READ: Mark 13:14-23: … For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation … nor ever shall be. … but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. … But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Everything leads to the second coming of Christ, the Son of Man (vs. 26). But do verses 14-23 refer to the time around the fall of Jerusalem or a later time? Verse 14 concerns Judea, and verse 19 is connected to that, concerning Israel. Nevertheless, it leads to the second coming of Christ in verses 24 and beyond.
The solution to this issue is that it involves prophecy that combines two episodes. The period before the fall of Jerusalem serves as a foreshadowing of the period before the second coming. This is a prophetic perspective: an event nearby and an event later are united in one glance. Like mountain peaks that seem to lie close together from a distance but have a great distance between them.
Examples of this include Joel 2’s prophecy about the locust plague and Pentecost, and Isaiah 8’s prophecy about the coming of Immanuel. Similarly, the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel must be read (v.14). This involves the worship of Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 BC) in the temple, as well as the worship of the Roman emperor and ultimately the worship of the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness in the last days (2 Thess. 2:4).
In verses 14-18, Jesus warns not to go to the place of that worship to avoid being slaughtered. They should flee to the mountains: thus, they will spread further and further (see also v.27).
The oppression that begins with the destruction of the temple lasts until the coming of the Son of Man. The oppression of the last days is the worst but also the final one (v.19).
The Lord will ensure that the chosen ones can endure this oppression. It is important to persevere against all extremely cunning temptations (vv.21,22, cf. 2 Thess. 2:1-12). Therefore, let us pray daily for the Holy Spirit.
How is our prayer for assistance?
Singing: Hymn 41:4 (1984), 53:4 (2014)