LANGUAGE:
Be Watchful Less We Be Deceived
(Mark 13:14-23)
I invite you to open your Bibles this morning to Mark chap 13. I’ve entitled our study Be Watchful Less We Be Deceived, taken from Jesus’ words in v23, Be on your guard.
For those of you who are following me, remember that this chapter flows out of a comment from one of the disciples in v2 about the architectural wonder of Herod the Great’s temple. In the midst of their marveling, Jesus shocks them by telling them that it will be torn down to the point that not one stone will be left upon another. That statement caught Peter, James, John, and Andrew’s attention. And so they pull Jesus aside and ask, V4 (GW) “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will come to an end?”
Jesus said the temple would be destroyed, and they wanted to know when vs why.[i] For the disciples, if the temple was going to be destroyed, what would become of Israel and the Jews? You see, the temple was Israel’s identity.
For those of you who are curious, the historian Joseph, tells us that the Jewish Zealots led a revolt against Rome. Rome retaliated, and leveling the city and temple in 70AD, roughly 40 years after Jesus spoke of its fall.[ii]
Well, let’s pick Mark’s account in vs14-23 (ESV)
14“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.17And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18(And) Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
21And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (So) 23But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
Let’s pray for God’s guidance: Heavenly Father, we’ve gathered to hear You speak to us. Help us to listen carefully to Your Word. May the Holy Spirit turn the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to the hearing of the Word that You have for us today. Amen.
As we dig into this section, one of the stand-outs is the repeated warnings Jesus gave the disciples.
The phrase be on the alert occurs 30 times in the Bible. 21 of those are in the NT, of which 16 were used by Jesus.[iii] In V23 we read these powerful words--Pay close attention, (or be on the alert, because) behold, I have told you everything in advance. That is a recurring thyme in the Gospel of John
As we unfold what Jesus said in the verses before us, the central issue is not the timing of the end for Jesus as asked in v4, but how the disciples will handle the coming stresses, anxieties, fears, and traumas.
As we dig into our passage, we need to know that there is a problem in how we understand Jesus’ words, and how we apply them. The best way to spell out the problem is in the form of a question: Do Jesus’ words apply to the disciple's ‘here-and-now’ time frame? Or was Jesus referring to events in the far distant future?
The reason this is a problem is because of Jesus’ use of abomination of desolation in v14, and tribulation in v19. Those of you who are familiar with Daniel, these are key terms pointing to an event yet to come, yet Jesus applies to happening the disciples life-time. So in light of Jesus’ comments in v2, and the disciples question in v4, as to when is the temple going to be demolished, was Jesus telling them that the abomination of desolation and tribulation in the near future? Or was Jesus referring to something much larger.
Because of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD, there are many Scholars who believe that’s the time frame that Jesus was referring to when it comes to the abomination of desolation and tribulation But on the flip side, because of the Old Testament prophets, 2 Thessalonians and Revelation, there are also many Scholars who believe Jesus was speaking to the future yet to come.
So not wanting to take sides, I really like the way Alistair Begg bridges these two conflicting ideas. He writes: What Jesus was doing here was conflating.[v]
Now in case that is a new word for you as it was for me, let me tell you how the dictionary defines conflating—it means to merge two ideas into a whole. So a good example of conflating would be this--be careful not to conflate gossip with real news.[vi]
So, along with Alistair Begg and others, I take the position that Jesus is conflating two events into one—‘the disciple’s time-frame and what’s-yet-to-come’. In other words, there is a Part A and a Part B. The events in their time-frame become an illustration as to ‘another event’ of the same kind abomination of desolation.
Now that we are all clear as to the tension in our passage, lets jump in with both feet.
Beginning in v14 Jesus makes a startling statement--when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand) . . . So whatever Jesus was talking about, the reader was supposed to have some understanding. But since most of us are still in the ‘I don’t understand penalty box,’ if we jump over to Matthew 24, v15, we are given some insight. There Jesus refers specifically to the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION as spoken of by the prophet Daniel . . . and don’t miss this . . . standing in the holy place . . .
