Jesus’ Second Coming—Parousia

Bible Passage: Mark 13:14-37

About AD 33, Jesus prophesied about the Temple, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” (13:2)
His disciples’ asked Him, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” (13:4)

I. Mark 13 has five sections. Each section is marked with the word “be cautious” or “be informed”

1. Beware of Christ-pretenders
2. Beware of trials of the Christ-followers
3. Beware of the abomination of desolation
4. Beware of the fulfilment of Daniel 7:13 in Jesus as the Son of Man
5. Beware of the Second Coming of Christ—parousia
a. The word “abomination of desolation” (13:9-13) comes from Daniel 12:11
i. Anything connected with idolatry was an “abomination” to God
ii. In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes erected Zeus’ image on the altar of burnt offering—Zeus’ image was an abomination
iii. This caused the Temple worship to be halted—it caused “desolation”
In AD 40, Emperor Caligula was going to erect his statue in the Holy of Holies, but it was prevented at the last minute
b. In AD 70, Titus Vespasian brought his ensigns and erected them on the Temple Mount, which, most probably, is the “abomination of desolation” in Mark 13:9

II. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the Father

Jesus’ followers would see “the abomination of desolation” in Jerusalem Temple (verse 14). Consequently,

1.—- There will be cessation of the regular burnt offering
2.—- There will be an unprecedent, almost unendurable persecution against the people of Judea that includes Christ-followers, the elect

III. At the end of the tribulation, there will be a fundamental change in the power centers

1. Jesus predicts that there will be a divine judgement on Judea, Jerusalem, and the Temple (verses 24-25)
a. Focus on the Temple, a single nation, and small geographic territory will change
b. Romans destroyed the Temple, a large number of Jews got killed, and others scattered
c. The Son of Man, that is Jesus, will become the focus instead of the Temple, Judea, and Jerusalem
d. In other words, Daniel 7:13 gets fulfilled in which Jesus is entrusted with power, authority, and dominion
e. The “elect” are not just the Jews, but all Christ followers

2.Jesus’ followers, the angels, will gather the elect from all corners of the world. In other words, they would do the missionary work
a. All these things would happen in “this generation” (13:30)
b. All fulfilled in AD 70

IV. The Second Coming

1.Verse 32 onwards, a new subject is introduced “that day or the hour” compared to “those days” of verses 1-31
2. The expression “that day or the hour” refers to Jesus’ Second Coming or parousia—it was a familiar term for the early Christians
3. Jesus warns His followers to be “alert” (verses 33, 35, 37)
4. Warning against failing to be ready for the parousia of the real Messiah
a. It is the appropriate attitude of those who know their master might come at any time
b. Jesus-follower is never off duty

Take away

Live in such a way that Jesus is pleased when He comes

1. While Jesus is away, He has put you and I in-charge of His house (verse 34)
2. Each one is entrusted with at least one responsibility (verse 34)
3. The doorkeepers are commanded to be alert (verse 34)
4. How do you live between His absence and return?