Mark 13:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

NIV: Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

NASB: So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

CSB: In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.

NLT: In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door.

KJV: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

NKJV: So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors!

Mark begins this chapter with Peter, James, John, and Andrew asking Jesus when the temple will be destroyed (Mark 13:1–4). Matthew adds that they also asked, "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). In fact, Jesus spends the chapter talking about the latter questions more than the former. The prophecies describe the signs of Jesus' return to vanquish evil and take His rightful place as king.

He starts by saying that many will claim to be Him, and that the world will experience war, natural disasters, and famine, and believers will be persecuted, but that doesn't mean His coming will be immediate (Mark 13:6–13). The first unmistakable sign will be when the Antichrist defiles the temple, sending the Jews in Judea running for the mountains (Mark 13:14–18). God will respond with terrible displays of His wrath and judgment, even as evil forces persecute the Jewish and Gentile Christ-followers (Mark 13:19–20). The number of false teachers who claim to be the returned Christ will increase and become increasingly convincing (Mark 13:21–22), but His followers will know the truth.

Shortly before the entire world topples into extinction, Jesus will come "in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26). Jesus will not be subtle. He will battle and defeat the Antichrist and his forces (Revelation 16:16; 20:1–3) and gather His followers (Mark 13:27).

All of Jesus' prophecies in Mark 13 start no earlier than the beginning of the tribulation. His warnings are to those who "see these things taking place." They are not specifically for the church who lives before the rapture.

For Christ-followers in the tribulation, however, this prophecy is extremely important. Despite the persecution and natural disasters and hardships and constant threat of death, they will know God has a timeline. If they can survive for seven years, they will live to see Jesus victorious, and join Him in His kingdom (Matthew 24:13).

Mark 13:28–31 makes a lesson about recognizing the end times using an example from farming. Although no one can know when Jesus will return (Acts 1:6–7), God promises to give us signs to let us know the end times are approaching. More specifically, He has told us the sign of the beginning of the tribulation and how long the tribulation will last. If we pay attention, these signs will be as easy to read as the seasons' effects on a fig tree. Many words have been written over verse 30, but it merely means that the tribulation will be short. Matthew 24:32–35 and Luke 21:28–33 record nearly identical accounts.

Days before the crucifixion, the disciples praise the glory of the temple. When Jesus tells them the temple will be destroyed, they ask for signs of that coming destruction and of His return (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answers their second question with information crucial for believers in the end times, and any time. Tribulation Christians will face horrifying hardships and violence, as may believers of any era, but they must remember that the hardships will not last. Jesus will return so quickly, any attempt to live by the world's rules will be futile.

The prior chapter contained several parables and Jesus' answer to assorted questions. In this section, Jesus turns His teaching towards the disciples. He explains concepts related to the end times: the still-future period when God will complete His plan for judgment on sin. Those details include a prophecy about the impending destruction of the temple. The final chapters of Mark then describe events up to and after the crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of His enemies.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.