Now notice . . . Mark says when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (my emphasis) . . . we’re told in Matthew’s account that ‘where it should not be' is the holy place. So the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION was not to be where God had chosen to meet His people—in the temple, and most probably ‘the holy of holies’ of the temple.
Now, it’s helpful to note that in the original writing, which is not very clear in our English translation, is that the reference to the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION is not an event, but actually a person. I think that is what Paul is referencing in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: That day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
In that context the abomination of desolation is the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. -- So the son of perdition is the abomination of desolation.
You might be interested in knowing that in my notes I recalled 1 John 2:18 (NASB95) where the apostle John writes: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, (but) even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. The word antichrist refers to the final world leader yet to come. But John gives the title a wider application, and applies it to anyone who is against Christ. V22, He is the antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. In his day the world was full of people who hated the Lord and openly opposed or persecuted Christians. And know this, the antichrist will be an unchecked evil man who will spread evil throughout every level of society. And we need to know that we are living in that transition now. Our culture is readily giving hearty approval to the haters of the truth (cf., Romans 1:32).[vii]
So Jesus was telling His disciples that there is coming in their life-time a horrible desecration of the temple where priestly sacrifices were carried out. But He doesn’t elaborate as to what it would be. Apparently the reader is suppose to know.
Bible scholars suggest that it applies to everything from Jewish Zealots taking up residence in the temple complex during Rome’s retaliation over their rebellion; to Roman soldiers setting up their standards in the temple and making sacrifices to them.[x] I am not so sure that is the abomination of desolation that Jesus had in mind.
Now notice in Matthew’s account Jesus specially points to the Abomination of desolation which was spoken of through the prophet Daniel.[xi] Daniel 11:31–32 (NASB95) may be the passage Jesus is drawing from--31“Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. -- 32“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant . . . Whatever the abomination of desolation is, it is meant to capture an act so detestable that it causes the temple to be abandoned by the people of God and provokes desolation.
Daniel 12:11 gives us further insight: And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1,290 days (until the end). When this happens, the end can be determined.
In Luke 21, v20-24(NASB95) Jesus elaborates further, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23… There will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”
Notice v22, all these events take place “in fulfillment of all that has been written”. There are no surprises in God’s plan. Israel’s being overrun and the temple being destroyed does not indicate anything amiss in the plan of God. Notice also the words “these are the days of vengeance—that would be God’s vengeance. Unfaithfulness is something God does not ignore.[xii] That leads me to wonder if there is a connection between abomination of desolation and Jesus’ reference of the temple being exchanged from a house of prayer to a den of thieves.[xiii] The phrase den of thieves comes from Jeremiah 7:11, where God says, “Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.” The prophet Jeremiah was rebuking the temple leaders for their abuses—which included theft, murder, adultery, false witness, and burning incense to Baal. These were abominations actually taking place in God’s house. God saw through their hypocritical worship, and promised to deal with the thieves in His sanctified house.
So in answering the disciples question in v4, ‘when will these things be, and what will be the sign that the temple will be destroyed’ . . . you’ll know when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies
Now notice, Jesus doesn’t grieve over the destruction temple, but tells His listeners, V14 (GW) when you see this flee to the mountains. That is, get out of town, and do so quickly. How quickly? 15Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses. 16Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats. 17“How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. 18(And) Pray that it will not be in winter.
I believe Jesus is telling the disciples to forget the temple and all that it symbolizes. It no longer symbolizes God’s abiding favor and protection. God is done with the old wine skins of worship. As Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23, For the hour is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
As mentioned earlier, roughly 40 years later the Jews revolted during Passover time, meaning there were 10s of thousands of people in Jerusalem. Josephus tells us that once the Romans breached the city walls, it was a total massacre.[xiv] But the Jews who believed Jesus to be their Messiah evacuated Jerusalem in 66 A.D and were spared[xv].
When Rome smashed through the walls around Jerusalem, it became clear how utterly naïve it was for the thousands of people to live their lives as though the God, who made this world for His glory, would never call them to account for how little He meant to them. That squares with Acts 17:31 (NASB95) He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness . . . Unbeknownst to the religious people of that day, in resisting the King standing in their midst, they were storing up wrath for themselves for the coming day of wrath ‘because of’ their unbelief (Romans 2:5)
All of these events that Jesus predicted, nearly 40 years before their fulfillment, came about due to this prophecy of Zechariah 11:4-6: “When the Messiah comes, He will find false leaders in Israel.”
Kent Hughes writes, Instead of the Temple being a house of prayer, they had made it “a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13). The high priest’s family had perverted Temple worship into a means of extortion well-known to all.[xvi] And in a manner of speaking God was saying with it’s destruction that He was done with their disbelief, and their hypocritical faith. In other words, what Jesus referenced was part A of a two-part abomination of desolation. Part A was a sampling of what is yet to come. Jesus then wraps up this section with His third warning, V23 (ESV) be on guard; (and take note) I have told you all things beforehand.
That brings us to v19-20, 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.
In verses 21-23 Jesus circles back to warn His followers again about deceivers. He began answering their question with a warning about coming deceivers, He now circles back to warn them again about false Christs and prophets. Leading up to the coming Roman armies and the siege of Jerusalem, false prophets regularly sought to exploit the catastrophes for their own end just as they do today.
False Christs and prophets were uncanny then, as well as today, as to their abilities--showing signs and wonders with the purpose of leading people astray. -- Jesus was telling His followers, “Fellows, you need to keep on your toes and resist their enticements”. So Jesus tells them that they must guard against religious leaders who appeal to false hopes and who exalt themselves to expand their influence. In their yearnings for God’s deliverance, they must not embrace mirages, fantasies, and errors.[xvii]
As the days grow darker and sin escalates, a more softer Christ becomes attractive to those who “loved the darkness rather than the light” (John 3:19).
In writing to the church at Thessalonica Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (ESV) 1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Let’s pause at this point.
Although this prophecy was fulfilled in part in 70 A.D. by the Romans, the Jewish people had had at least one illustration of this having happened before. In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, the epidemy of abomination, attempted to not only overthrow but to stamp out the Jewish religion. He actually went as far as sacrificing a pig on the altar, and set up a statue of Zeus in the temple complex, and ordered the Jews to worship it.[xviii]
Well, as we reflect on this passage, how do we take it home with us?
Remember the question in v4(ESV) “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” In answering their question, Jesus wants them to understand that before the end arrives, it’s going to get rough for believers. Its going to get really nasty. Just
how nasty you might ask? V20 “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved;
Listen, historian Josephus writes that as Rome squelched the rebellion, 500 Jews were crucified every day, thousands were conscripted into slavery, torture, and colosseum horrors. As horrible and nasty as those days were, it wasn’t the end of the age. According to Revelation there is a nastier time ahead of us. Revelation 6:15–17 (NASB95) 15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
V20, . . . but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. Tucked into the warning of coming suffering, v20, Jesus affirms that in the midst of the horrific suffering God is still very much in control, but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.[xix]
Notice God’s focus. It is on ‘the elect’. Who are the elect? The Elect are those who faithful to God. God is very conscience of His own. He is the one who protects His own from succumbing to despair. The point is, God is advancing His plan, and to stand with Jesus is to experience salvation. That’s why Jesus said in v20, Pay close attention. behold, I have told you everything in advance.
2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB95) Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. -- Vs9-13 you will be delivered to the courts for your faith; you will be arrested; you will be betrayed; you will be hated by all because of My name . . . When we turn to the book of Acts we find persecution became a fact of life for the disciples. V11, But do not be afraid, because the Holy Spirit will speak through you.
Sometimes the most effective witnessing takes place in the crucible of pressure on one’s faith. In such moments faith is seen as a central, serious, and even exceptional aspect of a person’s life. Unknown to these disciples, there was coming a day when they would be called to step up to the public microphone and testify about the power, the freedom, and the hope that we have in Christ under unbelievable pressures, anxieties, and fears.[xx]
The severe character of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple reveals how serious God is about sin and unfaithfulness. Matthew 23:23, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done.
