The sales of many books on end-time prophecy are at an all time high, and many are those who have written with much detail just what can be expected as a course of events leading the world to the end. Just what should Christians do about these things and what is the right thing? Well, as we continue our study through the Gospel of Saint Mark in the thirteenth chapter, let us consider what Jesus is teaching about the end times in a set of verses well known as ‘The Olivet Discourse’. So, open your bible take a few notes and listen today as we return to our ongoing study through the gospel of Mark as our teacher Pastor Fisher shares in a teaching which he calls “Preparation for Tribulation”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Daniel 9:20 – 27 (KJV)
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 13:5 – 27 (KJV)
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:7 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. Mark 13:8 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. Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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 show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, Mark 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:27 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.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) The primary purpose of Jesus, was to answer the questions His disciples had asked based on His prediction of the destruction of the temple which was revered by many and to advance their understanding about the sequence of events that relate to fulfillment of previous prophecies of the Older Testament.
#2) There is an alignment of Jesus’ prophecy with that of Daniel, which is a crucial component in revealing many other prophetic components of the New Testament that were stated to have been “sealed” until the time of the end.
#3) Christians must learn to feed on the facts of prophecy so that when the proper time of their fulfillment shall occur that they are sensitive to the Holy Spirit who will give them that understanding accurately as He did through out Scripture for other believers such as Daniel, the men of Issachar, Anna, Simeon, The Apostles, etc.
