CHAPTER 13

1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

After Jesus' exchange with the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus left the temple. As they were leaving, the disciples began to remark how great the temple was, and how beautiful the stone work. Some of the foundation stones were as much as 70 feet long, 10 feet wide and 8 feet high! But Jesus had just said in Matthew 23:38, that this "house shall be left desolate!"

Jesus took this opportunity to explain that their focus should be on the spiritual and not on the physical. Yes, there are things beautiful in this world - many things. And we certainly should recognize them. But, the Christian's focus should be on spiritual things. Jesus was not making less of the beauty of the temple, He was making more of the temporal nature of things, and how we should be constantly reminded that only spiritual things last.

As discussed earlier (See Matthew 23:37-39), Titus came in 70AD and destroyed Jerusalem. In that destruction, every stone of the temple was broken or removed!

There are many beautiful churches in the world today. And we certainly admire the dedication and devotion of saints who have given to build them. However, what is more important is the souls that either come or don't come to church! All that is in this temporal world shall be burned away! But how many shall enter the "New Jerusalem?"

I have had the privilege of traveling to other countries and visiting many churches there. Some of them are nothing but poles, thatch roofs and dirt floors! They are just as effective in the spiritual work of evangelism and education of the saved! Yes, I admire the great cathedrals - especially their great glass work and stone work. But the more important work is preparing for the time when these things shall be gone, and only what is done for Christ shall matter!

Jesus' statement certainly changed the focus of the disciples! They were graphically reminded of "the end," and began to wonder about how and when.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Jesus sat down on "the mount of olives," and the disciples gathered round Him as they often did. They were ready to sit at His feet and gather in the informative teaching of the Master. This is the difference between those who are saved and those who are not. Those who are saved are continually sitting at the feet of the Master, learning to live according to His will.

But this time was different.

The disciples had three questions: "WHEN" would be the end; "WHAT" would be the sign of Jesus' return; and what signs would point to "the end of the world."

I think it is very important to begin with Jesus' FIRST statement: "Take heed that no man deceive you!"

Deceit is the trickery of the devil. Satan is condemned to the "lake of fire and brimstone" where he shall be "tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

And that ole devil wants company!

Satan will do anything he can to deceive people! Those who have not Christ, those who believe not the Word of God, can easily be led astray.

But through faithful study, diligent prayer, and determined effort ministering for Christ, His people CANNOT be deceived! ((See Mark 13:23-24))

At times, Christians may become wobbly, but by taking heed they won't fall down! The truly converted are "born again" by the "incorruptible Word of God" ( 1Peter 1:23), and "sealed in the Spirit" ( Ephesians 1:13), and they shall not be deceived by the trickeries of the devil!

However, Christian, remember Jesus said "TAKE HEED! Be LISTENING and LEARNING!
And the FIRST thing to "take heed" of is IMPOSTERS!

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Christians are certainly concerned with the "signs of the times." But their FOCUS is not on the signs, nor on "when." Their FOCUS is on JESUS! The focus of the Christian is to "know the Truth" (John 8:32)!

Do you know how agents of the FBI learn to spot counterfeit bills? They FIRST learn what the REAL ones look like!!

Yes, the Christian is to be LISTENING and LEARNING by studying the Bible. And there are many subjects discussed in the Bible. For instance, the Bible teaches:
how to treat one another,
that we must WORK for a living,
that we should pay TAXES,
that children are to be obedient to parents and respect elders of authority,
and, many other subjects, including "the end times."

But, I'm afraid, many folk are majoring in the minors!
The PRIMARY subject of the Bible is JESUS! ((See Revelation 1:1)) The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsis. It means disclose, or unveil. The MAJOR purpose of the Bible is to teach us CHRIST and Who He is; so that we will know the "Truth!" Then, we will be able to spot "counterfeits!"

Let's establish the CONTEXT of this speech by our Lord.

It is imperative, that though many things happen in the world, we Christians be PRIMARILY FOCUSED upon two things:
KNOWING JESUS,
and LIVING LIKE HE WOULD!

Jesus said in Mark 13:22, "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." But the true Christian is continually studying the Bible, and learning the "Truth!" The acts of some of these "false Christs" have been, and will be, very strong delusions indeed. But there is security in KNOWING CHRIST! It IS possible for those who have been "enlightened" to fall away from Christ (See Hebrews 6:4-6). It is possible for a person to be "enlightened" about Christ, and never repent and be saved. It is NOT possible for those who have been genuinely SAVED to "fall away" from Him Whom they KNOW!