This text is significant because it shows how Jesus speaks of a coming judgment and future vindication of the saints. His life and death are much more than a moral legacy. He will return to judge, and that judgment is serious and utterly beyond our grasp. As painful as the fall of Jerusalem was, it is nothing compared to the judgment to come. Our culture tends to minimize the authority of God to punish unrighteousness, yet that theme is one of the more important notes raised in this passage. Embedded in these words is theological power.[xxi] And V23 becomes all that more forceful, pay close attention, because I have told you everything in advance. Jesus is transparent as to what is to come.
Why did Israel lose their temple, the center of their worship? Because they missed their time of visitation of their King and Savior. In doing so, she became an example to herself and to all to follow of the painful price of turning away from God’s call.
This section is designed to make us ponder as to where we stand before God. The warning to us is not to make the same mistake as Israel. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, 9if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; -- 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. -- 11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” (Romans 10:9–11 (NASB95))
Time ran out for Israel, and the heavy hand of God came. We can all see that our horizon of time is closing in; any extended time is pure grace to allow more people to come in before the horrific events Jesus described become our experience. Let me close with this: since Jesus has told us everything He wants us to know about the future, then isn’t it time that we take action? In the midst of Daniel’s reference to the abomination of desolation, Daniel writes these powerful words: the people who know their God will display strength and take action (Daniel 11:32). It's time that we display strength and take action, that is sharing the gospel of the Kingdom, taking up the Word of God and announcing as Jonah did, horrible suffering is on the horizon, repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ . . . and you will be saved from the coming judgment.
Let’s pray . . .
Heavenly Father, gracious God, thank you for this Word that you have given us today. You have told us in advance what we need to know. We thank You, Lord, for Your great goodness in setting our hearts at rest, that the way things are going in the world do not surprise You; it’s exactly the way You said it would be, and this affirms our trust and our confidence in Your Word.
Lord, we thank You that You love us, and that You sent Your Son to provide salvation for us and rescued us completely from the wrath to come; and may all of us who hear this message believe the gospel.
May there be no one walking out of this place who is resisting the glorious salvation that You offer but may each of us put our trust in Christ, and then go forth to proclaim this truth. We pray in His name. Amen.
[i] Mark does not record Jesus’ answer to this first question, but Luke does in Luke 21:8-23.
[ii] Enduring Word, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-13/. It is said that at the fall of Jerusalem, the last surviving Jews of the city fled to the temple because it was the strongest and most secure building remaining. Roman soldiers surrounded it, and one drunken soldier started a fire that soon engulfed the whole building. Ornate gold detail work in the roof melted down in the cracks between the stone walls of the temple. To retrieve the gold, the Roman commander ordered that the temple be dismantled stone by stone. The destruction was so complete that today researchers have some difficulty learning exactly where the temple was. “Now, as soon as the army had no more people to kill or plunder… Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple… this was the end which Jerusalem came to.” (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 7.1.1) Interestingly, Josephus tells us that the Romans never intended to destroy the temple but were driven to it by the fierceness of Jewish opposition and by accident. (Wars of the Jews, 6.4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70_CE) Despite early successes in repelling the Roman sieges, the Zealots fought amongst themselves, and they lacked proper leadership, resulting in poor discipline, training, and preparation for the battles that were to follow. At one point they destroyed the food stocks in the city, a drastic measure thought to have been undertaken perhaps in order to enlist a merciful God's intervention on behalf of the besieged Jews,[9] or as a stratagem to make the defenders more desperate, supposing that was necessary in order to repel the Roman army.[10]
Titus began his siege a few days before Passover,[4] on 14 April,[5] surrounding the city with three legions (V Macedonica, XII Fulminata, XV Apollinaris) on the western side and a fourth (X Fretensis) on the Mount of Olives, to the east.[11][12] If the reference in his Jewish War at 6:421 is to Titus's siege, though difficulties exist with its interpretation, then at the time, according to Josephus, Jerusalem was thronged with many people who had come to celebrate Passover.[13]
The thrust of the siege began in the west at the Third Wall, north of the Jaffa Gate. By May, this was breached and the Second Wall also was taken shortly afterwards, leaving the defenders in possession of the Temple and the upper and lower city. The Jewish defenders were split into factions: John of Gischala's group murdered another faction leader, Eleazar ben Simon, whose men were entrenched in the forecourts of the Temple.[4] The enmities between John of Gischala and Simon bar Giora were papered over only when the Roman siege engineers began to erect ramparts. Titus then had a wall built to girdle the city in order to starve out the population more effectively. After several failed attempts to breach or scale the walls of the Fortress of Antonia, the Romans finally launched a secret attack.[4]
According to Josephus, when the Romans reached Antonia they tried to destroy the wall which protected it. They removed four stones only, but during the night the wall collapsed. "John had used his stratagem before, and had undermined their banks, that the ground then gave way, and the wall fell down suddenly." (v. 28) [14] Following this, Titus had raised banks beside court of the Temple: on north-west corner, on north side, on west side (v. 150). [15]
Josephus goes on to say that the Jews then attacked Romans on the east, near Mount of Olives, but Titus drove them back to the valley. Zealots set the north-west colonnade on fire (v. 165). Romans set on fire next one. The Jews wanted it to burn (v. 166), and that they also trapped some Roman soldiers when they wanted to climb over the wall. They had burned wood under the wall when Romans were trapped on it (v.178–183).
After Jewish allies killed a number of Roman soldiers, Josephus claims that Titus sent him to negotiate with the defenders; this ended with Jews wounding the negotiator with an arrow, and another sally was launched shortly after. Titus was almost captured during this sudden attack, but escaped.
[iii] https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/phrases/Be-on-Your-Guard
[iv] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 494.
[v] Alistair Begg, Be On Guard (Mark 14-20), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/be-guard/. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflate
[vi] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflate. Conflate derives from conflatus, the past participle of the Latin verb conflare ("to blow together, to fuse"), which was formed by combining the prefix com-, meaning "with" or "together," with the Latin verb flare, which means "to blow" and is akin to English's blow. Other descendants of flare in English include afflatus ("a divine imparting of knowledge or power"), inflate, insufflation ("an act of blowing"), and flageolet (a kind of small flute—the flageolet referring to a green kidney bean is unrelated).
[vii] Romans 1:28–32 (NASB95)28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
[viii] Tom Clark and Erik Jones, What Is The Abomination Of Desolation? https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy /understanding-the-book-of-daniel/abomination-of-desolation/. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995). 8251 שִׁקּוּץ [shiqquwts, shiqquts /shik·koots/] n m. From 8262; TWOT 2459b; GK 9199; 28 occurrences; AV translates as “abomination” 20 times, “detestable things” five times, “detestable” once, “abominable filth” once, and “abominable idols” once. 1 detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.
[ix] Hermann J. Austel, “2409 שָׁמֵם,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological. the desolation caused by some great disaster, usually as a result of divine judgment. CF., Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 937.
[x] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 497.
[xi] Daniel 9:25-27; 11:29-32; 12:11-12. Cf., also 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Revelation 13:14-15
[xii] Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 536.
[xiii] https://www.spiritualmanna.info/denrobbers/
[xiv] https://www.bibleref.com/Mark/13/Mark-13-2.htmlIn AD 70, Titus and his army will allow Jews to enter Jerusalem for the Passover, only to turn and guard the gates and prevent travelers from leaving. Despite efforts by the Jewish historian Josephus to broker a truce, the Romans will maintain their siege. In August, they'll storm the city and massacre the weakened residents. Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 5.12.3, quoted in William Barclay, Daily Study Bible, Mark 13, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/mark-13.html.
[xv] Rob Robinson, Jesus Predicts The Destrution of Jerusalem and the Temple In 70AD. https://robertcliftonrobinson.com/2019/09/09/jesus-predicts-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-and-the-temple-in-70-a-d/
[xvi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 90.
[xvii] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 499–500.
[xviii] Alistair Begg, Be On Guard (Mark 14-20), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/be-guard/
[xix] Cf., 2 Samuel 24:16 (NASB95) 16When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand!” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Isaiah 45:8 (NASB95) 8“Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.
[xx] Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 534.
[xxi] Ibid., 540.