The sermon is part two of a three-part series on Jesus's Olivet Discourse as recounted in Mark 13, focusing on the prophecy of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. The speaker examines the context, highlighting that Jesus predicts several signs leading to the temple's destruction in AD 70, such as false Christs, wars, earthquakes, famines, and intense persecution. The sermon clarifies that while some interpret these prophecies as foretelling the second coming of Christ, the speaker believes they primarily refer to the historical judgment against Jerusalem. The concept of 'this generation' is discussed, suggesting that these events were to occur within the lifetime of Jesus's contemporaries. The speaker reconciles the idea of the Gospel being preached to all nations by interpreting it as reaching the known world of the Roman Empire at that time, supported by references to Colossians and Acts. The sermon concludes with a call to heed Jesus's warnings, avoid false teachings, and seek refuge in Christ, likening the need to flee from sin to the urgent need to flee to the mountains during the Roman siege.

As he, Jesus, was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down." As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning him privately. Tell us, when will these things be? What will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?

And Jesus began to say to them, See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened. Those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be earthquakes in various places. There will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pains. But be on your guard, for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake as a testimony to them. The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father, his child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name but the one who endures to the end he will be saved. But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be, let the reader understand, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one who was on the housetop must not go down or go in to get anything out of his house.

And the one who was in the field must not turn back to get his coat, but woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days, but pray that it may not happen in the winter. For those days will be a time of tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now and never will. Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect whom He chose, He shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or behold, he is there.

Do not believe him, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed, behold, I have told you everything in advance. May God bless the reading of his word. Amen. You may be seated.

This morning is part two of a three-part sermon on Mark's account of Jesus's Olivet Discourse. You can find this same discourse in Luke chapter 21 and the full and extended discourse in Matthew chapter 24, in chapter 25, and even a little of chapter 26. The question before us last week was very simple. The question was What is Jesus referring to in Mark chapter 13? Is it the second coming of Christ?

Or is it a different kind of Christ's coming? Namely, a coming of judgment upon Jerusalem. Jesus prophesies in Mark chapter 13 that the Son of Man will come on the clouds. Is that prophecy the second coming where Christ will make all things new? Or is Jesus prophesying his judgment upon the temple?

And to say one or the other is not to deny, to say that it is the judgment, is not to deny the second coming, but it is to make a distinction. And so we sought to answer that question last week, and we began with the setting. The setting. In chapter 11, Jesus goes into the temple. Jesus goes out of the temple.

Jesus goes back into the temple. Then he rearranges the furniture in the temple. And he drives out the money changers in the temple. Then in chapter 12, Jesus teaches in the temple. And then chapter 13 starts out with the disciples pointing at the temple.

They're sitting opposite the temple and Jesus is talking about the temple. And then we looked how immediately we have questions being asked about the temple. Jesus says in verse 2 of chapter 13, the temple will be destroyed. Not one stone will be left upon another. And the disciples in verse 4, they ask, well when will these things be?

What will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled? And it seems very clear, according to our passage, that these things there are referring to what Jesus said in verse 2 about the temple destruction. These things refer to the temple destruction. In the temple, out of the temple, cleansing the temple, teaching in the temple, Sitting opposite the temple, pointing at the temple, questions about the temple. It's all about the temple.

But we also examined another reason why this chapter should best be understood, at least in part, to refer to the temple and its promised destruction by examining verse 30 of Mark 13. That's where we ended last Lord's day, examining verse 30. In verse 30 we have the phrase, this generation. Jesus said all these things in verses 5 through 29, these things will happen within the span of this generation. This group of people in this particular time, Some of the original audience hearing Jesus say these words in Mark 13 would still be alive when the temple, when Jerusalem was destroyed.

That's the setting. That was last Lord's day. And that's a big reason why it's my understanding that this chapter, chapter 13, is about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem's temple in AD 70. Now again, to say, to answer the question, what coming is Jesus referring to? And when you say with your mouth, well I think in Mark 13 it's referring to the coming of Christ in judgment on Jerusalem.

