HOFC Sermon Archive: Gospel of Mark Part 75: Olivet Discourse II

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SERMON TIMELINE

10. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025

16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts

17. Three Responses to Jesus

18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles

19. The Family of Jesus

20. The Unforgivable Sin

21. The True Family of Jesus

22. Parable of the Four Soils

23. How Well Do You Listen

24. Parable of the Growing Seed

25. Parable of the Mustard Seed

26. Benefits of Private Teaching

27. Jesus Calms the Storm

28. Who is Afraid of Jesus?

29. The Touch of Jesus

30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

31. Principles of Evangelism

32. Weakness in the Seat of Power

33. The Need for Rest

34. Feeding 5000

35. Jesus Walks on Water

36. Healings at Gennesaret

37. The Danger of Traditions

38. The Source of True Defilement

39. Gentile Blessed for Her Faith

40. He Has Done All Things Well

41. Jesus Feeds 4000

42. Jesus Sighs

43. Beware of Leaven

44. The Blind Man at Bethsaida

45. Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

46. Mindful of the Things of God

47. The Cost of Discipleship

48. The Value of a Soul

49. Ashamed of Jesus and His Word

50. The Transfiguration

51. The Disciples ask Questions

52. The Unclean Spirit

53. The Way to Greatness

54. Principles of Discipleship

55. God Hates Divorce

56. Jesus Blesses Children

57. The Problem with Wealth

58. The Cost and Reward of Discipleship

59. A Couple Days Before Palm Sunday

60. The Cup and Baptism

61. Greatness in the Kingdom Comes from Serving

62. Blind Bartimaeus

63. Triumphal Entry

64. Cursing and Cleansing

65. Faith and Forgiveness

66. Is it from Heaven or from Men?

67. Parable of the Wicked Vine Grower

68. Our Duty to God and Country

69. The Resurrection of the Dead

70. The Two Greatest Commands

71. David’s Son and David’s Lord

72. Beware the Pretentious Scribes

73. The Widow’s Mites

74. Olivet Discourse I

75. Olivet Discourse II

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 13:24-37

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His chosen ones from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

²⁸“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, right at the door. ³⁰Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. ³²But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

³³“See to it, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. ³⁴It is like a man away on a journey, who, leaving his house and giving authority to his servants—each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay awake. ³⁵Therefore, stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— ³⁶lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all, ‘Stay awake!’”

INTRODUCTION

It is Tuesday of the week of Passover. Evening now. Jesus taught in the temple for hours. As Jesus and His disciples leave the temple, the disciples make a comment about how great the temple was, to which Jesus replied with a comment that speaks of the destruction of the temple, which would come by the Romans' hands in 70 A.D., and of the second coming of Christ.

These comments are intertwined and woven together with a duality of meaning. However, when we look closely at the words of Jesus, we can discern Jesus speaking of the destruction of the temple, based on the words spoken earlier this same day in the temple.

Ø His parable about Israel’s rejection of Him in Matthew 21:28-46; Matthew 22:1-14

Ø His condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-36

Ø And His lamentation over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37-39

In Mark 13:1-2 we read of the prophecy of Jesus about the temple

And then, we have the disciples asking Jesus the questions, “When will these things be?” and “What will be the signs?” (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:4; Luke 21:7)

Jesus then states what the signs will be. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel in Daniel 9:26-27; Daniel 12:11

Which Luke explains to be Jerusalem surrounded by armies in Luke 21:20

Jesus also says what they should do when they recognize these signs in Mark 13:15-23. Those in Judea were to flee to the mountains to “avoid the great tribulation,” and they were not to be misled by false prophets or false christs.

How do we know this part of what Jesus was speaking of was about the destruction of the temple, which would come in 70 A.D.?

Because He described a LOCAL, and ESCAPABLE judgment that would befall Jerusalem.

He is not describing the second coming, end times tribulation, because that is WORLDWIDE, and INESCAPABLE.

So let us continue reading the Olivet Discourse and see what else Jesus has to say.

