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Mark 13 "The End Times"

"Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Praise the Lord, we started worship at the Westin hotel this morning! As many of you saw, it is a gorgeous place. But not even the Westin is as gorgeous as the temple that King Herod built. The disciples were impressed by the architecture but Jesus was more concerned about the future. He knew that those stones didn't have a future. The Westin is beautiful, but let me tell you that the building doesn't make the church. I am so excited that the Westin asked us to make a church in their chapel. First I am excited because I know that God is going to bless them through it. Second I am excited because throughout Japan there are chapels that look like beautiful churches but are simply using the name of God to make a profit. My prayer is that these other chapels will look at the Westin and say, "Hey! The Westin has a church in their chapel, we better get one too." Let's pray that soon every wedding chapel in Japan will have a church meeting in it.

Not to Worry

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James John, and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am He," and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet."

The disciples were concerned about the end times. They came and asked Jesus about it and Jesus taught them. There are two kinds of teaching about the end times. What not to worry about, and what to watch out for. The first thing not to worry about are wars. There will be many of them. Since the beginning of human history wars have been fought, when Jesus came the Romans were fighting, and after Jesus ascended to heaven human beings have never stopped fighting each other since. There have been pauses, and the scene of the fighting has shifted, but somewhere in the world, somebody is always fighting someone else. But when war happens to us, we are shocked. It is so horrible that we assume that this must be the worst. Jesus says, don't worry, but watch out for those who would use it to to deceive you.

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows."

Earthquakes, famines, troubles, wars. Don't let it get you excited, because these are not anything special. Even though it might seem like the end of the world, it is just the beginning. My family went through the huge earthquake in Los Angeles 3 years ago. We were awoken by the apartment shaking, books falling and we grabbed Keita and dove under the dining room table. One of our neighbors was a family from Kenya. They had never been in an earthquake before. They all ran out to the courtyard and were afraid to go back into the apartment. Then they noticed that their father was not with them. Thinking that he might be hurt they went back in to get him. They found him laying on the bed, clutching the sides, and praying. "Oh Jesus! Oh Jesus!" He was sure that this was the Rapture and Jesus was taking them home. It is normal for us to think that when trouble strikes us, that it is the end of the world.

Watch Out

But I do believe that we are getting close to the end. Because the wars and earthquakes and trouble of our time, is worse than any that has gone before. We have gotten more efficient at killing each other, and the scientists say that we are at the beginning of a seismologically active period, explaining the increase in frequency and intensity of earthquakes. Jesus explains it in a way that any woman would understand. He says that these are the beginnings of sorrows. In Greek these are the labor pains of a woman giving birth. Now I do not have firsthand knowledge of these pains, but I know that as the time grows nearer, the pains grow in frequency and intensity. And the doctors,while they still can't tell you exactly when the baby is coming out, can get a good idea of when it is a good time to get to the hospital.
If I was the doctor, my advice to the world would be to get to the hospital! Because the time is near.

Around the year 1000 AD, a kind of hysteria swept across Europe. Many people started believing that the end of the millenium meant that Christ would return. We are starting to see this kind of thing again as we approach 2000 AD. In America there was the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Here in Japan, we had the Oum doomsday cult. There are many people out there who would use people's fear of the end to take advantage of them. As Christians we should have no fear of Jesus' return. We have a sure hope, just like my neighbor from Kenya that we will meet Jesus in the Rapture. We know that we are not going to experience the wrath of God, but His mercy. But Jesus does warn us that although we shouldn't worry about the end, we should watch out for ourselves.

"But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

Everything that Jesus predicted here has already happened to Christians. If you look at the history of the church around the world, persecution is a common part of the Christian experience. Christians in China, Africa, South America, all over the world have been persecuted for their faith. Like wars and earthquakes and famines, persecution is also still just labor pains, it is painful but it is still not the time.

The Tribulation

But in verse 14, Jesus warns to watch out for something that has not taken place yet. That will happen only once, and gives specific instructions, especially for those who happen to be in Judea, or the present day state of Israel. If all the things that have happened up to now are labor pains, when this happens it is like the water breaking.

"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. and let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days."

The good news for us is that we will not be around when this happens. We shall be watching from above. Notice that He is talking specifically about Judea or Israel and that God has shortened this tribulation for the sake of the elect, whom He chose. He is talking about the Jews. During the time of the tribulation many Jews will come to believe in Christ. These Jews will have to go through this terrible time, so Jesus gave this special warning to them. Jesus warned that when they see the abomination of desolation in the temple that they should flee. Daniel prophecied that when an idol is set up in the temple there will be three and a half years left until the coming of Christ. This is the abomination of desolation.

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!" or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand."

Jesus gives very clear instructions for those who will go through the tribulation. Don't believe anything! Not signs and wonders, not your best friend, because they will try to deceive you. Because when Jesus comes back at the end, it will be in glory. There will be no doubt in anyone's mind. Listen to what will happen.

The Second Coming

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."

So what should we do? We know that we won't have to go through the tribulation, but does Jesus want us to do? Three things.
1. Don't be afraid. Just because the world around you is going crazy doesn't mean that Jesus forgot you. The world has been crazy a long time. We know that the time is near, but when it actually comes no one will have any doubts.
2. Be careful! There are many people who will try to use fear to manipulate and control you. Jesus says clearly, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
3. Watch and pray.
"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" Jesus has given us each work to do. We do not know when He will be back so we need to continue doing our jobs faithfully, so that when He does come we will be ready.