The Great Tribulation: The End of the Age -- Mark 13:15-23

15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. (Mark 13:15-23)

All these exhortations Jesus gave during his teaching about the end of the age have a Jewish bent. Housetops were used in that region as a place for leisure in the cool of the evening. You could dine, relax, sleep, store goods, and pray on your home's flat roof. And Jesus had already said it was the citizens of Judea who should flee when the abomination of desolation occurs. Many Christians, when the armies of Titus began arriving at Jerusalem, did flee the city before the greatest destruction came. Some would say this is evidence Jesus' words were focused only on the first generation of the church that started in Jerusalem. I take it as a clue that God will turn his attention again to the people of Israel in the last days and that, quite possibly, the church will be removed before these events occur.

Hardest Tribulation Ever

Jesus called this time the hardest tribulation ever: "In those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be" (19). It's so severe that we should praise God that he will cut short those days (20). No one would survive without divine intervention. And God will not allow those days to go on forever. For the sake of the elect (people, I think, who come to Jesus during the great tribulation), God will shorten those days (20). It will be the greatest tribulation ever. Daniel predicted this time would come as well.

Daniel 12:1 (ESV)—1 “...And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."

Overview of Revelation 6-19 (The 70th Week of Daniel)

This time of tribulation is also sometimes called the 70th Seven of Daniel because Daniel predicted a future seven-year period of pain. Others have referred to this as the time of Jacob's trouble Jeremiah predicted (Jeremiah 30:7). I believe the time of trouble Jesus described is found in the apocalyptic language of Revelation 6-19. Let’s look at a brief overview of the events found there. First, God's judgment is pictured as bound in a scroll in heaven. Jesus will take that scroll and loosen the seals, of which there are seven. The first seal will introduce a white horse rider; this is likely the man of sin or Antichrist. The second seal reveals a red horse rider, and with him comes worldwide violence. The third brings a black horse rider or worldwide financial collapse. The fourth is a pale horse, where a quarter of the world's population dies from famine, sickness, and beasts. The fifth seal reveals many will be martyred for their belief in Jesus during this season. The sixth seal reveals cataclysmic disasters. And the result of these first six seals is that people hide from God but generally do not repent of their sin or turn to him. There will be much evangelism due to new tribulation believers, but many will still reject God. The seventh seal will contain seven trumpets. There will be silence in heaven when this seal is opened, probably because it contains so much disaster. With the first trumpet comes massive ecological disaster as the planet's vegetation is struck. With the second trumpet, the seas are struck, indicating enormous oceanic disaster. A massive water shortage comes with the third trumpet. The fourth trumpet brings cosmic disaster as the sun, moon, and stars are struck. The fifth trumpet leads to an increase in demonic activity for five months. The sixth trumpet leads to massive death -- as much as a third of the earth's population will die. And the result of the trumpets is a total lack of repentance from the earth's inhabitants. The seventh trumpet then leads to seven final bowls of judgment. These come in the back half of the tribulation, potentially right before Christ's return. The first bowl unleashes pains and sores on all who follow the Antichrist. The second bowl leads to the destruction of ocean life. The third bowl destroys the freshwater supply. The fourth leads to the sun becoming more potent -- it will have a scorching effect. During the fifth bowl, the Antichrist and his kingdom will be overcome by complete and painful darkness of some kind. The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates River, which beckons armies in the east to fight against God in Armageddon. The seventh bowl leads to the destruction of the world's religious and commercial systems that are designed contrary to God and his will. And the result of these bowls will be that humanity longs for everything God has judged. And with all that, Christ will return and conquer!

Why?

All this to say, it will be a time of great pain. But why is all this necessary? What good could come from such tribulation? First, these warnings remind us that, though God is long-suffering, a day of reckoning always comes. As Peter said:

2 Peter 3:9–10 (ESV)—9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. So these warnings should help us know our time on earth today is meant for reaching people while God extends mercy and patience to the earth. Second, these warnings promote holy living. As Peter went on to say: 2 Peter 3:11–12 (HCSB)—11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. When we think about tomorrow's coming trouble, we should better understand what is truly important today. Third, I believe this time of tribulation will lead to the saving of many souls, particularly those of the Jewish race. To me, this is evidenced by the great multitude no one can number early on in Revelation (7:9). Fourth, the time of tribulation will reveal the heart of humanity. Many will not budge and soften towards him. The tribulation portrays most of humanity as sharply resistant to God. Just as the plagues of Exodus revealed Pharaoh's hard heart toward God, the tribulation will reveal the hard-heartedness of many. Fifth, God has given ample witness in the cosmos, in his word, and through his church about who he is and his plan for mankind. He is the judge of all the earth, and the time of judgment must come.

21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

Signs and Wonders

Even though God can work miraculously today, modern believers should be cautious about signs and wonders because some will use them in an attempt to lead God's people astray (22). It will not be possible, Jesus said, but days will come when it will be tempting to depart from Christ for something flashy. Remember, though, Jesus did miracles but was always reluctant to gain a following that way. He wanted people to follow him because of his words and work on the cross, not for miracles’ sake. These charlatans will possess some spiritual power like Pharaoh's magicians in Exodus. They will perform signs and wonders all to get people thinking Christ has already come. But, as we'll see in the passage that follows, Jesus' return will be as public and non-secret as it gets.

A Modern Exhortation

So Jesus told his followers to be on guard (23). Let's close by considering how this exhortation points us back to Jesus' words from last week. We are not yet living in the time of tribulation. We are not living during the book of Revelation. But the birth pains have come. Wars, rumors of wars, disease, disasters, and famines abound. Persecution is on the rise. For all this, Jesus told us not to be alarmed (13:7). He told us to be on guard (13:9). And he told us to preach the gospel (13:10). Don't be distracted. Stay focused. Live and preach the gospel because, one day, Jesus will return. In closing, how should we apply all of this? Don't spend your time seeking the Antichrist, but Jesus Christ. Scripture does not tell us to spend our time and energy worrying about the beast's kingdom but Jesus' kingdom. Be more concerned about the spirit of antichrist than the actual Antichrist. This is what John taught us in 1 John 2:18-19. The spirit of antichrist is found in those who leave the church, making it clear they were not of us. Hold onto the doctrines of common grace and the image of God in humanity when thinking of the end times. Though hard-hearted, not everything mankind does is evil. Since God will judge the earth and all that is in it, live a life of holiness. Don't partake of the religious and commercial systems contrary to God. Do not be deceived by signs and wonders. Do not be alarmed by the current birth pains.