Jesus Teaches About the End of the Age

GOLDEN TEXT: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” —Mark 13:33

MARK 13:1-7, 32-37

AFTER Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on the ass, and had been proclaimed king by the multitude, his disciples took a great interest in the temple and other beautiful buildings of the city, possibly because they thought that the whole city would soon be ruled by their Master, and that they would have some prominent position in his kingdom. (Matt. 21:8,9; John 12:12,13,18) They said to Jesus, “Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”—vs. 1

It doubtless surprised them greatly when Jesus replied, “Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (vs. 2) From this the disciples would surely realize that their expectations were wrong, so, when opportunity afforded, they said to Jesus, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”—vs. 4

It was only a few years after this that the temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed; but in replying to the disciples’ question Jesus dealt also, and in fact primarily, with events which pertained particularly to this end of the age, the time of his second visit to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. The disciples did not realize that more than nineteen centuries would elapse before their cherished hopes of the messianic kingdom would be fulfilled.

The disciples asked Jesus two questions. One pertained to the “time” when all these things shall be, and the other to the “sign,” or outward evidence that they were taking place. (vs. 4) Jesus told them that he did not then know the time. He said, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”—vs. 32

After Jesus was raised from the dead the disciples again asked him about “time,” and he replied, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in is own power.” (Acts 1:7) Jesus did not mean by this that his followers would never be favored with a certain understanding of the time features of the divine plan. It was simply that those at the beginning of the age were not permitted to know. God held this information in his own power and would release it to his people whenever it would serve a good purpose in their lives.

Jesus gave the disciples a lengthy answer concerning the indication of his second visit and the end of the age. The most detailed report of his reply is recorded in chapters 24 and 25 of The Gospel of Matthew. Matthew also records the disciples’ questions more explicitly—“When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [Greek, parousia, meaning “presence”] and the end of the world [Greek, ion, meaning “age”] ?”—Matt. 24:3

Among the earlier signs of his “presence,” Jesus said that there would be “great tribulation” upon the earth, a tribulation so severe and widespread that unless it were shortened all flesh would be destroyed. (vss. 21,22) There is every reason to believe that this “tribulation” is already upon the nations, hence the present threatened destruction of the human race. Luke’s report of this part of Jesus’ discourse describes the “tribulation” as “distress of nations, with perplexity,” with men’s “hearts failing them for fear,” as they look ahead to the things coming upon the earth.—Luke 21:25,26

Christ’s second visit to earth is not a momentary one. His “presence” continues for a thousand years—the thousand years of his kingdom, with the “great tribulation” at the beginning destroying the “kingdoms of this world.” (Rev. 11:15-18) The ultimate objective of Christ’s reign is to restore mankind to life, and to the dominion over the earth which was forfeited because of sin. So the last and most impressive of all the signs of Christ’s second presence will be the accomplishment of this purpose, when he will say to those who prove worthy at that time, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”—Matt. 25:34; Gen. 1:28

Our Golden Text expresses the proper attitude for all true disciples of Christ with respect to both the “time” and “signs” in the outworking of the divine plan. Because we are not given definite knowledge of “time” in advance, and usually are unable to identify “signs” until they are in course of fulfillment, we need to “watch and pray.”

QUESTIONS

When was Jesus’ prophecy concerning the destruction of the temple fulfilled?

What did Jesus say about the “time” of his return?

Describe one of the early “signs” of his second presence; and also one of the final ones.

Why should we “watch and pray”?

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