Mark 13:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.

NIV: At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.

NASB: And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it;

CSB: "Then if anyone tells you, 'See, here is the Messiah! See, there! ' do not believe it.

NLT: Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it.

KJV: And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

NKJV: “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.

Preterists believe that all biblical prophecy—or most, for partial preterists—was fulfilled as of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Futurists believe that although some prophecy may have more than one meaning, end-times predictions will not happen until the end times. Mark 13:21–22 seems to refer to human history from the point of Jesus' ascension on, although, as with all other hardships, it is commonly believed things will get worse as Jesus' second coming grows nearer.

False teachers have plagued the church since its inception. Dozens, from the mentally ill to the opportunistic, have claimed to be Jesus. Some deceived over a million followers and others manipulated their followers into killing themselves in the hope of salvation.

The deception will grow worse in the end times. When the sun and moon grow dark and the waters turn to blood and the world is covered with plagues, famines, and war, the unscrupulous will take advantage of the suffering. Currently the Holy Spirit is keeping evil spiritual forces from developing into the ultimate manifestation of the Antichrist. In the end times, His restraining hand will be lifted, giving Satan his chance to rule the world, but also allowing lesser, human, deceivers the freedom to take what they can (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Unbelievers who know a little of what the Bible says about Jesus will easily believe that someone else with magical powers (Mark 13:22) will rescue them.

Jesus' second coming will not be so subtle. After the tribulation, when the sun, moon, and stars are dark, Jesus will appear "in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26), and the people of the earth will mourn (Matthew 24:30). Revelation describes Jesus as riding a white horse and making war, with eyes of flame and a robe dipped in blood (Revelation 19:11–13). This is a far cry from a cult leader who suggests that worship includes giving him your money and having sex with him.

Mark 13:14–23 describes Peter, James, John, and Andrew asking Jesus for the signs that the temple will be destroyed and He will return to establish His kingdom (Matthew 24:3). Jesus has explained that wars, natural disasters, false teaching, and persecution will increase (Mark 13:5–13). Now He speaks of the second half of the end-times tribulation. It will start with the Antichrist erecting the abomination of desolation in the temple and end right before war and natural and supernatural disasters would cause worldwide extinction. Matthew talks a bit more about false prophets in Matthew 24:15–28 while Luke gives a shortened version in Luke 21:20–24.

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.