Again, that is not to deny the coming of Christ in the second coming. It's not to deny that, But it is to make a distinction and we sought to see that together as we studied last Lord's Day with the setting many embrace the view that I hold that Mark 13 is describing the destruction of Jerusalem Others embrace the view that these things are about the temple and the future. In fact, some believe in double fulfillment, that what is here applies to the temple destruction and applies to the second coming. And that's a great and fine position, by the way. There are a number of Old Testament prophecies that we see a double fulfillment.

Others themselves understand this passage to refer to all things in the future. Faithful men disagree. But faithful men will also hear one another out, won't they? Faithful men will approach this passage with great humility in their hearts. Faithful men will be like the Bereans and study the scriptures carefully.

So that's what we will do this morning, Lord willing. We will study. We've examined the setting, and now to the signs. Now to the signs. You'll notice in verses 5 through the rest of the chapter that Jesus is answering the question, what will be the sign or the signs when all these things are going to be fulfilled?

What will be the sign when this temple that we just pointed to will be torn down and not one stone but will be left upon another? How does Jesus answer? Well, Jesus gives them a number of answers, a number of signs. Notice that He gives them several pre-judgment signs. Signs that will tell the disciples and all who are following Christ's words when the judgment upon Jerusalem is getting closer, when it's drawing nigh.

Signs that are indicators that the judgment is coming, but not quite there yet. Those signs are found in verses five through 13. If you're writing notes down, five through 13 indicator signs. False Christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, apostasy, the gospel going to the nations. Those are the pre-judgment signs, merely the beginning of the birth pains, Jesus says.

And then in verse 14, Jesus gives his followers the sign that the judgment that he promised is upon them and that they must flee now. And that sign is the abomination of desolation in verse 14 so verses 5 through 13 are signs and warnings that Christ's judgment upon Jerusalem is drawing near. The promised judgment is coming closer. But verse 14 is the sign. When you see the abomination of desolation, You know judgment is upon Jerusalem.

So get out now. Leave Judea. Flee to the mountains. So let's look at these one by one. We'll look at the prejudgment signs and then the sign that was get out now.

We'll look at that one next Lord's Day, Lord willing, but we'll look at verses 5 through 13 together, these signs. Verses 5 and 6, Jesus began to say to them, See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, I am He, and will mislead many. One of the first signs will be false Christs and false prophets. Verses 5 and 6 describe false Christs.

Evil men will come and they will make the false claim that they are the Christ returned from heaven. Right? The promise was you will see Jesus return in the same way that He ascended. These men will say, I'm Him. And Jesus says, see to it that they don't mislead you.

You can know it's not me because All of these signs haven't yet come to pass. Then look at verses 21 through 23. All the way to the other side of this passage. 21 through 23, it's the same thing. Jesus says, if anyone says to you, behold, there is the Christ, or behold, he is there.

Do not believe him, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders in order to lead astray if possible the elect but take he behold I have told you everything in advance. Beginning and end of the passage, you have bookends of warnings not to listen to who, not to listen to false Christs and false prophets. And what happened? Did false Christs and false prophets rise up just like Jesus prophesied they would? Yes they did.

What does Peter tell us in 2 Peter chapter 2? He writes this, But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of the truth will be maligned. The apostle Peter tells you that what Jesus prophesied in Mark 13 has come. False prophets will come and many will be led astray.

And Peter says, yes, they have. We see the same thing in the book of Acts. Deceptive men like Theodos in Acts chapter 5. Write that down, Acts chapter 5. Or the false prophet Bar-Jesus in Acts chapter 15 verse 6.

Bar-Jesus in Acts 15, 6, which literally means Son of Jesus or Son of the Savior. He's claiming to be the Christ. False prophets and false Christs began to abound in the days leading up to Rome's destruction of Jerusalem. First John chapter 2 verse 18 tells us that many antichrists had come in the early church. Many false Christs had come.

Don't be led astray by false Christs, is 1 John 2, 18. He's not urging His original audience for something to come in the future. He is saying they're there. And in Mark 13, Jesus is describing the signs that will precede the promised judgment upon Israel. Jesus is saying here, these are the signs.

