Night
Vision!
Mark 13:14-23
Introduction: Our military has
been able to say for quite some time, “We own the night.” Against many of the
less technologically advanced adversaries our military has had to engage, our “night
vision” capabilities have allowed our forces to conduct operations in the
darkness with great effect, and with a lot less risk to our troops. I thought
of that when I read this week Daniel 7:13,14…
“…I saw in the night visions, and
behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came
to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve
him…”
Night visions! Of a coming King and a coming kingdom.
Hope in the darkness. We see quite often the Bible using the language of
spiritual warfare. Though we engage an enemy that we cannot see, and though we
live in the present without knowing the details of what we will face even
tomorrow, we are not in the dark about the future. God has revealed, in His
word, how His plan for history, and His plan for us, is going to unfold. And
though, to quote Yogi Berra once again, “It is a difficult thing to prophecy,
especially about the future!”, we have been given “night vision” technology
that is infallible: the inspired and inerrant Word of God.
Like an
Old Testament prophet Jesus answered the disciples with reference to both the
near future and the end of the age… The disciples were thinking, no doubt, that
those things would correlate closely with the time of the Lord’s return (Mt
24:2). But Jesus gave them just the “light” they needed for the moment, while
also addressing the needs of the church at the end of that generation, around
AD 70… and also speaking to believers through the ages and until He comes.
Context: We introduced chapter 13 with a message, “How Long,
O Lord?” The Maine* Idea was, “Stay
faithful! Life will get hard, but Jesus is coming!” Last week we focused on
13:3-13 we saw that, “In the World You Will Have Tribulation!” and highlighted
the idea that the assurance of God’s presence and the certainty of victory will
enable believers to endure both the trials of life and the attacks of the
enemy. Today in our message entitled “Night Vision (for the chosen)!” we see…
The Maine*
Idea: Believers can
be assured that God is in control and that His Word will guide us through
difficult and deceptive times.
I. The “Resistance” of the enemy will be
made manifest (14a,b). While we have an enemy who goes about like a roaring
lion seeking someone to devour, he usually carries out his task with subtlety
and cunning, well camouflaged, disguised even as an angel of light. We are in a
spiritual battle that is usually subtle, but Jesus here is warning that the day
will come when it will become overt…
“But when you see the abomination of desolation
standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then…”
We set the context above because it is
essential to understanding the contrast in this paragraph with what came
before. We live in a fallen world, that means that all Creation, including
humanity, is under the curse of God. Moreover, the believing remnant of
humanity is in the midst of a spiritual battle. Wars, famines and pestilences,
earthquakes and natural disasters are signs of the state of the world
and of our desperate spiritual need. But they are not signs that the
climax of history is necessarily imminent and the return of Christ is at hand. That
brings us to our passage for today. It begins with a contrast…
BUT,
there is a sign that should garner our
careful attention. The first word of v.14, “But…” Jesus is saying that not
those things that are common to life in a fallen world, but this is
what tells you that the destruction of the Temple is at hand, or possibly that He
is at the door, “…when you see the
abomination of desolation standing…” To what was Jesus referring? What
would the disciples, and the first readers of the gospel have understood by this
phrase? The word “abomination” is used frequently in the Scriptures to refer to gross
idolatry (see Isa 44:19). With the fuller phrase “abomination of desolation,” even a casual reader of the Scriptures,
given the apocalyptic context, would recognize an allusion to the prophet
Daniel (see Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). Let’s read…
Daniel 9:27 “And he shall make a strong covenant with
many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes
desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."
Daniel 11:31 “Forces from him shall appear and profane the
temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they
shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.”
Daniel 12:11-13 “And from the time that the
regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate
is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335
days. 13 But go your way till
the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end
of the days.”
I am not prepared to go with any confidence into the
details of what Daniel is saying, but some things are plain enough: abomination, detestable, offensive idolatry, sacrilege in the context of the
Temple and worship, resulting in total desolation and destruction. Since God
promised peace and security to faithful Israel, desolation could only come from
their unfaithfulness (see Deut 28).
How are we to understand the phrase, “Let the reader understand…”? Since when Jesus spoke this speech the gospels
were not written, if Jesus said it, it must have referred to the prophet Daniel
and his reference to the “Abomination of desolation.”
