Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

On Scripture - The Bible

Home

Home
Progressive Christian
Signs That the End Is Near: Mark 13:1-8

Signs That the End Is Near: Mark 13:1-8

Last updated on: November 15, 2012 at 8:15 pm by Odyssey Networks

Signs That the End Is Near: Mark 13:1-8 2012-11-15T20:15:18+00:00 Odyssey Networks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Adam J. Copeland

No matter the tragedy these days, some religious leader or blogger will attempt to connect it to God’s judgment. Some say superstorm Sandy was God’s wrath on liberal New York and New Jersey. Others fault 9/11 on “the homosexual agenda,” whatever that is. Many argue July’s shooting in Aurora, Colorado, would have been prevented were it not for liberals or conservatives.

Relying on Faith, Gerritsen Beach Residents Weather Hurricane Sandy

Gerritsen Beach, a tight-knit community in South Brooklyn that is nearly surrounded by water on all sides, was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Because Gerritsen was not deemed an evacuation zone by the city, many residents stayed in the neighborhood during the storm, and several report being rescued by neighbors from the upper floors of their homes. In the aftermath, Gerritsen Beach residents have turned to two institutions that are mainstays of the community for help — Resurrection Church and the volunteer fire department.

This instinct to interpret current times through the broader lens of God’s judgment is not new. Examples appear throughout the Bible. For those who believe God’s Spirit does work in the world through signs and miracles, such tragedies can function as intellectual puzzles, but they should never stop us from responding with heart, head, and hands.

Jesus Explains the Signs…. Sort of

Jesus spoke often about the end times and certainly not in ways supported by a modern scientific worldview. For Jesus, the belief that God controls history was fundamental to his perspective.

Not long before his arrest, Jesus was with the disciples in the temple. As they came out, one of the disciples exclaimed his awe of the structure. “Look, Teacher, what large stones and large buildings!” he said (Mark 13:1). Indeed, ancient historians wrote that the temple in Jerusalem was magnificent. If its massive size was not impressive enough, much of it was covered in gold.

Jesus’ response must have caught the disciples off guard: “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down” (Mark 13:2).

The disciples too must have been in a mood to discuss the end times because next, when Jesus was sitting opposite the temple on the Mount of Olives, some of them asked for further explanation. “When?” they wondered aloud, “What will be the sign?” Jesus responds in his trademark roundabout way.

Jesus warns of those that would lead them astray. He tells them not to be alarmed by “wars and rumors of wars” which, if you ask me, are some of the most alarming prospects imaginable.

A more troubling time would be coming, Jesus explains. It will include war, earthquakes, and famines. But, they are not to be afraid since, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Mark 13:8).

Jesus’ response is the first century equivalent of the famous propaganda poster produced by the British government during World War II that boldly proclaimed, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” (Note that Jesus did not call for casting aspersions at one’s political opponents.)

We Long to Know More

Like the disciples, something makes us want to know every detail about when and how our future—and God’s ultimate justice—will take place. Certainly, knowing the severity and destination of future superstorms will help save lives, but the disciples were longing for more. They wanted a blueprint. Perhaps they hoped for a way to save themselves as they interpreted the signs of the time.

In this passage from Mark, Jesus uses language and terms common in other Biblical books to help reveal what is currently hidden to the disciples. It was common, around Jesus’ time, to mix visions, symbols, and dreams to disclose a future more important than the present reality.

Mark 13:1-8, and similar passages in Daniel and Revelation, long for a future in which oppression is a thing of the past, but they should not be read as an end time recipe book with detailed step-by-step instructions. The coming times are sometimes described in vague, rough, violent terms, but the ultimate end is full of God’s justice and peace.

Trust in God means living a life expectant and hopeful for Christ’s return; it need not be consumed by explaining every world affair in terms of God’s super-plan.

Discipleship calls for a faith in which ultimately, despite our present struggle, God’s love is sovereign. We need not micromanage the signs of God’s judgment. Instead, we are called to manage our lives and conform them to God’s vision of justice, love, and peace.

How to Wait for the End

Believers today take many different approaches to waiting (and interpreting) the end times. Some read into the Bible explanations that simply are not there, mislabeling storms like Sandy and causing more hurt in the process.

Note that in this passage, Jesus does not suggest interpretation of the troubles ahead will be easy. In fact, he warns of exactly this danger of overly-clear explanation. Many will come in his name, Jesus cautions, but they are not he. Since we are so prone to confusion, Jesus explicitly advises against alarm and overreaction.

The faithful response to disaster is not pointing a finger, or making shocking headline-grabbing accusations, but service to God and neighbor. Superstorm Sandy has left horrific devastation in parts of New Jersey and New York. Sadly, we know too that one day there will be another storm, another shooting, another earthquake.

We must break the cycle of interpreting these events in ways Jesus specifically warned against, and instead, follow the one who healed at every opportunity, who urged care for those without food and shelter, who loved beyond all love even in the most desperate of times.

Jesus gave a vague answer as to when God will renew the world in God’s justice, but his instructions for caring for our neighbors were abundantly clear. When disasters hit, Jesus’ followers should get to work and leave the end time prognostication to God alone.

Additional Resources

Mark (Belief) by William C. Placher

Barbara Rossing speaks about “the rapture” on “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell.

Frontline Documentary: Apocalypse: the Evolution of Apocalyptic Belief and How it Shaped the Western World.

Learn more about the ON Scripture Editorial Board Click here

Learn more about ON Scripture Click here

Like ON Scripture Click here

Follow ON Scripture Click here

ON Scripture is possible by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment

Keep Calm and Carry On

odyssey networks

On Scripture

ON Scripture the Bible

Surviving Sandy

Previous Post

November 9, 2012

The Value of Chump Change: Mark 12:38-44

Next Post

November 27, 2012 A Different Kind of King: John 18: 33 - 37

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category On Scripture Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz