The King Will Return

The King Will Return
Mark: Who is this Man?
Mark 13

Mark 13:1-13
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 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. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

• As one of the disciples marvels in awe of the grandeur of the temple, Jesus warns that it would soon be in ruins.  Of course, the disciples want to know more – and what results is Jesus’ longest answer to as single question recorded in the NT, known as the Olivet Discourse.  Matthew’s account gives us the full question that was asked: Matthew 24:3 - As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

In this discourse, Jesus outlines what will happen before He returns, and He begins with the destruction of the Temple.   

 Main Idea: Jesus is returning, we don’t know when, and we better be ready.

This sermon is divided into two main parts – the first part is the signs of the return of Christ – the second part is the Church’s role in the return of Christ.

Part 1: The Signs of the Return of Christ

I: The beginning of the end – the destruction of the Temple.  

Mark 13:1-2 - And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Less than 40 years after this prophecy, it began to unfold.

A. In AD 70, under Titus Vespasian the temple was destroyed, and Jerusalem was sacked.
B. Now, there are those who argue that the prophecy given in the Olivet Discourse was completely fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of the Temple.
C. This can’t be true for several reasons, but for the sake of time, let’s look at three of those reasons:

1. The figure of the birth pains in v. 8 – For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.  The birth pains couldn’t have meant the beginning of the church age, it had to mean the end as He was referring to His return.
2. The gospel hadn’t been proclaimed to every nation. V. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. – not only had the gospel not been proclaimed to every nation in 70 AD, it still hasn’t been. 
3. The “Abomination of the Desolation” has not yet occurred – Mark 13:14 - “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. – this refers to the antichrist being in the temple and that hadn’t occurred yet.

 D. So, the destruction of the temple prophecy was fulfilled, but there is much more to come.   

Main Idea: Jesus is returning, we don’t know when, and we better be ready.

II: There will be more signs that we need to be watching for.

(Verses 5 – 27 gives us several signs for us to be watching for)

A. Many will be deceived. Mark 13:5-6 - And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
B. These false teachers foreshadow the antichrist who will deceive many people.  – there have been many false teachers (Islam – Mormonism etc.)
C. There will be devastation in the world. Mark 13:7-8 - And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
D. There will be great persecution. Mark 13:9 - “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.
E. The Gospel will be available everywhere to everyone. Mark 13:10 - And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.
F. And during the last generation the following will happen:
• The antichrist will sit on the throne in the temple – Mark 13:14 - “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.  
• There will be an awful time of tribulation – Mark 13:19 - For 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.
• False prophets will perform miracles – Mark 13:21-22 - And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
• There will be a cosmic disturbance – Mark 13:24-25 - “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
G. But, nobody knows when all this will be completed: Mark 13:32-37 - “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” – “Stay awake” – be alert, be watchful and understand the times! 

Main Idea: Jesus is returning, we don’t know when, and we better be ready.

Part 1: The Role of the Church

I: We must reach the nations.

Mark 13:10 - And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

A. We aren’t there yet – 40% more people need to have access to the gospel.
B. We are partnering with TTI to see this happen.
C. I believe it could happen in our generation.
D. This Christmas – help to put a church in every village everywhere.
E. On Dec 14-15 we will doing a Virtual Reality event where you can experience a church plant in an unreached people group. 

II: Prepare for persecution.

It’s already happening...

Mark 13:11 - And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

A. You can prepare by surrendering to the Holy Spirit now.
B. Have an eternal perspective.
C. You can’t lose what you don’t have – your life belongs to God.
D. May not happen in our lifetime to us – but it’s happening in many places right now.  Pray for the persecuted Church. 

Conclusion: Jesus is returning, we don’t know when, we better be ready. This can be scary if you don’t already have faith in Christ.  

• We are sinners
• He paid our debt
• We can receive His forgiveness and enjoy a new life
• If you don’t know God, surender to Him today!
• Christian, pray for the persecuted Church – understand the times – join us in reaching the nations.
• Whatever happens in our life, God is worthy of our praise, He is worthy of our obedience, and He is worthy of our suffering if that’s what He calls us to do.