Sermon Tone Analysis

Bible Reading

Preliminary comments:

Disciple marveled at the temple, and the large stones

Jesus said would be destroyed.

Question asked: when will this happen, what will be the sign.

Mark 13:1-

Mark 13:14-

Introduction

We are currently working our way through , which is a text that has no small number of differing opinions as to its meaning, and as to the times to which the various pieces of the text refer.

As we come to this text of Scripture, we need to come to it as we do to all texts of Scripture, and attempt to learn from the text directly, within its context, and in light of other Scripture, what the meaning is of the words that are written.

We need to understand first of all the meaning that would have been true to the audience to whom the words were said or written, and then understand how that meaning to the original audience has bearing on our own lives.

Now it is very clear to most of us that there are those texts where the meaning is clearly visible and easily perceived.

But there are other texts where the meaning is not so easy to discern.

This text before us is such a text!

As we come then to this text, I would like to drive us deep into the Scriptures in order to honestly evaluate some key biblical texts, and then to see how those texts shape our understanding of the text under consideration this morning.

Let me encourage you this morning: go with me through these texts, and give honest, prayerful evaluation to what is presented.

I’ll begin this morning by considering just briefly verse 30.

Our focus is not on verse 30 this morning, but I believe that it’s important to just consider this verse before I continue.

If you have your Bible with you, please turn with me to would like to draw your attention in particular to the curses that were promised to Israel in the event that they broke covenant with God.

What would God do to them; what would be the punishment brought upon them if they failed to obey all the commands that He gave them to live by?

Very often, we find that Christians are well-versed in the blessings that were promised to Israel.

They can recall that in , God made promises to Abraham.

They can recall that God made the promise to bless Abraham and make him great, and into a grea

Remember the context here.

The disciples have asked Jesus what would be the sign that the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem would come about.

That’s what they’ve asked for.

Jesus then proceeds to outline the various signs that will be evident to them, the things that they are to watch out for as they look towards this day when the temple will be destroyed.

And then He says in verse 30, that this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

From the context, it is very clear that the “all these things” that he refers to there are the various signs and events that He has just outlined.

That is the entire flow of what Christ is saying.

Now for many interpreters of the Scriptures, this produces a slight problem.

Perhaps one of the reasons that this produces a problem for some is that when they read about things like the sun being darkened, and the moon not giving its light, and the stars falling out of the sky etc. they can only think of that in terms of the end of the world.

They automatically assume that those things are taking place at the end of the world, or that such events are going to be taking place at the final judgment, and that’s the only place where those descriptions have any relevance.

But since those events have not taken place - the sun is still going strong, the moon still shines at night, stars are still there up in the sky - the assumption is that either Jesus got it wrong, or that the meaning of some of His words (in particular “This generation”) needs to be re-interpreted, and that these must be events that will take place in the future.

What I’m going to outline for you this morning however, is the position that this is certainly not the case, and that what is stated in these verses did in fact take place.

In order to do that, we simply need to understand what the Scriptures teach us concerning the meaning of those words, or those heavenly events.

The position that I will outline today accepts that what Christ said here would take place within that generation, did indeed take place within that generation.

That is what Christ said would happen, and that is what happened.

Just to elaborate slightly on this point, I think it’s pertinent that we understand the normal meaning of the word “generation” that is used in verse 30.

The word is the Greek word γενεά (Genea) - which has the typical meaning of referring to a generation.

According to one Bible dictionary:

people living at the same time and belonging to the same reproductive age-class

That would be like us speaking of the Millennial generation; or the Baby-boomers; Generation X...

That would be like us speaking of the

This was the clear meaning under normal circumstances, unless the context specifically precluded that meaning.

In the NT, 90% of the usage of this word clearly has this basic meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

This was the meaning that Christ intended when He used the word.

Some examples:

Many other examples can be given, but the point is simply this: the basic meaning of the word is that it refers to those who are there at that time.

And so what Christ says over here in verse 30 of the text, is that this generation - standing there before him - will be witnesses to all that happens; all these signs that are being unfolded.

The weight of the evidence favours this natural reading - really a literal reading - of the words that are recorded here.

With that in mind, let us turn our eyes to the text before us, and consider what it is that Christ says will unfold, and see if we can understand what was meant when these words were said.

1. Signs of the Heavenly Bodies (v.24-25)

The first aspect that we need to consider from the text is the signs relating to the heavenly bodies.

In verses 24-25, we read these words:

Now the first thing that we need to recognise from this text is that what Christ speaks of here will take place “following that distress.”

The Distress that he speaks of is the “tribulation” that he has just spoken about.

The abomination that causes desolation would be in the place where it ought not to be.

There would be great tribulation and hardship.

Jesus says that in those days the people in Judea should flee to the mountains in order to escape - I discussed the meaning of that last week.

But now he speaks of these other heavenly signs.

In Matthews account, we find that Jesus said that these signs concerning the heavenly bodies would be seen “immediately” after that tribulation...

This was something that would happen immediately after the distress - without delay or a long period.

But the real focus of our attention is what Christ says is going to happen.

In order to understand these words of Christ, I want us to turn in our Bibles to the Old Testament.

As we do that, let me just say up front - what we are going to see is that the language that is used here is a prophetic picture of divine wrath.

We’re going to see in a moment that these words speak of God’s judgment on nations, groups of people, that are localised.

In other words, in the normal Scriptural prophetic usage of these terms that Jesus uses here, the prophets are referring to local acts of God’s judgment on a people.

Judgment concerning Babylon...

Begin by referring to verse 1

Isaiah 13:

What we must realise is that judgment on Babylon most certainly took place, and is today an event of the past.

The fall of the Babylonian empire took place in the year 539B.C.

Consider then also God’s judgment against the nations opposed to Him, and in particular His judgment on Edom...

Isaiah 34:

Note: Also consider Obadiah - judgment against Edom, but also referred to as “the nations”.

Consider the judgment of God on the Egyptians, in ...

Note First two verses refer this specifically to the Egyptians / Pharaoh.

Having considered these, we now can turn our attention to the prophet Joel, chapter 2...

Consider the following:

Joel was written to Israel - the Elders and all those who live in Israel ()

speaks of a nation having invaded God’s land.

speak about the grounds that do not produce cops, due to God’s judgment.

Then look down at Joel 2:1-11...

As you read these words, you get the clear picture of the judgment of God coming upon Israel because they have failed to obey Him.

They are not keeping the commands of God, and there is just judgment on them.

But as part of that description of God’s judgment, you see the earth shaking, the sky trembling, the sun and moon being darkened.

The stars no longer shining.

Then go down to

Verse 31 there speaks of the sun being darkened, the moon turning to blood.

Signs in the heavens.

Then go across to ...

At this point, Christ has already been crucified, and has ascended into heaven.

The Holy Spirit is then sent down at Pentecost, and the disciples of Jesus began to speak in the languages of other God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven ().

Some people then make fun of the disciples, stating that they must be drunk.

But then Peter gets up and speaks, and says these words:

Acts 2:15-

Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says that the prophecy that was spoken through the prophet Joel was fulfilled then.

The Sun turning to darkness.

The Moon turning to blood.