The NIV editors take that view by putting the phrase in the Markan context in
red-letters, along with the rest of the discourse. It is an editorial judgment
of course, since the Greek manuscripts we have, have no red letters and no
punctuation! The NASB editors, put the phrase in parentheses, and in black
letters, indicating that the editors thought it was a comment (or an exhortation)
inserted by the writer of the Gospel. [I would find that more likely, except
that Matthew in his gospel puts it exactly the same (Mt 24:15)!] If Bible
scholars disagree about it, and they are a lot smarter than me, I’ll have to
say with great confidence: I am not sure! It doesn’t change a lot after all
since the same God who inspired Daniel, was also incarnate in Christ, and also
inspired Mark to write his gospel! We should be reading Daniel and Mark,
paying attention to the written Word, asking what did each writer intend, and
what could his readers have understood (but see Daniel 12:7-9)? Since it seems certain that Jesus was
referring in the relative near-term to the destruction of the Temple in AD 70,
and also to the end of the age and His second coming, I think we should
expect multiple referents to this prophecy. Let’s see if history bears that out
and see if it gives us some clues as to what the ultimate end-time fulfillment
might look like.
If we
think of the context of Daniel, and subsequent Jewish History, virtually all
Jewish interpreters, and most Christian interpreters of Daniel, agree that we
should see a preliminary fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation” in the desecration
of the Temple by the Seleucid general Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC. He entered
the Temple and erected a statue of the Greek God, Zeus. He then sacrificed a
pig on the altar. That was certainly an offensive act of overt idolatry, so
offensive in fact, that that act inspired Judas Maccabee and the Jewish revolt.
Remember our context in Mark. Jesus had
just predicted the destruction of the Temple, not one stone being left on
another. Later in the chapter he’ll tie that prophecy to “this generation” [genea].
Roughly 37 years after Jesus spoke these words, the Roman armies would surround
the city of Jerusalem, laying siege for several months. When they finally breached
the walls, the city was razed and the Temple was desecrated. The Roman Banners,
with the image of Caesar, were brought into the Temple and bowed down to. An abomination,
gross idolatry, in what should have been the House of God. By the way, in
literal fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, a fire started (or was started) that burnt
the Temple. In the search for gold that apparently melted in the heat of the
fire, the Temple was leveled, not one
stone left upon another, as the gold from the Temple was looted.
But is
there a still future abomination of desolation? Both John in his letters, and Paul,
especially in 2 Thessalonians 2, talk about an evil, end-time figure. John
calls him antichrist. Paul refers to him
as the “man of sin.” He warns…
“…we ask you,
brothers, 2 not to be quickly
shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter
seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any
way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the
man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself
against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in
the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God…” (2 Thess 2:1-4).
Idolatry, indeed, blasphemy, in the temple of God! Is
this the end-time event, preliminary to the “day of the Lord,” that is the
ultimate “abomination of desolation”
to which Jesus is referring? And does
this not imply that the antichrist will be revealed while the church is still
there to see it? We’ll talk more about that Wednesday, and in weeks to come! Believers can be assured that God is in
control and that His Word will guide us through difficult and deceptive times.
II. A Time
of terrible tribulation lay ahead: Time
to go? Get out! Now! (14c-20).
…then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. 15 Let the one who
is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the
field not turn back to take his cloak. 17
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in
those days! 18 Pray that it
may not happen in winter. 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. 20 And if the Lord had not cut
short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect,
whom he chose, he shortened the days.
In
the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70… The tribulation leading up to that event was
horrendous, we have some details from that time recorded by the Jewish
historian Josephus… In chapter 3 of The
Jewish Wars, he describes the conditions leading up to the breach of the walls
and the destruction of the city: famine, thirst, horrible desperation. He
details stories like one that seems almost too shocking to be believed, of a
woman killing, roasting, and eating her own son. That is not the kind of story
a Jewish historian would likely make up! It certainly shows that it was a time
of horrible suffering.