I. THE OLIVET DISCOURSE CONTINUED

a. What will happen next?

i. After describing the destruction of the temple, He tells the disciples that “after the tribulation of those days…”

1. There will be cosmic disturbances

2. The sun will be darkened

3. The moon will not give its light

4. The stars of heaven will fall

5. The powers in the heavens will be shaken

a. Jesus is using the prophetic language of cosmic judgment and the collapse of the present created order.

b. All of creation will tremble at the coming of the Creator in judgment

ii. All will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Mark 13:26)

Matthew 24:30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.”

iii. Mark 13:27 states that the chosen will be gathered.

Matthew 24:31 “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

iv. These events Jesus speaks of are clearly the second coming of Christ.

b. The events are similar to other prophetic and fulfilled judgments of nations.

i. Babylon in Isaiah 13:1-13

ii. Egypt in Isaiah 19:1-2; Ezekiel 32:2-9

iii. Tyre in Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 24:21-23

iv. Edom in Isaiah 34:4-6

v. Nineveh in Nahum 1:1-5

vi. Israel in Amos 8:9

vii. And Judah in Jeremiah 4:5-6; Jeremiah 4:23-28

c. The Prophets foretold God’s judgment upon nations.

i. Even using figurative speech of worldwide destruction, though the judgment was local. Why?

1. Because the judgment of nations is also a foreshadowing of God’s final judgment which will come upon the entire world at the Last Day.

ii. And like other Jewish prophets, Jesus used the same figurative language to depict the judgment to befall the religious leaders of Israel (in terms of worldwide destruction)

iii. As well as the provision made for the faithful disciples of Christ (in terms of gathering angels)

II. Warnings from Jesus to be prepared

a. The warnings from Jesus for then, and the future!

i. In Mark 13:28-29 Jesus reminds the disciples of the parable of the fig tree.

ii. The words of Jesus will come to pass! (Mark 13:31)

1. Heaven and earth will one day pass away! (2 Peter 3:7,10)

2. But the words of Jesus will never pass away!

iii. That day and hour, only the Father knows (Mark 13:32)

b. THEREFORE TAKE HEED!

i. You will not know when the time is (people are false prophets if they attempt to tell you) (Acts 1:7)

ii. Don’t be caught off guard like a servant sleeping when his master returns

iii. Be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you do not expect Him!

So, what does Jesus say in Mark 13:37?

“…what I say to you I say to all, ‘Stay awake!’”

To some, I say, “Wake up!”

Revelation 3:2 “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”

Ephesians 5:14 “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

Some of you need to wake up. It’s time, and you know it.

CONCLUSION

Though Jesus speaks a lot of things in the Olivet discourse which allude (and rightly so) to the second coming of Christ, He is trying to prepare the disciples for the destruction of the temple.

This is no different than other prophets who foretold God’s judgment upon nations and cities. This figurative language was commonly used by prophets.

God’s judgments upon nations in the past are types of foreshadowing of the final judgment that will befall the entire world when Jesus comes again.

Examining and remembering the setting leading up to the Olivet Discourse, and the time Jesus spent in the temple that Tuesday of Passover teaching, there is a natural flow that shows this discourse is specifically about the local (and escapable) destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

However, this judgment (as others on nations and cities in scripture) serves as a warning for the coming global (and inescapable) tribulation and final judgment.

FINAL THOUGHT

Are you ready for that day? The warnings to be prepared are throughout Scripture!

2 Peter 3:10-14 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be found out.

¹¹Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

¹²looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat! ¹³But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

¹⁴Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,”

If you are not living righteously now, what makes you think you will live one day where righteousness dwells?

1 Peter 2:24 “Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to sin, we might live to righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”

So many misapply this scripture thinking it has something to do with never being sick or having any illness if you are a Christian. We know that is not the reality. Paul was never healed of the thorn in his side. Every Apostle died a horrible death. So what are you “healed” from by His wounds?

This verse tells us! Jesus Himself bore our sins in His body!

SO, we, having died to sin (it no longer controls or rules over us as our master) we can live righteously!

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

When Jesus comes, will you be found living righteously, having died to sin? Denying the ungodliness and worldly desires. Are you living sensibly and godly in this present age? If you are truly a follower of Christ, you will be.

THIS righteousness is obtainable to those who submit to Christ Jesus and reject sin in their lives.

Romans 6:18 “and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Christians are not merely forgiven but empowered and called through Christ to live a righteous life. Let us be found by Him living righteously, in peace, spotless and blameless in His name.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Gospel of Mark Part 75: Olivet Discourse II

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