COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 142
“ 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. 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. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.”
(Mark 13:19-15; Matt 24:21-25; Lk 21:22-24)
IN THOSE DAYS
INTRODUCTION
Jesus is answering a threefold question that has been asked by Peter, James, John, and Andrew: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt 24:3). This is not a mere classroom setting. The disciples have sensed from what Jesus has said that difficult and trying times are ahead. They have asked for signs that they might better prepare themselves for the inevitable – and that is what He is addressing, the inevitable – things that cannot be aborted or altered. The only thing to do is to prepare for them, and to respond appropriately. The very nature of this text forbids its distortion. Jesus is speaking of specific things, pointed circumstances, and necessary responses. These are words that dare not be addressed philosophically, indifferently, or with a mind to form a uniquely human doctrine. What is more, Jesus is speaking of a time that is strictly controlled by heaven, and with an interest for “the elect.” All of these factors combine to form an urgent and compelling word. The very manner in which Jesus is speaking calls out for a sober mind and a hearing that is marked by godly intention. Nothing about these words suggests that they can be ignored, or treated as though they are too deep, or have nothing to do with any specific generation. They are bathed in illuminating light, clothed with the garment of relevancy, and held in the setting of urgency. We do well to carefully consider them, and respond appropriately.
A TIME OF UNPARALLELED AFFLICTION
“ 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.”
IN THOSE DAYS. Jesus has focused the attention of His disciples on a specific period of time – “those days.” This has particular reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, “the holy city” (Neh 11:1; Isa 52:1; Matt 4:5; 27:53). It will be the time of “the abomination of desolation” of which Daniel spoke, when the most holy place will be invaded by the enemies of God, and polluted by blood and idolatrous sacrifice (v 14). It will be a time when escape from Jerusalem is absolutely required, with no time to gather personal possessions (vs 15-16). It will be a time of inconvenience, when those who are with child or are nursing children, will be at a disadvantage; a time when winter will be a handicap, and the Sabbath day will be a complication (v 17-18; Matt 24:20). It will be the time when Jerusalem will be compassed about with enemies, and desolation is near (Lk 21:20). All of these circumstances are cast in stone, and there is no way to change them. The only thing to do is properly prepare for them. Time spent trying to avert them or change them is wasted time, and will yield no benefit.
A vital part of spiritual wisdom is being able to detect such times and take appropriate action. Those who live as though such things could not possibly take place have greatly handicapped themselves, putting themselves at a great disadvantage.
UNPARALLELED AFFLICTION. The days of which Jesus speaks will be marked by affliction, the likes of which has never before been seen – even from the beginning of the creation. Now, there have been great afflictions in the history of the world. They include the flood (Gen 6-8), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), the plagues against Egypt (Ex 7-12), the drowning of the army of Egypt in the Red Sea (Ex 14), the slaughter of the nations that occupied Canaan (Josh 12:6-24), the destruction of Nineveh (Zeph 2:13-15), the overthrow of Babylon (Isa 21:9-10; Jer 50:2-3), and others. What was it that made the destruction of Jerusalem worse than those judgements? Those destructions were all fierce, and there was no element of mercy in them. How is it possible for anything to be worse?
Those prior judgments, though extensive beyond imagination, were all against the heathen, and those who had no acquaintance of or covenant with, the living God. None of them were against a place where God had placed His name, or where extensive revelation had been given. But that is not the case in the destruction of Jerusalem. This was against the people of God, who were in covenant with God, and who had been visited with the Dayspring from on high. This city had received the highest privileges, seen the Lord’s Christ, and heard words of eternal life. A city blessed beyond measure would be cursed beyond measure! Never before nor since has such a judgment been poured out upon a people who have been vouchsafed so much from God!
This certainly casts light on Peter’s statement, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:17). This is an account that must be considered by every slumbering and slothful person who claims to be a Christian, and every dead and static church! Keep in mind that this took place after Jesus died, was raised from the dead, and was enthroned in glory. It took place after the inauguration of the New Covenant, the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit, and the time of salvation by grace through faith. It is clear that none of these things changed the nature of God, or the manner in which He ultimately deals with hardheartedness.
THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE AND WRATH. Luke records these words, spoken by Jesus on the occasion of reference. “For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled . . . for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people” (Luke 21:22-23). God told Israel, “Vengeance belongeth to Me” (Deut 32:35). And again, “I will render vengeance to Mine enemies” (Deut 32:41). The Psalmist said that vengeance belonged to God (Psa 94:1). To the church it is written, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay” (Rom 12:19). And again the church is told, “Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people” (Heb 10:30). A representation of God that hides this aspect of His nature is one that is dangerous beyond description, for God will not and cannot change. God will judge His people, and Peter reminds us that His judgment begins with the house of God. If that is difficult to receive, consider what Jesus is saying in this text. The Romans, who executed the judgment in question, were certainly not a righteous people. They were idolaters, ruthless, and held no respect for God, His law, or His people. Eventually, God would judge them like He did Babylon. However, He would first judge His people. That is where His judgment would begin, for they had been given the greatest advantage. And how will the Lord react to a lifeless and wandering church? What will He do in response to those who have once heard and believed, yet are described as those who “turn from the holy commandment” (2 Pet 2:21)? What of those whose love has waxed cold (Matt 24:12), or have left their first love Rev 2:4)? Let all such people know that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31)!
A TIME THAT WILL BE STRICTLY GOVERNED
“ 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.”
As long as time exists, Divine wrath will never rage interminably or without restraint. It will, to some degree, be mingled with mercy. Speaking of His dealings with Israel, of which our text is one, the Lord said, “In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer” (Isa 54:8). Again He said, “for in My wrath I smote thee, but in My favor have I had mercy on thee” (Isa 60:10). As long as there is time, this is the Lord’s manner, for “there remaineth a remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom 11:5), and that condition requires that He “remember mercy,” even when He is “in wrath” (Hab 3:2). There is coming a time, following the passing of the heavens and the earth, when God’s wrath will be “poured out without mixture” (Rev 14:10).
EXCEPT. This is a word that identifies an exclusion or some condition that modifies a circumstance. In this text, it is a word that describes God’s control of the condition. Wrath was being poured out, and God’s vengeance was being expressed. However, it was bounded by Divine purpose, and would not do more than it was intended to do.
SHORTENED THE DAYS. That is, the days of vengeance would be “cut short,” or abruptly terminated by the hand of the Lord. According to appearance, it would not look as though such a thing was possible, but would rather appear as though the enemy was wreaking havoc without any control or restraint. Luke says of the judgment of reference, “there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:23-24). What terrible days they were! Over 1,300,000 died in the Roman invasion. They were, indeed, “the days of vengeance,” and they came upon the people because they “did not recognize the time” of their “visitation” NASB (Lk 19:44). Yet, in a singular display of His mercy, God shortened the days, moving the Romans to stop the carnage, and take no further delight in what they were doing. The devil, who a subordinate to God, had to call off his troops. He no doubt had in mind to utterly destroy the people of God, but the Lord would not allow him to do it.
FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE. Here is the reason for the Lord shortening the days, allowing Israel to recover: “for the elect’s sake.” Paul describes such people as the “remnant according to election” (Rom 11:5). These were the godly, whom the Lord had reserved for Himself as He did those seven thousand who did not bow the knee to Baal in the days of Elijah (Rom 11:4; 1 Kgs 19:18). The days were shortened for their sakes. Lest we be confused by the views of men, Jesus defines them more precisely: “whom He hath chosen.” It is for their sakes, Jesus, says, that the Lord “hath shortened the days.” He was not moved by pity for the young, or old, or mothers, or gifted, but for the sake of the elect, whom He had chosen.
In the days of the flood, after all flesh had been destroyed, and every living thing died, except for what was in the ark, “God remembered Noah” – the one whom He had chosen (Gen 8:1). When God delivered Lot out of Sodom, it was because He “remembered Abraham” whom He had chosen (Gen 19:29). When Israel was groaning under their affliction in Egypt, “God remembered His covenant with Abraham,” whom He had chosen (Ex 2:24; 6:5). The Psalmist said that God cared for wayward Israel in the wilderness because “He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant,” whom He had chosen (Psa 105:42). He regarded their affliction and heard their cry because “He remembered for them His covenant” (Psa 106:45).
There is a people for whom the Lord is governing this world! It is not the people who should be saved, but the ones called “the elect” who He has chosen. Isaiah the prophet spoke of these people, and said the Lord preserved the nation of Israel because of them. “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah” (Isa 1:9). Paul appeals to this word of Isaiah, associating it with the Lord finishing the work He has started on the earth, and bringing it to a righteous conclusion. “For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha” (Rom 9:28-29). There were no survivors that remained in Sodom and Gomorrah. However, that is why Israel has survived to this day – it is because of the remnant, the seed that God has left for Himself, and from which He will eventually reclaim the nation for His own glory.
