MARK LESSON 27
We will begin this lesson in Mark 13:12.
Mark 13:12 "Now the brother shall betray the brother to death,
and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their]
parents, and shall cause them to be put to death."
This Scripture has come true in our life-time. In World War II,
many youngsters betrayed their own parents and caused them to be
killed. They felt that they were being patriotic. Jesus knew all of
this would happen, because of His foreknowledge. Perhaps, not a
physical killing but a killing of the spirit so many times happens, if
you start to work for God. Close friends and family members forget
that you even exist. More than that, they are openly hostile. They
are opposed to your ministry more than the world is.
Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's
sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
In a world that has gone crazy over the flesh and the lust
thereof, the Christian is hated. I truly believe the reason they hate
the Christian (someone who is Christ-like) is because of the guilt
they feel when they are around you. They especially feel this guilt,
if they have known the truth and walked away from it. Notice the last
part of the verse above. There will be hardship, because we see there
is something to endure. When you become a Christian, your worldly
problems are not over, you just are better able to cope with them,
because you may call on the Lord for His help. You are not alone. God
will give you strength. Don't fall for the (heaven now here on earth)
teaching, which would have you believe there are no hardships to face.
We are overcomers. To be overcomers, there has to be something to
overcome. Pray for strength, wisdom, and understanding to see you
through. The fight is worth it, because eternal life with Jesus awaits
those who overcome.
Mark 13:14 "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:"
Daniel chapter 9 verse 27 will give you some information about
this abomination. My favorite Scripture on this is found in Daniel
12:11 "And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken
away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall
be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days." Daniel 12:12 "Blessed
[is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and
five and thirty days." Daniel 12:13 "But go thou thy way till the end
[be]: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the
days."
Many believe that all of this happened long ago when the temple
fell into foreign hands, and terrible things were brought even into the
holy place. I believe we have to look back to Daniel to truly
understand what this is speaking of and when it is to occur. The
beginning of chapter 12 of Daniel is speaking of, the time when the
graves open, and mankind goes to be judged of God. You really should
carefully read chapter 12 of Daniel over and over. This 14th verse
from Mark, it tells you to go back and study Daniel so that you will
understand. In Daniel chapter 12, verse 4 sets the time. Daniel was
told to shut up the words till the time of the end. I believe this was
speaking of the 70th week of Daniel. The 9th chapter of Daniel told
us when the 70th week would be. I personally believe the 70th week is
the seven years of the great tribulation upon the earth. This seven
is a week of years. There will be a seven year peace treaty signed
with Israel and the antichrist system. I believe this begins the
seven years. In the middle of the seven years (3 1/2 years after it
was signed) the antichrist will set himself up in Jerusalem and
pretend to be God. I believe the antichrist represents the
abomination. There is an abominable temple sitting on the very spot
of the old temple today, but it will come down. In Luke, we see the
abomination spoken of as when enemy troops surround Jerusalem.
Perhaps all of these things will happen. In chapter 12 verse 11 of
Daniel that we just read earlier, we find that whatever this is,
occurs at the middle of a seven year period (1290 days into the seven
year period). The blessed will wait until the 1335th day. Anyone
caught in Judaea at the time would be forced to flee to keep from
bowing their knees to this false god.
Mark 13:15 "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:" Mark 13:16 "And let him that is in the field not turn back
again for to take up his garment."
This shows what great haste a person must take to get away from
this evil. No worldly goods will be important at that time. The idea
will be to get out of there as fast as you can.
Mark 13:17 "But woe to them that are with child, and to them that
give suck in those days!" Mark 13:18 "And pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter." Mark 13:19 "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."
This is speaking of the great tribulation. Revelation chapter
7 verse 14, speaks of those who were brought out of great
tribulation. I do not believe these problems, above, are speaking of
just normal times of trouble, but are speaking of a time of tremendous
problems. In Revelation chapter 12 verse 14 we see "Time, times, and
half a time" which I believe separate the seven years into the
tribulation, and the wrath which is the last 3 1/2 years and are
speaking of unspeakable agony. II Timothy chapter 3 speaks of the end
times being perilous. The times he describes, I believe, immediately
precede the great tribulation. He describes our times exactly. One
thing that makes me sure that this time is near, is because it looks
like we might be at peace with Russia. I Thessalonians 5:3, "For when
they shall say, Peace, and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon
them, as travail upon a woman with child: and they shall not escape."
You can easily see from the Scripture above that any thing that might
slow you down in escaping could cause you extra pain. A mother, or a
mother-to-be would surely be slower in escaping. The winter would make
it extra difficult, as well. Sleeping in the open would be very cold.
