Mark 13:19-23
13:19 a greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world: Such hyperbole is common in Semitic expression; it heightens the terror of that horrible time and should not be taken as an exact statistical analysis of how this suffering ranks alongside other disasters.• And it will never be so great again: The events of 13:14-23 b would not bring history to an end; history would continue after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.
13:20 c God’s shortening of his timetable for the days of calamity is referred to frequently in intertestamental Jewish literature (e.g., 2 Esdras 2:13; 2 Baruch 20:1). This statement emphasizes the horrors of this tribulation experienced by God’s people, but also God’s mercy in shortening this time.
• not a single person will survive: The whole population of Judea might have been destroyed if the days of anguish had been longer.
• chosen ones (literally elect): Followers of Jesus.
Summary for Mark 13:21-23: 13:21-23 d The larger section (13:5-23 e) concludes with another warning about messianic pretenders. Here the pretenders are associated with the events of AD 70, whereas in 13:5-6 f they were associated with the normal course of events. Along with false messiahs, prophets would appear and perform miraculous signs and wonders (13:22 g), hoping to deceive not only the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem but even the Christians (God’s chosen ones). Jesus warned his followers not to believe such reports. When the Messiah comes from heaven (13:26 h), everyone will see and know it (see Rev 1:7 i).
• Watch out! This warning unifies the section (Mark 13:5-23 j) and brings it to a close. Jesus’ teaching in this section was to warn his followers in Judea and Jerusalem not to be misled by false messianic hopes and claims. Many Jews succumbed to such claims in the late AD 60s, and Josephus (Antiquities 17.10.8) describes the great harm done by these pretenders, who encouraged the Jewish people to resist the Romans. Nothing should distract Christians from fleeing Judea and Jerusalem when they see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration taking place.
• For Mark’s readers in Rome, Jesus’ message had a different application. Mark wanted his readers to watch out for those who promised timetables for prophecy to be fulfilled. They could not know the time (13:32 k), and a frenzy about the second coming of Christ was forbidden, but they were to be alert (13:33-37 l) and prepare themselves for persecution (13:9-13 m; see 8:34-38 n) according to Jesus’ words of encouragement (13:11 o, 13 p).
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