Sermon Synopsis
This sermon explores Mark 13 by focusing first on its historical fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem and then applying its lessons to believers today. Jesus’ words were fulfilled precisely in history, demonstrating the absolute faithfulness of Scripture and the wisdom of obeying His warnings. While Christians naturally long for Christ’s return, Scripture calls us not to speculate or predict dates, but to watch and pray. The message challenges believers to live faithfully, prepared to meet the Lord at any time, grounded in peace, obedience, and trust in His unchanging Word.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Watch, Flee, and Pray
Mark 13 and the Faithfulness of the Lord’s Word
Introduction: Expectations and Reality
Good morning.
Before I start, I’d like to say thank you to all those who are praying for me. This is a difficult topic. I approached it with much prayer and trepidation, because many people in the assembly have done a lot of research on prophecy and end times. We have many experts among us, and whichever angle I take, there will be people who have different opinions.
But before we begin, I think it is timely that our brother Chi reminded us why we are here this morning. We are here to remember the Lord, and to remember that the time is near when we will see Him—hopefully very soon.
Now let me begin with a strange sight.
In Chongqing, by the river, you will see many people looking up at the sky and opening their mouths. It is a famous spot, because they are all trying to “eat” the train that passes by. If you are young and living in Chongqing, you must go there and take a picture of yourself eating the train.
In Singapore, we also have such a site. Every young person on Instagram has to go there—the Merlion. A friend of mine, a couple who had just gotten married, came to Singapore shortly after it opened. They planned a very romantic walk, starting at Marina Bay, walking all the way to drink water from the Merlion.
But when they came back, they said, “It was hot. It was murky. The sun was blazing. And when we finally reached the Merlion, it was having a shower.”
Expectation and reality were very different.
Sometimes when we read the books of prophecy, we also have expectations—but reality can be different.
The Jewish people expected the Messiah to come on a white horse, conquering. But He came into Jerusalem on a donkey.
With that in mind, let us begin by reading Mark 13.
Reading of Scripture: Mark 13:1–8
As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
And Jesus said to him, “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”
And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; these things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pains.”
Prayer
Let us pray.
Our God and Father, we thank You that today we are brought back again to remember the Lord in His death—to remember His love for us and His care for us. And yet as we open up Your Scriptures, we go back to the time when He predicted His coming again.
We pray that as we look into Scripture, You will touch our hearts, energize us, and renew our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. We commit ourselves to You, praying for wisdom, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Two Topics in Mark 13
I would like to talk about two topics today.
First, the initial fulfillment of the prophecy Jesus spoke about.
Second, the end times.
More than fifteen years ago, our brother Unsu was leading the CP, and we studied prophecy together. One principle that was emphasized is the principle of double fulfillment or double reference—that sometimes when Scripture speaks about prophecy, there is an immediate fulfillment and also a future fulfillment.
When Jesus spoke about the temple—“not one stone will be left upon another”—this prophecy is recorded in three Gospels. In Mark and Luke, Jesus says essentially the same thing. But in Matthew, we are told more clearly that Jesus was answering three questions.
The disciples asked:
Often we jump straight to the end of the age. Today, I would like to spend most of our time on the first fulfillment, and then briefly talk about the end times.
The First Fulfillment: The Destruction of the Temple
The good thing about the first fulfillment—the fall of the temple in Jerusalem—is that we have many historical records. The most important source is the Bible, but we also have other significant historical sources.
One of the most important is Flavius Josephus.
Josephus was born Yoseph ben Matanyahu, from a priestly family descended from Aaron. His wife was from the Hasmonean royal family. He was upper class, a Pharisee, a priest, a general in the Jewish army, a scholar, and a historian. He understood both the religious life and the political and military realities of his time.
He fought against the Romans, but when the Romans defeated him, they were so impressed by him that they spared his life. Eventually, the Roman emperor adopted him and gave him the name “Flavius,” after the ruling dynasty. Josephus later wrote several works, including accounts of the Jewish War.
False Messiahs
The first warning Jesus gave was this: many will come in My name.
In Acts 5, we read about Theudas, who claimed to be somebody. We read about Judas of Galilee, who founded the Zealots and led a violent resistance against Rome. There was Simon of Perea, a former slave of Herod who declared himself Messiah. There was also a Jewish Egyptian prophet who led a revolt and was killed by Felix.
At that time, there were several Jewish groups—the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Essenes—but another group became a major problem: the Zealots.
The Zealots believed in independence through violence. They assassinated Roman officials and Jewish leaders who cooperated with Rome. A more extreme faction among them, called the Sicarii, were assassins. Historians describe them as some of the earliest terrorists in Palestine—though supporters would call them freedom fighters.
Interestingly, when Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He chose Simon Peter—and also Simon the Zealot. Among the apostles was a former terrorist.