I've bookended the signs of the coming judgment. I've bookended them with the warnings about people trying to lead you astray here's how important these signs are I'm gonna tell you at the beginning I'm gonna tell you at the end people are going to try to lead you astray don't listen to them listen to me listen to me All you must do is pay heed to my word, Jesus is saying. Trust this. Trust this. Pay attention to this.

Listen to this. I told you all things beforehand so that you may escape the judgment while these false prophets and false Christs will lead many into the judgment. Don't follow them. Take heed I've told you everything in advance. Beloved, regardless of your position on Mark 13, that's a home run application.

Pay attention to this. Don't let Facebook blow you around. Don't let Twitter, whatever it's called, blow you around. Don't let your neighbor blow you around with every wind and wave of doctrine. Let Jesus be like a tree planted by streams of living water, drinking deeply from the brook called the Word of God Almighty.

Be like that, and you will be blessed. Jesus says, don't be led astray, heed my words. I've told you all things in advance. The signs are book-ended by the warnings. You see that.

The signs are book-ended by the warnings. So verse 7. Notice the sign of wars and rumors of wars. We see that in verse 7 and the beginning of verse 8. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened.

Those things must take place. But that is not yet the end For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom wars and rumors of wars and Exactly like Jesus prophesied between his words being spoken here in Mark 13 and AD 70. Do you know what happened? There were wars in Germany, Africa, Thrace, Gaul, Britain, and Armenia. And these were all the areas surrounding Jerusalem.

Look on a map. There were rumors even of the Romans coming. History tells us that in AD 40, so not long after Christ was ascended, that the insane, literally insane, as best we can tell historically, the insane Roman Emperor Caligula tried to set up a statue in the Jerusalem temple and it was met with such great resistance by the Jews at that time that there were rumors that Rome would come in and squash that resistance. You better let Caligula put up whatever statue he wants to put up. But though the rumors abounded in AD 40, that never happened.

There were rumors. That's all that they ever were. Rumors. The same wars and the same rumors of wars that Jesus had prophesied. These were to be the early warning signs.

The temple will come to an end the promised judgment will come but not yet first there will be wars and rumors of wars and then there will be significant disasters significant disasters like earthquakes and famines We see that at the end of verse 8. Look at the end of verse 8 there. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

And what does history tell us? Well according to R.C. Sproul, a tremendous earthquake hit the region of Phrygia in AD 61. Another earthquake leveled the city of Pompeii in the year 63. Also between AD 41 and 54, during the reign of Claudius, several serious famines affected the Near East.

These things too, Sproul writes, were signs of the impending destruction of the temple. Let's not let our seed have all the fun. What about the New Testament? Well, let's think about Acts chapter 11 verse 28. Write that down, Acts 11, 28.

Acts 11, 28 tells us of the prophet Agabus. Agabus appears towards the beginning of Acts and towards the end of Acts. And in Acts 11, Agabus, he comes to the apostles and he comes to indicate by the Spirit that there would be certainly a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. Acts chapter 11 verse 28 tells us what Jesus prophesied concerning famines came true.

Do you remember when Paul was raising money for the Saints in Jerusalem? What was the reason he was raising money in part? Because of a great famine. We're seeing that all of these prophecies, false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, disasters, all of these things that Jesus promised to that generation were being observed by that generation. Within the span of 40 years, a Jewish generation, these prophecies were being fulfilled in what would eventually lead up to the temple destruction of 70 AD.

But these were just the birth pangs. They were just the warning signs. The judgment was not yet. What are birth pangs? I've Said that word a few times.

We've got some ladies in here that could tell you. Birth pangs are what a mother undergoes when the baby's coming. I remember when Carissa was pregnant with Abigail, and it was the due date, the date that she was supposed to come. And we waited all day thinking, oh is this the day? Not the day.

Going to the evening, eating dinner together, and all of a sudden my wife mid-bite looks up she goes, I'm soaked. And of course, her water had broken and the contractions had started. She had had contractions pretty much the whole time, but they really got going. And the doctor told us, hey, all these things were going to happen. The water breaks, the contractions increase, you know what's coming.

