Mark 13:2  “…Not one stone shall be left upon another…”
Apparently Titus of Rome will order that the city be completely demolished.  Not just conquered, but destroyed as well.  Commentaries didn’t give any further information on it.  Will need to check other sources to get the full story of what happened.  Josephus was mentioned, Wars of the Jews.

3  “…He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple…”
Get the impression Jesus’s mood had Him sitting on the Mount of Olives gazing back at the Temple and the city.  Matthew gives more of His apparent feelings at the moment.

4  “…when will these things be…”
This would have been something new.  Jesus had been telling them of His coming betrayal, death, and resurrection, but now He’s told them that Jerusalem will be destroyed.  That didn’t fit in with the idea of Him becoming a current ruler at all.

6  “…will come in My name…”
Did He mean not just the Messiah, but as Jesus Himself.  Commentaries differed on this.  Given the context that He is about to leave and will come again, I would go with Jesus Himself.  Regardless of personal belief, the whole world knows of Jesus and what He did.  Claims of the Messiah would be as Jesus.  Others don’t get much traction.

8  “…nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”
I can see why the world wars appeared to be the fulfillment of this.  And why after two of them people get calloused about it.

8  “…earthquakes in various places…”
Used to hear of earthquakes over known fault lines.  Now it seems it doesn’t matter.  They appear to happen anywhere, any time.

8  “…the beginnings of sorrows”
Phrase used to denote an increase, like in labor pains.

11  “…do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak…whatever is given you in that hour, speak that…”
Don’t concern yourself with what you might say when this happens.  Dependence on Christ through the Spirit when the time comes.  Doesn’t mean we don’t study His word to know and understand what He’s told us thus far.  But when the time comes, we rely on the Spirit to give us what He wants said.

13  “…he who endures to the end shall be saved”
The endurance doesn’t save you.  The only way you can endure to the end is if you belong to Christ.

14  “…flee to the mountains”
Some suggest those in Jerusalem will flee to the area of Petra when the Antichrist sets himself up in the Temple.  Will need to check and see if that is considered a mountainous area.

16  “…him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes”
He’s not working naked, but he won’t have time to run home and change out of his working garments.  Will just need to take off as he is.

19  “…nor ever shall be”
Parallels running through here between the destruction by Rome a few years later and the end of time.  But this mention of tribulation which had never been before and won’t be again can only point to that of the end.

21  “…if anyone says to you…”
When Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation, you won’t have to hear it from someone else.  The whole world will know about it when it happens.  Won’t be like His first coming when only a few knew of it.

22  “…wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”
As long as we rely on the Spirit and God’s word, we won’t have to worry about being deceived.  Another reason it’s so important to stay in His word and remain close to Him.

24  “…in those days, after that tribulation…”
At the end.

26  “…they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory”
Why you won’t have to rely on second hand information.  All will see the arrival of Christ.

29  “…when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors!”
Doesn’t give a specific date, but He warns us to pay attention and realize when the time is drawing near.

30  “…this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”
Not the generation that heard Him speak the words, but the generation that sees all these things happening.

31  “…My words will by no means pass away”
It’s going to happen.

32-33  “…of that day and hour no one knows…watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is”
The specific date and time.  Which is why He says to watch for the signs.  If we knew the exact date and time, there would be no reason to watch.  We’d just wait until the time arrived.  But all we’re given are the signs that will occur when the time is near.  Unfortunately, many today stop at verse 32.  But we are definitely told to watch.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.