Now, there have been many who came saying they were the Christ, the Messiah. And some of their proofs have been very, very convincing. But, it is NOT possible for a Christian, continually studying the "Truth," to be fooled by an imposter!

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

In the thousands of years since man was created, there have been relatively FEW years without WAR! Yet, when news of a war circulates, many become distraught. Jesus said, in effect, "When you hear of a war, don't get in a clamor!" Wars happen because people are sinners!

Wars have been declared because of land disputes, moral issues, defense issues. War DOES happen. And there WILL BE a "war to end all wars." Jesus will one day come and fight against the devil himself, and those that are "deceived" into following the devil. There is a spiritual sense of finality when one considers THAT war; because JUDGMENT of all mankind follows! ((See Revelation 20:7-13).

There are also "Famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes," happening in different places all the time. These things destroy lives. And, yes, we should be concerned about them; and administer aid to those harmed by them.

But let me say again, our PRIMARY FOCUS should be on two things:
KNOWING CHRIST,
and LIVING AS HE WOULD!

Jesus also said, "see that ye be not troubled." The Greek word used here is throeo. It means to be overwrought, or so overcome that no predetermined train of thought can be produced. The reason Christians don't become "troubled" in this world is because Jesus gives us "peace that passeth all understanding."(Philippians 4:7).

Another reason that Christians do not become overwrought about circumstances in the world is because Jesus said, "these things must come to pass!" The popular singing group, "THE MARTINS," have a song about this. IT says, in part, "It didn't come to STAY, it came to PASS!!" All things in this world are temporal. And all shall one day PASS AWAY! But Jesus lasts for ETERNITY!!!

Notice that Jesus said, "All these are the beginning of sorrows!"

They are "travailing pains" for the "end" which is "not yet!"(vs 6)

They are things we must deal with in our lives, while our FOCUS is upon KNOWING CHRIST and LIVING AS HE WOULD!

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The "travailing pains" lead to DEATH! Jesus is foretelling the fact that many Christians will be persecuted, mailigned, beaten and DIE as a result of the world's hatred for them.

For instance, in the Roman persectution of Christians, when ONE was caught, MANY were FOUND! By capturing one Christian, and grueling him/her, others were found and also captured.

Again, the warning about "false prophets" (Vs 11).

But look closely at verse 11. I'm afraid we are seeing this today! Iniquity certainly "abounds" in our world today!

Jesus had said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples , if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) The "this" was the LOVE the disciples showed for one another! (See John 13:34).

The persecutions by the world, and the betrayal of many Christians has caused the deep abiding LOVE of one another to be LESSENED! And genuine care toward the world in general has waned. Not many years ago, Christians studied hard and learned how to witness to the lost. Now, few do.

However, Jesus gives hope in the next statement (vs 13). What Jesus was saying here is that those who are saved WILL "endure to the end." They are not afraid of malignment; neither are they afraid of DEATH! The love and hope of God rests IN them, and they do not fear what man can do! (See Psalm 56:11).

14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

What exactly is "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet?" Perhaps these verses would give some context to Jesus' statement: Daniel 9:26-27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11.

These verses speak of an abominable destroyer, and perhaps Luke 21:20 gives us some insight as to exactly WHAT, or WHOM it is. The armies of the Roman empire came into Jerusalem and literally destroyed it (and the temple) in 70AD. During that destruction, it is said, by the historian Josephus, that Romans idols were set up in the temple area before its destruction. He also stated that they sacrificed to their idols in that place! (See "The Works of Josephus," "War of the Jews," Book 6, Chapter 6, Section 1)

This was certainly an abominable act in the time after Jesus had left the "house" of Jerusalem "desolate" (See Matthew 23:38). The "age" of the Jewish people prophesying of a Messiah "to come" was then over, and the "age of the Gentiles" was ushered in.

During the destruction of Jerusalem, by the Roman armies, thousands upon thousands of Jewish people ran! They HAD to run, or be killed! Christian Jews were included! Many ran to Pella, "a town in the territory of Gilead; according to Eusebius, it is beyond the Jordan, 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Pella , on the mountain road to Gerasa; site unknown but may be modern `Wadi Yabes.'"(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

They ran to the mountains. Those who were taking their evening respite on the "rooftops" of their houses, fled. They ran in haste, and took very little with them.