The signs that the baby's time had come were upon us. The baby was on the way, but the baby was not yet here. But we knew we had to get ready. You should have seen me. I was running around like a tick with its head cut off.

I had my bag already packed, but it's like I didn't. But we knew we had to get ready. You should have seen me. I was running around like a tick with its head cut off. I had my bag already packed, but it was like I didn't.

But we knew we had to get ready. And before I knew it, I had more things in the car than we needed. Anyway, it was wonderful. We knew the birth of abigail was coming as we headed that direction We were aware of what was to come and so too these signs were the contractions The birth pains of the promised judgment Judgment is surely coming. You've seen the wars.

You've heard the rumors of wars. You've seen the famines. You've been a part of earthquakes. It's getting closer and closer and closer. False prophets, the false Christs are abounding in your day.

It's getting closer. But not yet. Two additional warning signs were to accompany the sign, the final sign there in verse 14 of the abomination of desolation. There were two additional warning signs that would come first before it was time to flee And that was in verse 9 and 11 through 13 we see the prophecy of intense persecution and apostasy. People betraying one another, betraying the faith, Great persecution for those who follow Christ.

Look in verse 9. But be on your guard, for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them. Did that happen in the years leading up to Rome's assault on Jerusalem? You bet it did. You know that.

Paul, in Acts chapter 22, was brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin. He was brought before the Roman governor Felix in Acts chapter 24. And then the Roman governor Festus in Acts chapter 25. And if that's not enough kings and governors, King Herod Agrippa in Acts chapter 26. Just Paul alone fulfills this prophecy.

The martyr Stephen in Acts chapter 6 and 7 was a fulfillment of this same prophecy as well. Look at what Jesus prophesized though in verses 11 through 13 in Mark 13. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Verse 12.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father, his child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name. But the one who endures to the end, He will be saved. Is that not exactly what Acts says happened to Stephen the martyr? Stephen is handed over on false charges, and is brought before the synagogue, a synagogue.

And he's filled with the spirit in that moment. And what does he do? He gives quite possibly the most incredible sermon by a man to the council of the synagogue and by the end what do they do they hate him they gnash their teeth at him and they end up stoning him and he endures to the end time and time again the book of Acts is showing us how it is a fulfillment of what Jesus promised in the Olivet Discourse. Paul was imprisoned. Paul gave an incredible testimony filled with the Spirit.

So full of the Spirit was Paul, the king of Agrippa who stood before Paul, cried out to Paul, almost like backing away. Ah! You almost persuaded me to become a Christian! That's how powerful your testimony is. Powerful stuff because Paul believed the words here of Christ, and Paul was hated and eventually killed.

We see in the book of Acts Peter arrested. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave incredible testimony while in custody. Peter was hated and eventually killed. James was arrested, brought before Herod, and in Acts 12-2, he was killed by the sword. All of this was happening in the first century, just like Jesus said it would.

It's all there, beloved. Beloved, who was Jesus talking to in Mark 13? Who was He talking to? Jesus was talking to these same men who would go on and be recorded in the book of Acts of being killed. These same men who would endure this promised persecution and betrayal by apostates, by brothers and sisters who claimed to be in Christ but then betrayed Him.

How many times in Paul's letters does he say, this man and this man, who's gone the way of the world, who's followed after Satan, who betrayed the cause? These prophecies of Christ here in Mark 13, time and time again you see are being fulfilled throughout the book of Acts in the lives of this Jewish generation. I'm going to say it again friends, The Book of Acts really is a commentary on the Olivet Discourse. The Book of Acts fulfills what Jesus prophesies. Read the Olivet Discourse and then read through Acts, and you'll see God keeps His promises.

God keeps His promises. Even the promise made in verse 10. Even the promise made in verse 10. That the Gospel would be preached to all the nations. And as Matthew adds in his extended all of that discourse, and then the end will come.

