Mar 13:29 | TNotes | STEP | 13:29 his return (literally he/it is near ): The Greek has no explicit subject, so the choice between “he is near” or “it is near” depends on whether 13:29-30 refers to 13:4-23 or to 13:24-27 . The NLT text understands it as referring to the return of the Son of Man. Because words in 13:4 are echoed in 13:29 and 30 (see study note on 13:28-31), others interpret it as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Just as the sprouting of the fig tree is a herald of summer, the desolating sacrilege (13:14 ) would be a harbinger of Jerusalem’s destruction.

a13:29►

b13:29-30►

c13:4-23►

d13:24-27►

e13:4►

f13:29►

g30►

h13:14►

‏ Mark 13:29

13:29 ^a his return (literally he/it is near): The Greek has no explicit subject, so the choice between “he is near” or “it is near” depends on whether 13:29-30 ^b refers to 13:4-23 ^c or to 13:24-27 ^d. The NLT text understands it as referring to the return of the Son of Man. Because words in 13:4 ^e are echoed in 13:29 ^f and 30 ^g (see study note on 13:28-31), others interpret it as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Just as the sprouting of the fig tree is a herald of summer, the desolating sacrilege (13:14 ^h) would be a harbinger of Jerusalem’s destruction.