Luke 21:24 adds this to the statement: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." From that time to this Jewish people, and Christians alike, have suffered many "calamities!" They have been maligned, persecuted, beaten, skinned alive, crucified and other atrocities!

And, if this were to continue, none of them would be physically "saved" in the world (Verse 22). But "for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

Titus had originally determined he would starve Jerusalem to death. But the affairs of Rome, concerning other areas of the world, demanded his presence in Rome itself. Thus, he took Jerusalem by storm, and some escaped. God has a way of ordering the affairs of this world to benefit His people, even in the most difficult of times!

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Jesus had told them "before" of "false Christs." Many have indeed "risen" over the centuries. And some have shown "great signs and wonders."

The true Christian is continually studying the Bible, and learning the "Truth!" The acts of some of these "false Christs" have been, and will be, very strong delusions indeed. But there is security in KNOWING CHRIST! It IS possible for those who have been "enlightened" to fall away from Christ (See Hebrews 6:4-6). It is possible for a person to be "enlightened" about Christ, and never repent and be saved. It is NOT possible for those who have been genuinely SAVED to "fall away" from Him Whom they KNOW!

Now, there have been many who came saying they were the Christ, the Messiah. And some of their proofs have been very, very convincing. But, it is NOT possible for a Christian, continually studying the "Truth," to be fooled by an imposter!

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

We could begin to discuss symbolism here, and get many various meanings from the Scripture. For instance, the "sun..darkened, and the moon shall not giver her light, and the stars fall from heaven...." Symbolically, this could mean falling of kings and kingdoms, unexplainable calamaties, etc. Or, it could be taken literally to mean exactly what Jesus said!

The word "immediately" (Greek: eutheos) can be interpreted with varying definitions: soon, shortly, or even immediately. It is translated "immediately" in Matthew 8:3, and "shortly" in 3John 14.

Did Jesus mean that "soon" after, or "shortly" after that "tribulation" these things would occur? I believe He did. "Shortly," or even "immediately" certainly means SOON. And let us remember, to God, "a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)

We have been seeing kingdoms fall for over 2000 years; and we have certainly seen many unexplainable calamities! One day "soon," or "shortly," we shall see "..the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" I believe that is an event that could happen ANY DAY NOW!

When that happens, there will be a great SHOUT, the sound of a TRUMPET, and the "dead in Christ shall rise," (1Thessalonians 4:16) and those that remain shall be quickly "changed!" (1Corinthians 15:51).

In other words, BE READY! Be focused on the primary purpose: KNOWING Christ, and living as He would!

28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Remember, Jesus is talking to believing disciples. He wanted them to believe that He could come AT ANY MOMENT!!

The reason Jesus wanted them to believe that, is because He wanted them to LIVE as if He could come at any moment. He was inspiring them to WORK: to do the work of "proclaiming" the GOSPEL!

And soon, in their realm of life, they would see many of the things Jesus spoke of. Kingdoms would fall, there would be earthquakes, pesitlences, famines. There would be a tremendous persecution of Christians.

So when they would "see all these things," they were to know that the time was "near, even at the doors!"

My friends, the time is STILL "near!" It is "even at the doors!" The "generation" of Christians (Gentile Christians) spreading the GOSPEL is not yet fulfilled! But it COULD be fulfilled at any moment!

Now, I must ask this question: Are YOU READY? Are you going about life with your primary focus?

The next few verses give us two things that should inspire every Christian to live as this day were the last day before Jesus comes.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Notice Jesus' emphasis on "watch and pray" (vs 33), and then again "Watch" (vs 37).

We are to be READY for His return at any moment!!

The Greek word for "Watch ye" in verse 35 is gregoreuo (gray-gor-yoo'-o). It indicates vigilance, alertness. It is the same word used at the end of verse 37.

Needless to say, we should not discount the emphasis on "pray" (vs 33). We need to be in contact with our Master every day.

But let us focus on "watch and pray." Be alert, be ready, be prepared for His coming.
Pray and be in contact with Him daily, and remember what it takes to be ALERT!

If you will, couple these statements with The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.
It is impossible to be "IN CONTACT" with Jesus and "ALERT" to His coming without being involved in three things:
1) PRAYING and GOING to lost people in the world, 2) TEACHING them how to be saved, then, 3) TEACHING the saved "all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20).

WATCH and PRAY!
Be FOCUSED on the TRUTH - Jesus - and
LIVE AS HE WOULD!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.