The Perfect Servant in Mark’s Gospel: His Destiny

In our last article we began our study of the Olivet Discourse. We saw that the Lord was asked some questions by His disciples (13:3-4), to which He gave an extended answer (vv5-37). The Olivet Discourse is recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, and the similarities and distinctions in each account require careful consideration. This article will only focus on Mark and present a commonly held interpretation of the events portrayed. The reader is encouraged to give careful consideration in the light of other prophetic Scripture.

Having considered the Prelude to the Answer (vv1-4) and the Perils of the Age (vv5-13), we now turn to:

The Period of Affliction (vv14-23)

This is marked by a Special Sign, Severe Suffering and Satanic Seduction.

The Special Sign (vv14-16)

The disciples had asked, “When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (v4).1 Here the Lord gives a sign. “But when ye shall see … then …” (v14). Before this, the Lord discouraged His disciples from overreacting to events which are characteristics of the age (vv5-13). But here He encourages them to react quickly to a very specific sign.

“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: 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: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment” (vv14-16).

The sign is the setting up of “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,” in the holy place (see Mat 24:15). Daniel refers to the abomination on a number of occasions (Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). It is a loathsome, detestable object which desecrates the temple.

But what is specifically in view? According to 2 Thessalonians 2, it is “that man of sin … who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (vv3-4). But this man cannot always be in the temple, so Revelation 13 predicts that the worship of this man will be encouraged by the setting up of an “image to the beast” (vv11-18).

The setting up of this abomination marks the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. It signals the commencement of three and a half years of unprecedented suffering and persecution for those who refuse to worship the image. The Lord declares the proper reaction of believers in Judaea when this event takes place: “Then let them that be in Judaea flee.” They are to flee to the mountains for safety. They are to let nothing deter or delay their flight.

The Severest Suffering (vv17-20)

“But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 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” (vv17-20).

The Lord expresses deep sympathy for expectant and nursing mothers during this period. All who anticipate this period of suffering should pray that circumstances be congenial to their flight and that nothing will delay it. Why? Because the affliction of those days will be greater in intensity than anything people have experienced or ever will otherwise experience (Dan 12:1).

A historical survey of Jewish suffering confirms that no nation has been persecuted as they have. The time predicted in these verses will bring greater suffering to that nation than any period in their history. Persecution will exceed that experienced in Egypt or during the Babylonian captivity. It will be worse than was inflicted by Antiochus Epiphanes. It will be more severe than the Russian Pogroms, the Nazi Holocaust and present-day antisemitism. As Jeremiah puts it, “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (30:7).

Further indication of the dreadful severity of the suffering is in 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 those days.” According to Zechariah 13, “it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein” (v8).

The Satanic Seduction (vv21-23)

We have already seen that the arch-deceiver is always busy (vv5-6). But during this period of great tribulation, “false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” (v22).

Disciples of Christ are warned to not believe anyone who says, “Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there” (v21). They are exhorted, “Take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things” (v23).

The major deception in that day will concern a trinity of evil – the dragon, the beast and the false prophet (Rev 13). But the indication here is that satanic deceit will be so pervasive that even true believers in Christ would be deceived if that were possible.

The Great Tribulation will involve the vilest desecration, worst persecution and most rampant deception the world has seen or ever will see. For believers of that period, the assurance that it is curtailed will bring tremendous comfort. In the remainder of Mark 13, the Lord directs their attention to His coming as the Son of Man.

In our next article we will conclude our study of the Olivet Discourse.


1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.