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21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24 “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." ~ Mark 13:21-27
Today, we continue our study of Mark 13 where the Lord Jesus had been responding to the question of the disciples about the end times. It was Wednesday evening of the passion week before Friday when the Lord Jesus would be crucified. The answer the Lord Jesus gave was threefold. Having considered the first two of His threefold response, today, we will consider His third response, it will be a time of religious deceit.
In v.21-22 of today's passage we read, "21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.'"
The emphasis in today's passage is on seeing. In Hebrews 11:3 we read, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not brought into being from anything observable."
During the Tribulation it will be a time of world-wide religious deceit. The false messiahs and the false prophets will be the agents of the anti-christ who will openly rule and reign in that day. These will be people who will appear and perform signs and wonders. Those not defined by God's word will be taken in and deceived.
In v.23 of today's passage we read, "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time."
With the emphasis on what we see, the Lord encourages His hearers to evaluate out of the posture that is informed by the word of God. This is why we must be in the word daily, allowing it to frame up life for us. Even though there was clear application of these words for the first disciples, these words will be most applicable to those who will be on the earth at the end of time. We have not yet entered into the time of tribulation, but the birth pains have come. Wars, rumors of wars, disease, disasters, and famines abound. And, the persecution of God's people is on the rise. Therefore, we must take notice of the signs that are before us, and, we must be about the Father's business, looking for those areas He is working and being useful to Him in leading others to the Lord Jesus.
In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken."
Most theologians believe that the anti-christ, in the middle of the Tribulation, will do something awful in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, causing those who will be in the habit daily of being there, to leave. Thus, the abomination that causes desolation will be realized. This is why most have always watched with great interest the possibility of the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
At the end of time, as we know it, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the heavens with great power and glory. Previous to His appearing, volcanoes will erupt and tidal waves arise. The havoc on the earth at that time will be the result of the heavens being shaken and the lights will be turned off. The Lord Jesus will appear in the sky for all on earth to see. This will be the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The main difference between the rapture of the church and the second coming of the Lord Jesus will be the fact that His feet will touch the earth at the second coming. At the rapture of the church, we will be raised to meet the Lord in the air.
In v.26-27 of today's passage we read, "26 At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."
The climax of all of human history will be the appearing of Jesus Christ as Lord, with great power and great glory. At the second coming, the angels will be engaged in the gathering of God's people to Himself. The sign of the end will be return of the Son, in full power and full glory. According to Revelation 6 the people of the earth at that time will say to the mountains, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb." This, of course, will be unnecessary because they could have avoided having to suffer the wrath of God for themselves.
All of this underscores the fact that salvation is a free gift for the taking. Of course, it came at a great cost for the Lord Jesus. He laid down His life for anyone willing and humble enough to receive the free gift. When man yielded to the sinful desires of this fallen world, it resulted in the disordering of our loves. When we trust the Lord Jesus, we are enabled to see love anew, and, our loves are rendered to what God intended them to be. For all of eternity, it will be His love for us that will capture our hearts in such a way that we will fully exist for His glory.
