Interpreting the Olivet Discourse is complicated which causes some people to personalize as it relates it to their own lives. To study it in greater detail, however, means that we will have to make some interpretative decisions for ourselves. Specifically, what part relates to things that will happen versus things that have happened? Second, what is God’s part and what is our part? In other words, is this something we build on or does it break in on us? Third is whether this is something that is going to affect only us or does it affect the cosmos? Finally, does this apply only to Christians or is it broader (Israel, for example).
Mark 13:9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them. 10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. NHEB
This first set of verses deal with things that are happening externally, i.e., things that will happen to you. If the world hates Jesus, it will also hate His followers. This is the experience of many early Christians however, the opposition the church faced at this time was Israel rather than Rome. (See the first ten chapters or so of Acts for more). The opposition is external but also came within families.
The Gospel was spread to all of the known nations prior to the fall of Jerusalem but not to all nations. Based upon the statistics at Wycliffe.net, there are 7,388 languages in the world spread over a population of 7.14 billion people. As of this date, there are full Bible translations in 724 languages covering 5.9 billion of those people and about 1,617 translations of the New Testament (some with part of the Old Testament completed) that adds about 797 million people to the total. There are still hundreds of millions of people without a Bible in their first language. It would not be unreasonable to conclude from these statistics that the Gospel is still being spread throughout the world today.
Mark 13:14 So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. 16 And let no one in the field return for his cloak. 17 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not occur in the winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance. BSB
Every Jew hearing this would immediately understand that the abomination of desolation as pointing to that time when Antiochus IV outlawed the practice of Judaism. After stealing, killing and selling people into slavery (and destroying the town), he ultimately sacrificed a pig on the sacred altar. When this happened, the Jews rise up in the Maccabean revolt and defeat him. The temple has been defiled by Antiochus but they don’t have enough oil to reconsecrate the temple. They trust that God will provide and the limited amount of oil they had lasts the entire 8 days needed. For the Jews, it is their faithful resistance that carried the day and threw off the Greek empire for about a hundred years until the Romans come along
Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 26 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. BSB
There are differing interpretations, most of which depend upon where you draw the line between the destruction of the temple in 70AD and the Second Coming. There are many theologians who will state that this entire section (14 through verse 23) relates to the destruction of the temple in 70AD with the rest tied to the future Second Coming. Other major positions are that all of this occurred by the time the temple was destroyed in 70AD or that all of this relates to the events that will happen in the future.
Those holding to a future only view will point to the description of the tribulation noting that there have been far worse events in history (the Holocaust, for one that killed a greater percentage of the world’s Jewish population than the destruction of the temple in 70AD). They will also note that Christ is to return immediately after the tribulation and also question whether the destruction in 70AD is what is being referred to since the man of lawlessness has not appeared. (To that end, Nero has been put forth as a candidate by those holding to a Preterist view). Others have noted that a complete destruction of the temple by the Romans would seem to qualify as an abomination). A problem here is that there will need to be a third temple if the abomination of desolation is a future event. On the other side, it is useful to read Josephus’ history of the battle between the Jews and Romans in 70AD as his description of the events parallels much of what Jesus predicted. Also, much of biblical prophecy speaks one dimensionally without regard to time, such as the gap here between the destruction of the temple and the still awaited return of Christ.
Mark 13:28 ” Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or the hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the lord of the house is coming –at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36 lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” NHEB
The phrase “this generation” can cause some consternation as there are people who will argue that this means the generation hearing the words of Jesus rather than the generation that experiences these happenings in the future. Another problem area is that some will use the idea of Jesus not knowing when this time will occur as a way to downgrade Him but we need to keep in mind that Jesus has emptied Himself to become human.
Matthew talks about the Olivet Discourse in chapter 24 and follows it with three parables in chapter 25. The message of the first parable about the virgins is that we need to be ready. The second parable tells us that when Jesus returns, He should find us working with the talents given to us. The third parable concerns judgment. We don’t know when Jesus will return so we need to live everyday as if today is the day. Each time the New Testament talks about what God is going to do, it’s purpose isn’t speculative or to fuel debate but rather to keep us focused on being faithful because we know it is going to happen. While there is much debate, no one’s salvation is in jeopardy as a result of their differing eschatological viewpoints. Our goal should be to maintain our awareness without being so focused on determining the exact day that we end up missing the Second Coming!