What Did Jesus Say About the End Times? Part 2

Jesus moves to amplify what He has just taught with an illustration from a fig tree. There is nothing complicated until He gets to the end, then a theological Pandora’s box is opened! Branches with developing leaves tell us summer is on the way. From this Jesus makes a theological affirmation, “In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that He is near—at the door!” The events of chapter 13, especially verses 14-25, tip us off that affairs in world history are moving toward a climactic end. These signs warn us “He,” that is Jesus, the Son of Man, “is near,” ready to storm the citadels of sin, Satan, death, hell, and the grave. Antichrist (v. 14) and his false prophets (v. 22) are about to meet their doom (cf. Rev 19:19-21). Imminence is clearly an essential component of biblical eschatology.

Jesus drops an interpretive bomb in verse 30: “I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.” The question is, Who is “this generation”? The answer is not a simple one, and how you understand and interpret other parts of Mark 13 will influence how you answer the question. What are the major options?

If Jesus intended number 4, unfortunately He was in error and was killed in the process of trying to bring in the kingdom. Of course, that scenario is unacceptable. Though dogmatism is unwarranted, I believe the best317 understanding is number 2. “This generation” refers to those who will see all these things occur in rapid-fire succession just before Jesus comes again. I believe the future tribulation (v. 24) will be a period of seven years. There is support for this in Daniel 9:27; Revelation 7:14; 11:3; 12:4, 6; 13:5. If this is true, then the eschatological generation will witness these events in less than a decade.

The phrase “pass away” is repeated in v. 31. The temple will fall to ruin. History will come to an end. This present heaven and earth will give way to “a new heaven and a new earth” (see Rev 21:1). But God’s words will never pass away. Nothing is so true, stable, permanent, and abiding as the word of our Lord. Here is a firm foundation on which we can stand forever. No wonder the prophet Isaiah was inspired to write, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (40:8; cf. 51:6).

Mark 13:32-37

Jesus is clearly speaking of His coming again (vv. 26-27). He plainly states that “no one knows” when it will happen, “neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father.” It is that phrase “nor the Son” that gives us pause. As orthodox, Bible-believing Christians, we affirm the full and undiminished deity of God the Son. As God, He possesses all the attributes of deity, including omniscience. Yet here He clearly states there is a body of knowledge of which He is, dare I say, ignorant: the day and hour of His own second coming. This statement makes no sense apart from the incarnation. In taking on a human nature and entering into the time-space reality, the Son of God did not surrender His deity, but He did lay aside His glory (John 17:5; see also Phil 2:6-11). In doing so, our Lord for a time relinquished the free exercise of His divine attributes such as omniscience. In the mystery and beauty of the incarnation, the all-knowing sovereign Son could temporarily lay aside or suspend the free exercise of His “God attributes” so that He might live an authentic human life in submission to His Father and in dependence on the Holy Spirit. This also explains why our Lord could be hungry, experience thirst, grow tired, and be killed. And here lies another indictment for those caught up in prophetic speculation and date setting. NO ONE KNOWS BUT GOD!

We may not know when Jesus will return. However, we do know what we should be doing until He does. “Watch! Be alert!” Why? “For you don’t know when the time will come.” Three times our Lord affirms what I like to call “human eschatological agnosticism” (vv. 32, 33, 35). Like a man on a318 journey, our Lord has left the house, but only for a while. We, His servants, have been put in charge with a task: proclaim the gospel “to all nations” (v. 10). We each have our work (v. 34). So be faithful, be ready, and “be alert.”

Bottom line, “He might come suddenly.” His coming is imminent. It could happen at any time, including today. You don’t want Him to find you asleep, unprepared. Not doing the work He has given you. Oh, how tragic it would be for our Lord to return and find His church asleep at the wheel, neglecting her assignment, squandering her resources, deceiving herself into thinking He won’t come today. How tragic to say, “Tomorrow, I will get busy serving Him,” only to discover tomorrow is never coming. So again Jesus sounds the warning “to everyone: Be alert!” If He said it once, that should be sufficient. That He says it four times should really get our attention. “Be alert” and serve Him today. Tomorrow may never arrive!

Leila Naylor Morris (1862-1929) wrote more than a thousand gospel songs. I cannot help wondering if our text was a source of inspiration for Leila Morris when she penned the words to the song, “What If It Were Today?” (1912).

Jesus is coming again! So “be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming.”