SN - notes from 6/19/10
SN 6/19/10 - study
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The Temple and the Times - part 1
Mark 13:1-13
v1. The temple
1. This temple was originally built by Solomon and then rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Ezra (Ezra 6:15).
2. It was greatly expanded and improved by Herod - nearly 500 yards long X 400 yards wide; built from 19 b.c to 63 a.d. (taking more than eighty years); with individual bricks weighing around 400 tons.
3. It was one of the wonders of the ancient world.
4. It was the center for Jewish life for hundreds of years.
5. People swore by it (Matt. 23:16) and it was considered blasphemy to speak against it (Acts 6:13)
6. The 12 were obviously impressed by it. Jesus was not.
Why?
a. b/c the sacrificial system took place inside and was a “shadow”/”symbolic” (Hebrews 9) of what He would do on the cross
b. b/c the temple had become an idol
Matt. 12:6 - But I say unto you, that in this place is [one] greater than the temple.
c. b/c He knew, regardless of how beautiful, it was temporal and would be destroyed in 70 AD.
d. Don’t worship things with an expiration date - people, things, etc.
v2 - Jesus’ prophecy - within 40 years, Titus was dispatched by Nero to deal with wide spread rebellion from the Zealots.
1. Josephus recorded that 1.1 million Jews were killed and close to 100K were enslaved - many were burned to death as they took refuge in the temple…
a. “Now, as soon as the army had no more people to kill or plunder … Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple … this was the end which Jerusalem came to.” (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 7.1.1)
b. Once on fire, all of the gold from the temple melted and went between the stones - to get the gold, the soldiers pulled them apart (somehow) and in so doing, fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy.
2. The literal fulfillment of this prophecy in 70 AD sets the tone for the rest of the prophecies in the chapter - expect them to happen.
v3-4 - 1 mountain top view and 2 questions:
1. When will these things be? (tonight’s study)
2. What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?
(next week’s study)
v5 - Jesus’ “3 part” answer:
1. v5 = applies to both questions
“Take heed that no one deceive you.”
2. v6-13 = answers the 1st question (the destruction of Jerusalem)
3. v14-37 = answers the 2nd question (the end of the world - tribulation) - next week
v6 - False Jesus’ with false teachings will come
1. Many of which are documented in the epistles - Col. 2:8, 2 Tim. 2:17-18 (Hymenaeus and Philetus), 2 Tim. 3:13, 2 Peter 2, 1 John 2:18, 2 John 1:7, Jude 4 - 9;
v7 - wars and rumors of wars (and v8 - nation against nation)
1. Possibly the first Jewish-Roman War (66–70 CE), sometimes called The Great Revolt
v8a - earthquakes -
1. Pliny the Elder described a massive earthquake that destroyed a large section of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Philedelphia, Sardis, etc.) in the year A.D. 17
2. Eusebius is said to have chronicled an earthquake destroying Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Chron. Olymp. 210.4) in the 10th year of Nero [AD 64].
3. Tacitus records a quake in the 7th year of Nero (Emperor of Rome from AD 54-68) putting the earthquake around AD 61—Annals 14.27.
4. Jesus does not skirt the age old athiestic question of how a loving God can allow natural disasters - He says that they will happen, so be ready spiritually speaking. This same mentality is also alluded to in Luke 13:4-5
a. Luke 13:4-5 - “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
b. The idea is that since sin leads to death (Rom. 3:23), be ready when it’s time to die - by earthquake, tower, old age, etc!
c. So, this aspect of prophesy was fulfilled prior to the destruction of the temple.
v8b - famines
1. A famine was predicted by Agabus in Acts 11:28 and Josephus (Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20, Chapter 2, Paragraph 1, Line 1, Paragraph 3, Line 37, and Paragraph 5, Lines 51–53) makes mention of a famine which occurred A.D. 45.
2. Tacitus writing in AD 109 and Eusebius (AD 260–340) also confirm this famine taking place during the reign of Claudius Caesar.
3. Plus, Titus surrounded Jerusalem and allowed people in, but not out, to escalate the loss of food and water to the city - this was basically a famine as well.
v9 - delivered to councils
1. Initially - Peter and co. (Acts 5), Stephen (Acts 7), Paul (Acts 23)
2. contextually - numerous times during the persecutions which took place in the reigns of Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinus the Thracian, Decius, Valerian, Diocletian and Galerius
3. In his Annals, Tacitus states that “to get rid of the report (of setting Rome on fire), Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace” (The Annals)
This is important b/c Paul points out in:
a. Col. 1:5-6 - “…which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has in all the world…
b. Col. 1:23 - “…of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven…”
c. Rom. 1:8 - First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
d. 1 Thess. 1:8 - For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
These verses prove v10 - that the gospel was preached to all the nations.
v11 - The Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak
1. Again, this was verified by Stephen (Acts 7) and Peter (Acts 4:8) - to name a few
2. This does not mean to be ignorant of the scriptures so you can “freestyle” it by the Spirit.
a. 2 Tim. 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
b. 1 Pet. 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
c. Ezra 7:10 - For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
v12 - these undoubtedly took place b/c they do to this day - possibly happened to Paul as well.
v13a - hated for His name’s sake
1. Not hated b/c you are a jerk, or a legalist, or too liberal
2. Ironically Jesus was a friend of sinners, but hated by the most religious people. We love God, love people, whether they love back or not.
3. On turning the other cheek.
v13b - enduring to the end
1. recall from last week that salvation merits a 3 part description:
a. Justification - I repent and accept
b. Sanctification - I continue no matter what
c. Glorification - I reign with Jesus
a. John 8:31 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indee
b. Acts 13:43 - Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
c. Acts 14:22 - Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
d. Acts 26:22 - Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
e. Rom. 11:22 - Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut o
f. Col 1:23 - If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
g. 1 Tim. 4:16 - Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
h. 2 Tim. 3:14 - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them];
applications -
1. be focused solely on Jesus -stop idolatry in your life - this especially includes the kind that occurs within the church (the temple was the context earlier)
2. be “ready” tonight - life is unpredictable.
3. be hated for the right reason
4. be resilient - continue regardless of the season
