I teach a theology class that every student at the university where I serve is required to take before they graduate. It’s a class that covers all the primary areas of doctrine that are addressed in Scripture, and the goal is that the class would serve as a strong foundation for the rest of their theological studies.
At the start of the semester, I typically ask the students, “What do you hope to learn from this class over the course of the next few months?” The answers vary, but inevitably, one of the students will say, “I’d like to learn more about the future and what the Bible teaches about the end times.”
This is a subject that many Christians think about regularly. I certainly do. We want to know what the Lord has in store for us in the coming months and years. We desire to gain a better understanding of the prophetic details He has revealed in His word about the return of Jesus and what’s going to happen to the nations of the world.
There are many places in Scripture where God’s plans for the future are described. Some of the passages seem very clear while others may strike us as being somewhat mysterious in nature. For centuries, people have attempted to understand and explain what the Bible teaches about the future. Admittedly, there are various interpretations of the prophetic passages that speak about future events, so I do advise a high degree of humility as we approach them because there isn’t universal agreement on what these portions of Scripture are teaching. Some passages, in fact, appear to have multiple applications.
One such passage is found in Mark 13. That chapter records a conversation Jesus had with His disciples just a few short days before His crucifixion. The disciples were leaving the temple area, and one of them made a comment about the temple that prompted Jesus to reveal important details about what they could expect to see in both the near and distant future.
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.” - Mark 13:1-2
Mark tells us that one of the disciples of Christ was clearly impressed with the temple in Jerusalem and the series of buildings that surrounded it. He admired the beautiful architecture and the stones that were used in the building’s construction. The temple was certainly an object of pride and admiration for many of the Jewish people living at the time, and this disciple was no exception.
The history of the temple is rather interesting. The first temple was built by King Solomon sometime around 966 BC. That temple was beautiful and stood for about 400 years until 586 BC when it was destroyed by the Babylonians. The book of Ezra tells us that 70 years later, construction began on a second temple. It wasn’t as beautiful as the first, but it was still an impressive structure.
In 39 BC, King Herod took control of the temple and proposed the idea of expanding it with the goal of making it larger and more in line with what Solomon built nearly 1,000 years earlier. The work to restore and expand the temple continued until AD 63, which means that this work was still underway when Jesus and His disciples were conversing about the temple in Mark 13.
With that in mind, consider how disturbing the words Jesus spoke must have been to those who were with Him. Jesus made it clear to the disciple He was speaking to that the day was coming when the entire temple would be destroyed and leveled. Jesus was speaking of future events, and it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that His disciples may have thought the events He was speaking of were in the distant future, but this prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled less than 40 years after He gave it.
In AD 70, the temple was destroyed. After years of conflict between Jewish Zealots and the Roman government, Jerusalem was besieged by Titus and he burned the temple down. The gold and silver that covered the building melted and seeped in between the stones of the building. Roman soldiers saw this as an opportunity to be compensated for their labor, so they ripped the stones apart in order to obtain the melted metals for themselves. In doing so, they fulfilled the prophetic words Jesus spoke in Mark 13:2 where He said, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As shocking as this must have been to hear when Jesus initially revealed it, He made some additional details about future events clear to these men.
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. - Mark 13:3-8
The gospels speak of Peter, James, and John as an inner circle of disciples that Jesus would often reveal additional information to. In this particular instance, Peter’s brother Andrew was also part of the conversation. It seemed that these men believed what Jesus was saying, but they were intensely curious about when the prophesies Jesus had delivered would come to pass. They also wanted to know if there would be a sign that would accompany the fulfillment of this teaching.
Jesus gave these men some words of caution that we would do well to listen to in our day as well. He warned them that there would be people who would attempt to lead believers astray. In the coming decades and centuries, there will be many people who will attempt to convince others that they are the Messiah. Sadly, Jesus also revealed that there would be many people who would follow these false messiahs. At present, we can point out multiple contemporary examples of people who have done this very thing, but this has been an ongoing issue for centuries.
Jesus also warned His disciples that in the lead-up to His return and the culmination of all things, there would be wars and rumors of war. Nation would rise against nation. There would be earthquakes, famines, and resultant disasters that accompany such earth-shaking events, but this would just be a foretaste of what was to come.
As you contemplate what Jesus spoke in this passage, I don’t know if His words make you curious or fearful, but please understand that even in the midst of speaking these things, Jesus encouraged His followers not to be alarmed. While there are all kinds of issues we’ll be facing on this earth, these aren’t things we have the power to control. So instead of worrying when we see calamitous things taking place or becoming consumed with fear when we hear rumors about new issues that might be on the horizon, we’re given the privilege to trust Jesus and rest in confidence as we observe the sovereign plan of God unfolding around us.
Just the same, Jesus also warned us that there would be hard times and tests of faith that awaited God’s people.
“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. 10 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. 12 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.” - Mark 13:9-13
Consider what life was like for Christ’s disciples during the years following His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Their desire was to live as followers of Christ in the midst of a fallen world while also sharing the hope of new life in Christ with as many people as would listen. Christ’s disciples traveled to many places, preaching the gospel. They spoke of man’s sinful nature and our need to be forgiven by and reconciled with our Creator. They explained that the only way spiritual and relational reconciliation could take place was through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who had walked among us. As they proclaimed this revolutionary message, Christ’s followers were severely persecuted and executed (often with hopeful smiles on their faces).
Jesus warned these men that they (and those who followed their example in future years) would be beaten, put on trial, hated, and betrayed all because they were associated with Jesus. At the same time, the Holy Spirit would speak through them when they were examined. They wouldn’t need to worry about what to say because the Spirit would give them the right words to say at the exact right moment so the gospel would be proclaimed to those in high position and people from all nations would eventually hear the good news explained to them.
The other day I was listening to a brief clip from one of the most popular podcasts ever produced. I looked at the stats of the show and they indicated that during any given month, the show is listened to hundreds of millions of times. In the clip that I watched, a guest began sharing with the host various details about the historically verifiable ministry of Jesus and the various pieces of information that corroborate the Bible’s assertion that Jesus rose from the dead. As I listened to that clip, I couldn’t help but think about the hundreds of millions of people who would be exposed to that truth all at once. People from all nations and backgrounds.
As joyous as it was to contemplate that, I’m also mindful of the words of Christ in Mark 13 that warned His followers that we won’t always receive a warm reception in this world. This world is filled with people who align themselves (knowingly and unknowingly) with Satan and his aims for humanity. In that alignment, they openly stand against Jesus and do everything within their power to resist the advance of the gospel throughout the world.
Thankfully, even in the midst of such opposition, we can be confident that nothing can ultimately stop the advance of Christ’s kingdom. In every generation, men and women, young and old, are having their eyes and ears opened to the truth as the Holy Spirit softens their hearts.
So please, in the midst of whatever you may face as you await Christ’s return, don’t lose heart. Jesus confirms that he who endures to the end will be saved. Your endurance is confirmation that you aren’t operating under your own power. It’s also confirmation that you truly believe in Jesus and have been united to Him forever.
Let the Father lead you, the Son satisfy your deepest longings, and the Spirit empower you as you testify to this fallen world of the new life they can have through faith in Jesus.
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Marjan Apostolovic
Originally published on BibleStudyHeadquarters. Used with permission.
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads an online community called Platform Launchers where he helps people build message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded millions of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
