SECTION XVII.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END OF THE WORLD.

(Mark xiii. 3-37.)

Immediately afterwards, we find the Lord sitting on the Mount of Olives, over against the temple — probably still on the same evening. Here the four disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, asked Him privately, 'Tell us, when shall these things be? and what is the sign when all these things shall be accomplished?.' Then Jesus, in order to give them an answer, began to speak — expressed Himself in the following words: 'Take heed that no man deceive you! For many shall come and say, I am he! and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars, be not troubled: for thus it must be; but that is not yet the end. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes from place to place, and there shall be famines and commotions: these are the beginning of throes — the pains of the world's travail. But take ye heed only to yourselves. For they shall deliver you up (over) to the sanhedrims, and to the synagogues; ye shall be (there) beaten (scourged); and ye shall stand before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony unto them. And among all nations must first (before the end) the Gospel be published. But when they shall lead you away, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, and trouble not yourselves; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and the children shall rise up against the parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake. But he that endure tli unto the end, the same shall be saved.'

So much, regarding the whole course of human history to the end of the world.

As regards, however, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the judgments therewith connected in particular: 'When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, of which the prophet Daniel hath spoken, standing where it ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them (the disciples) that be in Judea (in contradistinction from those of Galilee) flee to the mountains (to Perea); and let him that is on the house-top not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house; and let him that is in the field not turn back again to his house, to fetch his upper garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as hath not been from the beginning of the creation, which God created, unto this time, and such as shall no more be. And except that the Lord shortened those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, the days shall be shortened (made more tolerable). And then, if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, Lo, He is there; believe it not. For false messiahs (Christs) and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed; behold! I have foretold you it all.'

This is the judgment in the course of the world's history, as it begins with the destruction of Jerusalem.

The conclusion of it is the end of the world, and this makes its appearance in the form described as follows: 'But in those days — of silently advancing judgment, — after that tribulation — the destruction of Jerusalem — the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall — appear as falling stars, — and the powers of heaven shall be shaken — and thereby transformed. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with great power and glory. And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.'

In reference to the signs preceding the divine judgments, Jesus expressed Himself in the following parable: 'From the fig-tree learn this parable: When its branch is now full of sap, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. So ye, in like manner, when ye shall see these things — the signs already mentioned— come to pass, know that it — the judgment itself — is nigh, even at the door.'

To this the Lord still added a special application of the subject, for the benefit of the disciples:

' Verily I say unto you, That this generation — this race of Christians — shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and of the hour knoweth no man, nor the angels which are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Take ye heed, watch and pray! for ye know not when the time is. As a man, taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave to his servants authority — the management of his goods — to each man his woi-k, and commanded the porter to keep — good — watch; watch therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!'

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