The Gospel preached to all the nations. That's verse 10. Look there again. I want you to see it. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Before the final sign occurs, the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. Now, I'm smiling because admittedly, this is a difficult verse because as soon as you read it, you say, well, that hasn't happened yet, so Pastor Grant, your argument is... That's literally what you say. There are people groups, there are ethnicities in the world that do not yet have the Gospel. So clearly, Jesus can't be referring to something in the first century, but rather He must be referring to His Second Coming in verse 10.

I hear that. And yet, what does the Scripture say? What does the Scripture say about the Gospel being preached to all the nations? Scripture must interpret Scripture. What is the view of the apostles when it comes to the Gospel being preached to all the nations?

You don't get to come to the Bible and say, my view is what rules. What are the apostles' views? That's what has to rule. So the question is, what is the view of the apostles when it comes to the Gospel being preached to all the nations? Well, again, look at Acts.

Acts begins with the resurrected Jesus telling the apostles, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and even to the remotest parts of the earth. And then what happens? That's the beginning of Acts. What happens to the rest of the book?

From Pentecost in Acts 2, the book of Acts narrates the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the Gentile world. That's how Acts plays out. The Gospel gets preached to the nations. And what does the apostle Paul say as he himself goes to the nations? I want you to hear this.

This is really important. This is really important. What does the apostle to the... There's one apostle that was preeminent in going to the Gentiles. What's his name?

Say it again. Paul. And what does that apostle that was to go to the Gentiles think about how far the Gospel has gone? His opinion matters a lot. It's perfect if it's written in Scripture.

So we need to find out together. Turn with me to Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1. We are asking the question, what does the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, what does Paul, who in Acts is going to the nations, what does he say about the spread of the gospel? What does Paul say about this sign in Mark 13 verse 10 of the gospel being preached to all the nations?

What does Paul think about that? Scripture interpreting Scripture. Look at Colossians chapter 1. Then look at the end of verse 5, and then verse 6. The end of verse 5, and then verse 6.

Paul writes to the Colossians about the gospel that they have received and he describes that gospel as what end of verse 5 the gospel Go into verse 6 which has come to you just as in all the world." What did Paul just say? The Gospel has come to the Colossians just as it's come into what? All the world. He says the same thing in the same chapter in verse 23. Colossians 1, look in verse 23.

Verse 23 of Colossians 1 tells the Colossians, Continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard Which was proclaimed could be preached in all creation under heaven and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. I'll read that section again. Paul is saying to the Colossians, look there in the text, it's right here in the text, I'm not making it up, stand firm in the gospel, don't move away from the gospel, From the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed where? In all creation under heaven. That's Colossians 1.23.

The gospel was, past tense, proclaimed in all creation. So you may say to me, Pastor, There just ain't no way that verse 10 in Mark 13 can be talking about something in the first century because the gospel clearly hasn't gone to every nation in the world. And if that's your position, that is a fine position. That's okay. But if that is your position, then you have to deal with Colossians 1, 5, and 6, and Colossians 1, 23, and be able to explain what Paul means when he says that the Gospel has been proclaimed in all the world and in all creation.

So you just don't get to say, well, Mark 13, 10 is talking about the future, and then the rest of the New Testament just kind of hums along consistent with that. You don't get to say that. Because again, you're not going to be able to deal... You have to deal with Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1, if you just say Mark 13 10, just talking about the future and the rest of the New Testament completely agrees with that, you begin to have a problem passage in Colossians 1.

Do we want problem passages? You don't want problem passages in your life. You just live life and go, well that's a problem passage for me, but I'm just not going to deal with it. You have to deal with problem passages. You want to make it your aim in life that you so let scripture interpret scripture, that you don't have any problem passages.

You have clear conscience. I let scripture teach me. And so, if I've got a problem passage, passage that doesn't fit well with my system of theology, Change the system. Don't change the text. Adjust your theology.

I'm speaking to myself first and foremost. Oh man, just a few... What was it? We've been in Mark a long time. Yeah, it was the beginning chapters of Mark, Mark 4.