The abomination
of desolation may have been the Romans circling the city, (note the parallel account
in Luke 21:20-21) which eventually led to their entering and marching into the Temple
with their banners bearing the image of Caesar. Some say the tribulation of
that day, in terms of the per capita
destruction and suffering, was greater than ever was or would be. It is
estimated that 1.1 million Jews died either in conflict, through the famine, or
by crucifixion. Yet, for the most part,
the Christian Jews survived since they heeded Jesus’ warning to get away quickly. Alistair Begg compared the instructions Jesus gives in these verses, to the instructions a flight crew gives as a plane is preparing to depart. "In the event of an emergency don't try to collect your things, get immediately to the nearest exit and get out of the aircraft!" As the armies approached the city they fled to the mountains. Normally, when
under attack, you would take refuge in a fortified city, that is why they were
there after all! That is what most Jews did. And the rest is history.
I can’t
read Mark 13 and not also see Jesus pointing to a yet more distant future as
well, an even greater tribulation, and also to the promise of His return. In
the time of Great Tribulation at the end of the age.
Those days cut short… for the sake of the elect
who He chose… To whom is Jesus (and Mark) referring? Who are the “elect”?
Consistently, it is those who have been chosen by God to be His peculiar
people. Israel chosen from among the peoples of the earth, the line of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob… And since the birth of the church, Jews and gentiles, people
from every race and nation who by grace through faith are joined to the Body of
Christ. There is much we don’t know about the end-time tribulation. The Book of
Revelation records the visions of John, so despite our efforts scholars
disagree on many details. But this we know: if our trust is in Christ we are
one of His chosen. And believers can be assured that God is in control and
that His Word will guide us through difficult and deceptive times.
III. Believers are forewarned: Be alert for deceivers (21-23).
21 And then if
anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not
believe it. 22 False christs
and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if
possible, the elect. 23 But
be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
The return of Christ will be public and unquestionable, believers
will know when He comes! We know that “…as
the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the
coming of the Son of Man be…” (Mt 24:27). It will be visible and personal
as the men in white told the disciples on the Mount of Olives at the ascension,
“…This Jesus, who has been taken up from
you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into
heaven…” (Acts 1:11). As Daniel prophesied it will be glorious and powerful:
“…behold, with the clouds of heaven One
like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was
presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom…” (Daniel 7:13-14).
Don’t be deceived by impostors!
Do not be deceived by messianic pretenders or by false prophets, there
will be many! Even signs and wonders
will be performed, leading many astray. Remember the magicians of Pharaoh
who mimicked some the signs Moses did? This will seemingly be far more
impressive and deceptive. The goal of the enemy is to deceive as many as
possible. We can be easily impressed. Even by eloquent speech and motivational
rhetoric, or by what seem to be “signs” of successful ministry, like large
churches and enthusiastic audiences. But does the teaching of that “prophet”
harmonize with the clear teaching of Scripture? Moses said this about the prophets
who may impress us in Deuteronomy 13:1-5,
If a prophet or a
dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells
you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have
not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.
For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your
God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and
keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast
to him. 5 But that prophet or
that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion
against the LORD...
Orthodox teaching, faithfulness to
the truth, not signs or wonders, are the genuine evidences of sound teaching (cf. Gal 1:6-9)! The
key encouragement I find in this verse is the phrase “if possible.” Ultimately, God will preserve and protect His
own. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch
them out of my hand…” (John 10:27,28).
Why did Jesus
give this warning to Peter, James, John, and Andrew? Why did God inspire Mark
to include this discourse in his gospel? Why is it repeated, at least in part,
in Matthew and Luke as well? To give vision to the elect, night vision,
in the present and coming darkness.
What is God
saying to me in this passage? Believers
can be assured that God is in control and that His Word will guide us through
difficult and deceptive times.
What would God have me to do in response to this passage? In the last days perilous times will
come! Some people think they have every detail figured out. Good for them! We
want to search the Scriptures carefully, seeking to understand the things God
has said in His Word, being as precise as we can be in terms of what God has revealed. Godly
people disagree on some pretty important details. But, the plain things are the
main things. We know this beyond question: because of human rebellion the world
is under the curse. And we also have an enemy who is on the attack. But we know that greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world! Jesus
is coming back, and we know that Jesus wins, and that He has a future
planned for those who are His, those who the Bible calls “the elect,” that is all
who put their trust in Him. For we who believe it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has
it entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those
who love Him!” (I Cor 2:9). Think of
that! AMEN.
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