Mark 13:14 - Meaning and Application

The Jews, by rebelling against the Romans and persecuting the Christians, were quickly bringing ruin on themselves. In doing so, they were making both God and people against them (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Here Jesus predicts the destruction that came on them in less than forty years, and he had said the same thing earlier in Matthew 24:15 and following.

Notice, first, what he foretells about it. The Roman armies would come into Judea and surround Jerusalem, the holy city. They would be the “abomination of desolation,” something the Jews would hate, and through which they would be made desolate. It is like the land of an enemy, called “the land you dread” (Isaiah 7:16). It was an abomination because it brought nothing but devastation. The Jews had rejected Christ, who would have been their salvation, and now God brought on them an abomination that would bring their ruin. Daniel the prophet had spoken of this (Daniel 9:27), saying it would bring sacrifice and offering to an end.

This army would stand where it should not, in and around the holy city. The Gentiles should not have come near it, unless Jerusalem had first polluted the crown of its holiness. The church complains of this in Lamentations 1:10, where the heathen enter the sanctuary, though God had commanded them not to enter the congregation. Sin made the opening, glory departed, and the abomination of desolation broke in and stood where it had no right to stand. Let the reader understand this carefully and try to take it rightly. Prophecies should not be too plain, yet they should be clear enough for those who search them, and they are best understood by comparing them with each other and, finally, with the event.

Second, when the Roman army came into the country, there would be no safe place except by leaving at once. Fighting would be useless, because the enemy would be too strong. Hiding would be useless, because they would be found. Making terms would be useless, because the enemy would show no mercy. A person could save his life only by fleeing to the mountains out of Judea, and he must take the first warning and make the best speed he could. If he was on the roof and saw the enemy coming, he must not go down to take anything from the house, because that would waste precious time and slow his escape. If he was in the field, he must get away as he was and not turn back to take his cloak (Mark 13:16). If he could save his life, that would be enough, even if he saved nothing else, and he should thank God that he was cut short, not cut off.

Third, it would go very hard with mothers and nurses at that time (Mark 13:17). “Woe to those who are pregnant,” because they cannot move easily or make a quick escape like others. “Woe to those who are nursing,” because they do not know how to leave their infants behind or carry them safely with them. This shows how unstable earthly comforts are. The things that are usually our greatest joys can become our heaviest burdens.

It would also be very hard if they had to flee in winter (Mark 13:18), when the weather and roads would be bad, especially in the mountains where they would have to go. If trouble must come and there is no way around it, we may still pray that God would order the circumstances so the trouble is lighter. And when things are bad, we should remember they might have been worse. It is bad to be forced to flee, but it would have been worse in winter.

Fourth, there would be such destruction across the Jewish land that no history could match it (Mark 13:19). “In those days there will be distress,” such as had never been from the beginning of creation until then, and would never be again. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans was terrible, but this was even worse. It threatened the killing of the whole Jewish people, because they were devouring one another, and the Romans were destroying them all. If the war had gone on a little longer, no flesh would have been saved, and not one Jew would have been left alive. But in the middle of wrath, God remembered mercy. He shortened the days and stopped the judgment before making a full end. The ruin was complete as far as the nation and church were concerned, but many individual people had their lives spared when the storm ended.

This shortening came for the sake of the elect, those chosen by God. Many among the people fared better because of the few who believed in Christ and were faithful to him. God had promised that a remnant would be saved (Isaiah 10:22), and that for his servants’ sake he would not destroy them all (Isaiah 65:8). Those promises had to be kept. God’s chosen ones cry to him day and night, and their prayers must be answered (Luke 18:7).

Second, Jesus gives directions to his disciples about what to do. They must act to save their lives. “When you see the country invaded and the city surrounded, do not flatter yourselves with hopes that the enemy will leave or that you can hold out against them. Without delay, let those in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14). Do not get caught up in a struggle that does not belong to you. Let others quarrel over earthly things, but you must leave the sinking ship so you do not die the death of those who do not belong to God.

They must also guard their souls. Deceivers would be active then, because they always love to work in troubled times. So they would need to be doubly watchful. If anyone said, “Look, here is Christ,” or, “Look, he is there,” they were not to believe it. They already knew Christ was in heaven, and that he would come again at the end of time to judge the world. Having received Christ, they must not be trapped by any false christ. False christs and false prophets would arise (Mark 13:22). When the gospel kingdom was being established, Satan gathered all his strength to oppose it and used all his tricks. God allowed this to test the sincerity of some, expose the hypocrisy of others, and shame those who rejected Christ when he was offered to them.

False Christs will appear, and false prophets will rise up to promote them. Some will not claim to be Christs, but they will claim to be prophets and will try to predict future events. They will do signs and lying wonders, and so the mystery of lawlessness began to work very early (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

They will try, if it were possible, to deceive even the elect, that is, God’s chosen people. Their claims will sound so convincing, and they will work so hard to mislead people, that many who once seemed eager and devoted in religion may be drawn away. Some of these people might even have seemed likely to continue in the faith. Still, nothing can finally secure a person except God’s sure foundation, which stands firm: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and those people will stand when some others fall away (2 Timothy 2:18-19).

They will try to deceive even the elect, but they cannot succeed. God’s chosen people will be preserved, no matter who is blinded or misled (Romans 11:7). Even so, the disciples must be careful whom they trust (Mark 13:23). Jesus says, “Take heed.” He knew they were among the elect, and yet he still warned them. Assurance that believers will keep going in the faith and warnings against falling away fit together well.

So when Christ warns them, “Take heed,” that does not mean their faith was uncertain. They are kept by God’s power. And even though their perseverance is secure, the warning is still needed, because God preserves his people through the right means. God will keep them, but they must also keep watch over themselves.

Jesus is saying, “I have told you all things. I have warned you about this danger so that, being warned ahead of time, you may be ready for it. I have told you everything you needed to know, so do not listen to people who claim to be prophets and say more than I have said.” The Bible’s complete sufficiency is a strong reason not to follow those who pretend to bring new revelation.