And how is it that the church has survived all of these years? It has been bombarded with false prophets, persecutions, and all manner of opposition. It has not remained because of the organizers, church builders, or institutional gurus. It is rather owing to the remnant – the godly people who have separated themselves from the world owing to their perception of God’s choice of them. That remnant is the reason for God’s staggering patience.
A TIME OF UNPARALLELED DELUSION
“ 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.”
You can sense the priority Jesus is giving to alertness and sobriety. “Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many . . . take heed unto yourselves . . . he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved . . . let him that readeth understand . . . pray . . . believe him not . . . take ye heed”(Mark 13:6,7,9,13,14,18,21,23). Vigilance is the watchword for all generations.
IF ANY MAN. “Look, here is the Christ!” “Look, there He is!” NIV There will be those who will say they have discovered “Christ” – the anointed One, or the One through whom all human deficiencies are addressed. They will call men away from the strait and narrow way to a quest of “some new thing” – something that neither Jesus nor the apostles affirmed. But these offer nothing of substance, only the ways of the world garbed with religious pretension.
BELIEVE HIM NOT. For those who know Christ, any claim to finding something or someone better is to be simply rejected. Do not believe him! Do not listen to him, or treat his words as though they were in any sense worthy of your attention.
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS. This would be a Christ that is defined by men, not the Gospel. He offers something men want, not something they need. He majors on this world, not the one to come. The abundance of these spurious messengers reveals a Satanic initiative – like spewing out a flood to drown the church (Rev 12:15). His aim is to turn the saints aside to lesser and unprofitable things, and to a Christ that has no power, and does not prepare men to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL BE SHOWN. From Satan’s perspective, this deluge of signs and wonders is designed to deceive the elect. From the heavenly point of view, it is calculated to sift out the tares, and discover those who hearts are sullied with sin. Jesus said they would “show signs and wonder,” employing methodologies that are not natural. Matthew says they will be “great signs” (Matt 24:24). These are calculated to “seduce,” deceive, NIV or lead astray. NASB The wicked one will be given license to do this from heaven, for Satan cannot work such things at will. This parallels Paul’s statement about God sending “strong delusion” to those who do not receive the love of the truth (2 Thess 2:10-12). This being the case, we can expect a faithless generation be the seed-bed for all kinds of false prophets, charlatans, and those who make merchandise of people (2 Pet 2:3).
IF IT WERE POSSIBLE. The onslaught of lies will be powerful enough that, if it was possible, the very elect of God would be deceived. Jesus said of His sheep, who are the elect, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5). God knows the identity of these people, but they themselves must come to know it also. Thus it is written, “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim 2:19). That is, the only way the individual can make his calling and election sure to himself, is to depart from iniquity, adding the various graces that are appropriated by faith: virtue (moral integrity or excellence), knowledge (a grasp of truth), temperance (self control, or keeping under the body), patience (perseverance or endurance), godliness (God-likeness), brotherly kindness (expressions of brother love), and charity (a profound love for God, Christ, the truth, and the saints). The addition of these qualities is declared to be nothing less than becoming a partaker of the Divine nature, and is said to be fueled by the promises (2 Pet 1:4). Where this is not taking place, delusion is inevitable, and cannot be avoided. Those who trust their intellectual capacities and fleshly discipline will end up in the ditch, helpless victims of false Christs and false prophets.
Let it be clear that “the elect” cannot be deceived. However, the only way one can have any degree of confidence that he is such a person is to give heed to the promises, adding the virtues, of which God has spoken, to their loves. In so doing, they are fulfilling this word which follows the admonition of Peter. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pet 1:10). The words “never fall” describe the condition to which Jesus refers when He said “if it were possible.”
I HAVE FORETOLD YOU. Other versions read, “told you all things beforehand,” NKJV “told you everything in advance,” NASB “told you everything ahead of time.” NIV The reason for this foretelling is to ready the saints for what is coming so they can prepare themselves. These are some of the signs that pertain to every generation. The receiving of the love of the truth, strong faith, spiritual growth, and an increasing change from glory unto glory are appointed means of survival. However, where these things are not taking place, surviving the onslaught of delusion is not remotely possible. I do not believe these things are commonly comprehended.