Summary of passage: Jesus leaves the temple and predicts that the temple will be leveled (70 AD). As Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask him when this will happen and what will be the signs of his Second Coming and the end of the age. Jesus replies to be wary for many will come in his name. There will be wars, famines, and earthquakes. You will be persecuted because of him. Many will turn away and turn to false prophets. Love will lessen but those who stand firm in the end will be saved. This gospel will be spread all over the world.
Questions:
3a) “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Verse 2
b) “When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” (Luke 21:7)
“When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)
“When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Mark (13:4)
c) That Christ’s kingdom will reign until the end of the age.
d) The temple fell in 70 AD when the Romans sacked the city to put down the Jewish rebellion. Soldiers knocked down every massive stone in search of the melted gold that had run down as the temple burned.
4a) Jesus is speaking of different time periods in the future. He mentions things such as people coming in his name, wars, revolutions, earthquakes, famines, pestilences (verses 8-10). Some of these have already happened and continue to happen.
Then Jesus switches to the immediate future, once he is gone, how the disciples will be persecuted, brought before kings and governors, betrayed, and put to death (verses 12-16). This begins right after his death.
Jesus speaks of the End Times as well when he will come down in a cloud of power and glory to set up his kingdom on earth (verse 27). He says this will take place when Jerusalem is surrounded (verse 20).
b) “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Jerusalem has to wait on ALL nations and UNTIL the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, which is an indefinite amount of time.
5a) Many will come in his name. False prophets. One William Miller in 1846 predicted Jesus would return and many believed. When he didn’t, many fell away. This is the warning to us all.
Wars and revolutions. Too many to list: WWI, WWII, American revolution, French Revolution, Thirty Years War, Civil War, etc
Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Too many to list: all the conflicts between England and France, American revolution where it was the US against England, conflict now in the Middle East, Turks versus the Ottomans, etc.
Great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. Too many to list: Tsumani in 2004, Great San Francisco Earthquake, Dust Bowl, famines in Africa, Bubonic Plague, AIDS, etc.
Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. Too many times to list: According to Wikipedia, Jerusalem has been fought over sixteen times in its history. Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.
Increase in wickedness and loss of love. Society will deteriorate, which I think most of us will agree is happening. There will be less love for others and caring.
b) The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.
c) Personal Question. My answer: Through Christian missionaries in all parts of the world and even to the new generations at church and to current believers. I don’t “preach the gospel.” I teach it to my kids. That’s about my extent. I give to my church and they support missionaries.
Conclusions: We spent most of this lesson in Luke. Mark was ignored, a shame since I loved this nugget in Mark: “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations (Mark 13:10)”, which makes question 5b clearer. Jesus also mentions the Holy Spirit guiding the disciples during persecution, which must have been a great comfort upon hearing such dread events to come in their lives. This was recorded in Mark only.
End Notes: This is the last time Jesus will enter the temple. He is departing for good. The disciples are attempting to cheer Jesus after having been questioned by the Pharisees in the temple. The temple was beautiful and magnificent to behold. It was covered in gold and huge!
Titus’ soldiers burned the temple against his orders. He wanted to preserve it. However, once burned, Titus ordered the temple dismantled in order to retrieve the gold that had melted.
Titus was the emperor of Rome from 79-81 AD. Before this, he was in charge of Judea and ending the Jewish rebellion there, which he did in 70 AD. For this victory, he was awarded a triumph (a public ceremony honoring his achievement) and the Arch of Titus was built as a commemoration for him and for his military victories. It is one of two remaining arches still standing in the Roman forum and it was a model for the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The disciples probably correlated the destruction of the temple with the End Times. Hence, Jesus’ long answer to correct their thinking. There is much listed here, purposely vague, that scholars say are for different reasons including to confound the devil or have every generation ready for Jesus’ return.
These signs will intensify as Jesus’ return come near. More and more earthquakes and famines. Luke says specifically there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The seas will toss; the heavenly bodies be shaken.
All we need to know is: Jesus is coming! So be ready!
