in the world, a glorious world you will
now be a part of. I encourage everyone
to grow stronger in their relationship with God through prayer, study and
meditation on the Bible, and association with other believers in Christ at a
local church teaching the Bible. May God
bless everyone reading this and may you view the signs of the end times with
joy as they point to the return of Christ.
1. Fox News. Oregon bakery owners pay more than
$135G in damages over refusal to make cake for gay wedding. www.foxnews.com.
[Online] Fox News, December 29, 2015. [Cited: September 10, 2016.] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/29/oregon-bakery-owners-pay-more-than-135g-in-damages-over-refusal-to-make-cake-for-gay-wedding.html.
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