Mark 3 or 4, talking about the Lord of the Sabbath. And my position on the law of God, particularly the Sabbath, was altered there. Because I had Bible verses that I was having to deal with and my system it wasn't clicking and so I had to humble myself and I had to change my system I'm grateful for that I want the same for all of us I just don't want you to have any problem passages so if you think mark 1310 is a future praise God Just make sure you deal with Colossians 1 and 2. You've got to deal with that. You've got to deal with it.

Harmonize that. Make sure you don't have problem passages. OK. So here's how I see it. You ready?

I see Jesus saying the Gospel has to be preached to all the nations. And I ask the Scriptures, is that talking first century or thousands of years later? I ask the scriptures that question, not my newspaper. And so I turn to Paul's letter to Colossians and I say, Paul, you wrote this book maybe 10 years before AD 70, sometime around AD 60, AD 65. Paul, what do you think about the gospel being preached to all the nations?

Is that something to be happening in the future? Or is there something that has happened in the first century? And Paul says in Colossus chapter one, That's exactly what's happened in His day. And yet in my mind and in your mind you're going, how? How does that work?

How has the gospel been preached to all of the world? How has it been preached to all of creation? And so what do you do? Well, you've got to keep looking in the Scriptures. I start looking around my Bible for other instances of the phrase whole world or all the earth.

Where are those phrases used in Holy Scripture? And it doesn't take very long when you start looking that you come to Luke chapter 2. I want you to go there. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2 verse 1.

Luke chapter 2 verse 1. What do you see in Luke chapter 2 verse 1? Luke writes, now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. All the earth. What?

What's Luke referring to there? Did anybody come over here to America and take a census? No. No natives in America got this census that Luke 2 is referring to. Nobody.

But nonetheless, Luke says, all the inhabited earth. So how does that help me? How does that help you? You see it? I can take what Jesus says in verse 10 of Mark 13 and what Paul says in Colossians 1 and what Luke says in Luke 2 and using scripture to interpret scripture, I can say the gospel has been preached to all the nations in the same way that the census went out into all the earth before Jesus was born.

Same way. Paul says the gospel has been preached to all the nations. He says that in Colossians 1. He says that in the same sense that the census went out into all the earth in Luke chapter 2. Clearly when you read Luke chapter 2, you realize he's talking about the census.

He's not, you know, you know, you know intuitively. He's not communicating that all the earth was to be taken hyper-literally. It's like so much in the Scriptures when the Gospel writers say all the people came out to Jesus. Was that literally every single person? It's not to be taken hyper-literally.

Clearly in Luke chapter 2 verse 1, all the earth was to be taken to mean the known world, namely the Roman Empire. And so you might think this is a stretch, and it's okay. This isn't... The faith doesn't rise and fall on verse 10. But it is at least not a stretch to consider that when Jesus says what He says in verse 10 of Mark 13, that Jesus is using the same meaning as Luke uses in Luke 2, the known gentile nations of the Roman Empire.

He's using the same meaning as another Gospel writer would use. And R.C. Sprol says the same, and I quote, certainly the gospel was not preached to every corner of the globe in the first century. The gospel did not go to southern Africa, East Asia, Australia, or the Americas. How then could Paul write that the Gospel had gone to the whole world?

He was speaking about the Mediterranean world, the known world of that time. And the Gospel was preached across that world in the first century. Now again, beloved, please hear me, Please hear my heart. You may not agree, and that is absolutely okay. But I have to preach this thing.

I don't have the luxury of going, you know verse 10, too hard. I don't get that luxury. You didn't call me to do that. So what I hope you see this morning is that what I'm articulating presents a way for you to say yes and amen to Christ's words in Mark 13, 10, and Paul's words in Colossians 1, and Luke's words in Luke 2, all at the same time and have no problem passages. No matter your position, church, work it out in your heart and mind until you have no problem with passages.

And if you do that, no matter your position, You don't have to agree with me, so long as you resolve it with the Scriptures. If you do that, let Scripture interpret Scripture, wherever your position will be, it will be really good for you. And I want that more than anything. The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations. The Gospel must be preached to all the nations.

