Signs of the End Times 2 (Mark 13:14-27) & Why it Matters

Bible Passages

"When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’  standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again" (Mark 13:14-19 NIV).

Abomination Causes Desolation

Jesus mentions abomination (βδέλυγμα) which refers to something that is abhorred because it defiles a sacred place causing it to be desolate.  It is considered something that is totally defiling and a pollutant.  Desolation (ἐρήμωσις) in this case indicates the state of being uninhabitable and has to do with devastation and depopulation (Arndt, et, al., 2000).  The phrase is actually used in Daniel in the Old Testament a few times.  One passage states, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him" (Daniel 9:27; emphasis mine).  When referring to a king, another passage states, "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation" (Daniel 11:31; emphasis mine).  Another excerpt states, "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days" (Daniel 12:11; emphasis mine).  Abomination (שִׁקּוּץ) in these instances refer to destructive horror and desolation (שׁמם) has to do with the horror with ravages and devastation (Koehler, L, et al., 2000).  

Taking Anything Out; Dread; Winter

Jesus then says that people should not take anything out of their homes or go back to get their cloak (ἱμάτιον) which is outer clothing including a robe.  Then he mentions that it would be dreadful (οὐαί) - which means woe and pain - for those who are pregnant and those who are nursing their children.  Winter (χειμών) would be a season of bad weather, and the days in the end would be of distress that would be unequaled (τοιοῦτος), where in this case Jesus is talking about a tribulation that has never been seen (Arndt, et, al., 2000).  Basically Jesus is saying that bad weather combined with such unequaled distress of the end of times would be next level stress and pain.    

“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. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time" (Mark 13:20-23).

Cut Short the Days

Jesus is saying that because of the elect (ἐκλεκτός) - pertaining to being the selected and chosen of mankind to draw to Himself - he has shortened the days (Arndt, et, al., 2000).   

False Messiahs/Prophets

Jesus, when talking about false messiahs (ψευδόχριστος), refers to those who in lying fashion makes himself to be the Anointed One and would be considered a bogus Messiah.  When talking about false prophets (ψευδόχριστος), Jesus refers to who is lying about being a prophet of God or one who prophesies falsely and would be considered a bogus prophet.  These false prophets will perform signs (σημεῖον) - distinguishing marks whereby they are known - and wonders (τέρας) - things that astoud because of being associated with the transcendent - to deceive (ἀποπλανάω), or mislead, others that might include the ones God has chosen to be with Him.  He then tells the disciples to be on their guard (βλέπω) or in this case beware and look out for these things (Arndt, et, al., 2000).    

"'But in those days, following that distress, 

‘the sun will be darkened, 

and the moon will not give its light; 

the stars will fall from the sky, 

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’  

At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 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 13:24-27).

Following Distress

Jesus here echos the Old Testament.  God inspired the prophet Joel to write, "Before them the earth shakes, 

the heavens tremble, 

the sun and moon are darkened, 

and the stars no longer shine" (Joel 2:10).  

Joel then writes the following:

"The sun and moon will be darkened, 

and the stars no longer shine. 

The Lord will roar from Zion 

and thunder from Jerusalem; 

the earth and the heavens will tremble. 

But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, 

a stronghold for the people of Israel" (Joel 3:15-16).

Isaiah similarly writes:

"The stars of heaven and their constellations 

will not show their light. 

The rising sun will be darkened 

and the moon will not give its light" (Isaiah 13:10).

He then states that people would see Him coming down with great power and glory.  He refers to where a passage where Daniel states, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence" (Daniel 7:13).   Jesus then states that He will gather His elect from the four winds (ἄνεμος), or directions.  He refers to the heavens (οὐρανός) standing independently beside the earth and contrasted with it.  He refers to ends (ἄκρον) as one end of heaven to another (Arndt, et, al., 2000).  

Why it Matters - False Prophets

Jesus says there will be false prophets and talks about them in the end of times (see above) and in the Sermon on the Mount.  He states, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Matthew 7:15-17).  The Greek term for fruit here (καρπός) indicates that the outcome of acting is a deed. Jesus states that by their deeds one would determine if a prophet is false or not according to this passage.

Peter writes, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping" (2 Peter 2:1-3).  John states to "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).  

References

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Koehler, L., et al., (2000).  The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament.  Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.  

The New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.