Mark 13 What Do We Really Know About Jesus' Return?
The Day and Hour Unknown
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
There is no topic more debated, analyzed and interpreted like the topic of Jesus' second coming. There are certainly differences among Christians all of all types and denominiations. Even within denominations there may be disagreements about certain aspects of what we call "eschatology", which simply means a study of the end times. An "eschaton" is the era which begins with Jesus return.
With so much speculation and prediction surrounding this event which the bible says quite clearly will happen, Jesus makes a sweeping statement about this event. He says, "No one knows the day or time, not even the Son, but only the Father." So if anyone claims to know when Jesus is going to return, or says that God has told them, my advice is to run. Why? Because if Jesus said he didn't know, my guess is that this person doesn't either. In fact, many people have tried to predict when Jesus was going to return and even had their followers prepare for the specific day that God had told them. But all who have predicted Jesus' return have one thing in common, they are all dead wrong.
Without going too far into the weeds, the other big issue has to do with what will happen to Christians when Jesus' returns. Will they be taken straight to heaven? Or, will they have to endure a time of tribulation to show that their faithfulness to the end?
Earlier in 13:20 Jesus says, “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them."
In Mark's version of the end times Jesus describes a period of distress unlike anything the world has ever know since the beginning of time.
Later in verse 30 Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
So what does the word "generation" mean? At face value it would seem to mean those who he is talking to, the disciples! Does this mean that the end of the world is going to come in their lifetime? Probably not because the passage says that first the "gospel should be preached to all nations" which clearly hadn't happened yet.
So now you can see why teaching about the end times can be so confusing. But here is what we do know which is clearly taught in the bible and from Jesus.
1. Jesus will return in great and promised glory at some time in the future appointed by God the Father.
2. Those who believe in Jesus, both those who have died and those who are living, will be saved.
3. God desires that all people be saved and at the very least have a chance to hear the gospel about Jesus' life, death and resurrection for the sake of the whole world.
4. Since we do not know when Jesus will return the most important thing is to be ready at any time.
5. How can we be ready? By doing the things he has asked us to do. This called the Great Commission. It never changes.
"Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded them until the end of the age."
So while it is fun to speculate the end times, when will it happen, and how Christians will make out, we really have bigger fish to fry. If we are really worried about the end times, we should do all we can, while we can so that all people might be saved!
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