Mark Chapter 13

From the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, Jesus prophesied about the end times and the destruction of the temple. Much of what He said about the temple must have seemed very radical to the Jewish people because their beloved temple was a masterpiece of architecture.

The temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Ezra, but Herod expanded it making it much bigger, and he made it extremely beautiful. The outside of the temple was covered with gold plates that when the sun hit them it was blinding. And where there wasn’t gold there were blocks of marble. The pure white marble from a distance looked like snow on the temple.

But all of this beauty was destroyed by the Romans just a few short years after Jesus talked about it with the disciples. “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Let's Reflect

1. Peter, James, John, and Andrew wanted to know the answer to what question?

2. Jesus did not exactly answer their question, but He warned them to be careful about those who would come saying they are whom?

3. Jesus was concerned about the end times and wanted to give us a picture of what life will be like on earth when the end is near. He told us that there will be signs that will seem to indicate the end, but they are just the birth pains beginning. What things will we see happening that are just the signs of birth pains?

4. Jesus also warned us about times of persecution for His followers. What help will we be able to depend on if we are persecuted as believers?

5. During the end times the persecution of the believers will be so bad that people will turn on each other. Jesus said that even who, will turn on the believers?

6. The greatest sign that will be the number one indicator that the end is here, is found in verse 14 – when the abomination of desolation (the anti-christ) is standing on the temple mount. This will happen during the period of time known as what? See verse 19.

7. Jesus warned us that when people say, “look there is Jesus standing there,” to do what?

8. How will Jesus return?

9. When will He return?

10. What should believers be doing to prepare for the return of their Savior?