And I've argued that Jesus meant it. This prophecy had been fulfilled in Colossians 1 and throughout the Book of Acts. The gospel, just so you don't misunderstand me, the gospel will continue to be preached to all the nations because the nations belong to Jesus Christ. So don't be thinking here, well pastors don't think mission is important. I didn't say that.

You said that. I didn't say that. So, recognize I am trying to just simply say God keeps His promises, and Paul says He does in Colossians 1. And so I'm simply saying there's good reason to believe that even verse 10, as difficult as it might be for you to think it, Paul says you can believe that even verse 10 was fulfilled, God keeps His promises to the tenth degree. And I want you to know that.

God keeps His promises. And the Gospel will continue to go into all the nations. Okay. So the Gospel is preached to the nations. And Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse says, and then the end will come.

So this is the final sign until the sign. What's the sign that the judgment upon Jerusalem is at hand? What's that sign? Well that is the abomination of desolation. We see that in verses 14 through 20.

And as I was prepping, I intended to get through verses 14 through 20. But look at where we're at already. Can you imagine trying to go through that? Maybe you can. We're going to tackle that and the rest of this passage next Lord's Day, Lord willing, as we finish out chapter 13.

But I would like to conclude our time together by looking at the instruction. Just the instruction. I'm not going to talk about what the abomination of desolation was this Sunday, but looking at the instruction that Jesus gives to his disciples when he says, hey, this is the sign. When you know this sign, the abomination of desolation happens. You've got to flee.

This is the time you've got to go. All of these other signs were leading up to this one. Get out. I want you to read verse 14. I want you to see the instruction.

I want to end with this consideration. Jesus says in verse 14, when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be, let the reader understand. Lord willing, we will next Sunday. When you see the abomination standing where it should not be, let the reader understand, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. What's Mark saying?

Whatever the abomination of desolation is, it's bad. And when it shows up, get out of Jerusalem. Flee. Go where? To the mountains.

This entire chapter is a chapter of Jesus detailing judgment. And even if you don't think that this is a chapter about the first century, but rather the second coming, the application is still the exact same. You hear me? It's still the same. So you should really listen in if you're like, I'm gonna check out for the first 45 minutes.

Alright, last five, check back in. Shame on you for checking out though. Beloved, here in our passage is mighty Jerusalem mighty Jerusalem and mighty Jerusalem is heavily fortified walls stones tough strong mighty and when you when the Roman army came upon the city, marching upon the city, and people find themselves looking at the Roman army, and they're looking at Jerusalem, what would be their instinct? Flee to the walls! Flee to the city!

There's protection there. There's great protection there. There's safety in Jerusalem. But what did Christians in that day know? They had heard from their Savior that the city would offer no protection.

They must flee. Flee to the mountains. Can you for just a moment imagine the ridicule that those Christians might have endured as the Roman armies coming And they are between the Roman army and Jerusalem. And all of these men and women are fleeing to safety. They're yelling, come, come, come, find shelter and safety in Jerusalem.

And they say, no, we're going to the mountains. Can you imagine the ridicule? That mighty and beautiful city Jerusalem, that city where protection seemed most available, can you imagine the scorn they might have received as they instead fled to the mountains. Can you imagine? A bunch of morons!

It's your own funeral. We're going to Jerusalem. I want you to think about the beginning of the sermon that we started with this morning. What was the first sign that bookended all of the signs? False prophets, false Christs, remember that?

Can you imagine all of the false prophets telling the people, oh, it won't be that bad. Jerusalem will be okay. No need to flee to the mountains. It's foolish to flee to the mountains. No need to fly.

Stay here. God will protect His holy city. Couldn't you hear false prophets saying such a thing? This is God's holy city. He's not going to fall.

Those would have been the false promises of false prophets being proclaimed to these people as they are fleeing to Jerusalem or to the mountains. And what did the Christians in Jerusalem do when they heard those lies from the false prophets? They stopped up their ears. They forsook the lies of comfort and safety in Jerusalem. Because they knew the promise of their Savior.