There is much more in the Old Testament about this very thing, than in
the New Testament. Ezekiel had much to say about this, but that is
another study. We will move on now just by saying, I believe that
this is speaking of the very near future. Prepare and be ready to meet
your Lord. Any other solution to this problem is impossible.
Mark 13:20 "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."
Whom hath He chosen? We must remember that Jesus is speaking here
in Mark. In I Peter 2:9 we see, "But ye [are] a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should
shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light:" I Peter 2:10 "Which in time past [were] not a
people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy."
Let's take a look now at the word "elect". We know that II John is
written to the elect lady (read all of II John). In Isaiah chapter 45
verse 4, Israel was called "mine elect". Isaiah chapter 65 verse 9
indicates that the true elect are those who belong to Jesus (the
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ). Colossians chapter 3 verses 11-
12 indicates that all who put on Jesus Christ are the elect (Jew and
Gentile). Titus chapter 1 verse 1, leaves no doubt who the elect are.
They are those of faith in Jesus Christ. So we see quickly who the days
are shortened for. This strengthens my belief that the Christians will
be taken out in the middle of the tribulation period. The last 3 1/2 years
(the wrath) is for those who do not accept the Lord as Saviour. Make
Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour, and you will be part of the elect.
Mark 13:21 "And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is]
Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:" 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."
In verse 5 of chapter 13 of Mark, the very first thing Jesus said
was, "Take heed lest any man deceive you". He was still saying that
here. In our society today, so many false doctrines have been brought
in, that many of them are filtering into our churches. Oriental mind
control is one thing that I have noticed. There is just a hair
difference in having extreme faith and practicing mind over matter.
The main thing to remember when we are practicing faith, is that we
must have faith in the power of Jesus, not in our own power. Great
faith should be practiced by everyone, but remember it is in the
Name of Jesus and through the power of His shed blood. We are people,
we will never be God. The power is His, we have been authorized to
use His power by speaking His name. It is His power, not ours. Any
philosophy or religion that brings Jesus down to the level of man is
false. Any that brings man up to Godhood is false. He is God, and we
are His servants and adopted children. He treats us as a child, but
we are to serve Him. He is Creator; we are His creation. Do not be
taken by signs and wonders. Even Pharaoh's magicians could do some of
the wonders Moses did. God calls the generation that bases their
belief on signs evil. The Lord does wonderful miracles through His
people, and it is real and from God, but do not base your faith on the
signs. Those who follow Jesus will perform miracles in His name, but
don't get your eyes on the gift and off of the Giver . As we said
earlier in this lesson, try the spirits and see whether they be of God
or not. Jesus is not hidden to the believer. You do not have to go
off to some exotic place to find Him. When you are to see Him with
your physical eye, He will appear in the eastern sky. In the
meantime, He dwells in your heart and in heaven now. False doctrines
elevate man. The Truth elevates God. To know the Truth, we must
study His Word (The Bible).
Notes
Mark 27 Questions
1. In verse 12, who shall put you to death?
2. In verse 13, who shall be saved?
3. Why will the world hate the Christian?
4. What is the meaning of endure?
5. Why should we not believe that heaven is here and now?
6. What awaits those who overcome?
7. When should those in Judaea flee to the mountains?
8. What book of the Old Testament did Mark say to study to know more
about this?
9. In verses 12 and 13, how do we see the seven year tribulation
divided?
10. Chapter 12 of Daniel takes place when, told in the beginning of
the chapter?
11. What do we read about in the 9th chapter of Daniel which pertains
to this in Mark?
12. What does the author believe represents the abomination?
13. What did Luke say about this abomination?
14. Verse 15, tells the person on the roof when this time comes
to do what?
15. What is this showing?
16. In verse 17, there are three things that would make this time
worse for you, what are they?
17. In Revelation 4:14, we read about those brought out of __________
___________________________.
18. In II Timothy chapter 3, we read about what kind of "times"?
19. In I Thessalonians 5:3, we read that when they say peace and
safety we can expect what?
20. If the Lord had not shortened these days _______________________.
21. Who did He shorten it for?
22. In I Peter 2:9, we find that the Christens are who?
23. Who is II John written to?
24. Who are the elect?
25. What are we to do when someone tells us to come go somewhere to
see Jesus?
26. In verse 22, we are warned of two false things, what were they?
27. What was Jesus really saying to us throughout chapter 13 of Mark?
28. What false teaching is just a hair difference away from extreme
faith?
29. What is the most important thing to remember when practicing
faith?
30. The power is __________________________________.
31. We have been authorized to use ________________________ power.
32. Any philosophy or religion that tries to bring Jesus down to the
level of man is ________________.
33. God is ____________________________, and we are His _____________.
34. When the Lord wants us to see Him with our physical eyes, where
will He be?
Notes
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