Josephus blamed the Zealots for provoking Rome and bringing destruction upon Jerusalem.
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars.
At that time, the Roman Empire was in chaos. Emperor Nero ruled violently and unpredictably. After his suicide, there was a rapid succession of emperors—Galba, Otho, Vitellius—each assassinated in turn. In one year, Rome had four emperors.
This chaos led to uprisings throughout the empire. Nations rose against nations. Kingdoms fought kingdoms.
Because of this instability, Jewish rebels believed it was their opportunity to break free from Rome.
Earthquakes and Famines
Jesus also spoke of earthquakes and famines.
Historical records show earthquakes in Smyrna, Miletus, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colossae, Rome, and Pompeii. Pompeii’s destruction was so sudden that people were buried in the midst of daily life.
The philosopher Seneca wrote about cities repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes across Asia, Syria, Macedonia, Cyprus, and beyond.
There were also famines. In Acts 11, Agabus prophesied a great famine during the reign of Claudius. Roman historians recorded that Rome itself had no more than fifteen days’ supply of food at one point.
Imagine what that meant for the rest of the empire.
The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
When Rome was weakened by internal chaos, the Zealots revolted. Vespasian was sent to crush the rebellion, but he was recalled to Rome to become emperor. Command passed to his son, Titus.
Titus pushed the rebels south until they retreated into Jerusalem—the most fortified city in Judea.
Jerusalem’s population was normally around 250,000, but it was Passover. Pilgrims and refugees flooded in, swelling the population to over a million—some estimate up to three million.
The city had water, thanks to Hezekiah’s tunnel—but food became the problem.
Inside the city, the Zealots seized control. They assassinated moderate leaders. The city was divided into rival factions. Grain stores were controlled by violent leaders. Citizens were terrorized.
When Titus finally sealed the city, famine took hold. People starved. Violence increased. Bodies piled up in the streets. Disease spread.
Josephus records that people boiled leather, animal skins—even shoes—for food.
He tells the horrifying story of a woman named Mary, driven mad by hunger, who killed and ate her own child. When rebels smelled the food and came to her house, she showed them what she had done.
This was the condition of Jerusalem.
In the end, more than 1.1 million Jews died—mostly from famine, disease, and violence from their own people. Around 97,000 were taken captive. Many were crucified.
If you go to Rome today and see the Arch of Titus, you can still see carvings depicting the destruction of Jerusalem.
What Happened to the Christians?
What about the Christians?
Jesus had warned them.
“When you see the abomination of desolation… flee.”
Luke records it even more clearly:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.”
This instruction was counterintuitive. Instead of fleeing to the strongest city, Jesus told them to leave it.
And they obeyed.
Early Christian records tell us that believers fled Jerusalem and crossed the Jordan to a city called Pella. It was a one-and-a-half to two-day journey. There, they were safe.
Every word the Lord Jesus spoke was fulfilled.
The message then was: watch and flee.
From Then to Now: Watch and Pray
Let us jump briefly to today.
The Bible speaks of the last days and the end times.
The last days began with the Lord’s first coming and continue until He returns.
The end times refer to a period of intense suffering before His return.
Throughout history, Christians have speculated. Are we in the end times? Is this person in prophecy? Is that event a sign?
Many have made predictions—and all have been wrong.
Harold Camping predicted the end multiple times, destroying lives and families. Others tied prophecy to dates like 1981 or 1988, based on interpretations of the fig tree.
But when we read the Gospels carefully, especially Luke, Jesus speaks not only of the fig tree—but all the trees. He is speaking of discernment, not date-setting.
Yes, Israel has a role in God’s plan. But Scripture does not give us permission to predict dates.
Christians throughout history—Augustine, Luther, Wycliffe—longed for the Lord’s return. That longing is natural and right.
But Jesus never said, “Watch and predict.”
He said, “Watch and pray.”
“Of that day and hour no one knows—not even the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Prediction leads to pride and confusion. Prayer leads to faithfulness.
Living Ready
There is a story about St. Francis. One day, someone asked him, “If you knew Jesus was coming today, what would you do?”
He replied, “I would finish digging this patch of vegetables.”
He lived ready.
He did not panic. He did not speculate. He lived faithfully.
That is what the Lord calls us to do.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away.
The first time, the message was watch and flee.
For us today, the message is watch and pray.
Be ready.
Closing Prayer
Let us pray.
Our God and Father, we thank You for today. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You that the Lord Jesus reminds us that heaven and earth may pass away, but none of His words will pass away.
Encourage us. You are Jehovah Shalom—the Lord of peace. Give us peace in difficult times. Help us draw closer to You. Help us renew our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the precious sweetness of remembering Him each Lord’s Day as we break bread together.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.