The Savior had said to them that if they flee, they would live. And though it might not make sense in the world's eyes, Jesus had said it. So we will obey. If we flee, we'll live. Friends, there are some in this room, perhaps many, there are some in this room who have listened to the false prophets of our day for long enough.

They have whispered in your ears, believe in the Savior of self, believe in the security of money and possessions, hope in the promises of what the newest flick or the newest lust can provide you. That's security. You've listened to the lies that the false prophets of our day have whispered in your ears. Oh, there's no danger in sin. You're not that bad.

There are worse people than you. There's really no judgment to come. You don't have to worry. They say you're okay. Don't worry about the judgment to come.

Those are lies. You listen to false prophets in our day, you die. You perish forever. Friends, don't listen to the voice of false prophets in our day anymore. Instead, hear the cry of God, flee!

Flee from your sins! Lay down your rebellion! Listen no longer to the lies of the world and the lies of the evil one. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Flee from your sin and run to the mountain called Christ.

There is refuge in Him. Christ Jesus is the strong tower. He's the rock of ages. He is the mighty fortress. Flee to the mountain called Calvary where burdens are severed from sinners' backs so that they fall and tumble into an empty tomb.

Flee to Christ and you will live. For if you do not, if you listen to the lies, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. I'll just put off with being right with God a little longer. In a moment, judgment will come upon you, and it will be too late. This day, children, everybody else, this day you must choose.

You will either flee to the one who loved you and gave Himself for you on the cross and was raised up for your justification. Or you will stay in your sin and perish for eternity. There's two options, not a third, not open to you. There was not three options For the Jews for the Israelites as Rome marched Flea to Jerusalem or flee the mountains you stay where you're at You're gonna die anyway You're gonna die This day choose You don't get to leave here without choosing. You leave here unrepentant, you chose.

God have mercy on your soul. There is a second coming, you know. There is a final judgment, you know. There was judgment upon Israel in AD 70, and there will be certain judgment for you too, sinner, soon. And on that day, you listen to this, on that day there will be no mountain able to save you.

There will be no valley that will be able to hide you from the wrath of the lamb. But oh, that same lamb would be your substitute. That same lamb was the substitute in the place of sinners 2, 000 years ago. And for all who come to Him, there is no judgment. For He took that judgment upon Himself when He died on the cross and rose up triumphant from the grave.

So be then, O be then like the people of Nineveh. Be like the people of Nineveh, whom Jonah went and preached to. Be then like those who heard of the great and terrible judgment of God upon their great iniquity, and they cried out in repentance and faith. Be like the people of Nineveh, who in humility turned to the promises of God in Christ, and their sins were blotted out. Flee to Christ and you will live.

The cross is foolish to those who are perishing. The mountains were foolish to those who did not pay heed to the Savior's words. But they found themselves in Jerusalem and they perished. Find yourself not in Jerusalem this day. Find yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Find yourself this day forgiven and loved and made new. Flee to Christ and you will live. Flee to that mountain, the mighty fortress called Jesus Christ. And you will live. Let's pray.

O Lord, you say in Your Word that the man is blessed who does not walk as wicked men advise, Nor stand where sinners meet, nor sit where scorners pose as wise. You say instead that the man who is blessed is the one who makes the Lord's law his delight. And in that law, he meditates by day and in the night. Make us like that kind of man, that kind of woman, who is like a tree planted firmly by streams of living water, that listens to this Your Word, that claims to Christ, that repents of sin, that confesses sin, and receives forgiveness in Him who cleanses from all unrighteousness. Thank You for this Your Word.

Of all the things that were said, may this remain. That for those who flee to Christ, no matter how dirty and how wretched they are, He promises to cast none out For those who beat their breast and simply cry out, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. Oh Lord, please. Oh, please be pleased to rescue my children, children of so many in this congregation. For those who are no longer children and yet think that they can somehow straddle the fence, convict them, move in them that they would be like those Ninevites, those people of Nineveh, that they would repent this day and find forgiveness at the cross.

We thank you. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. Thanks for watching!