Mark 13.  Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple area – so vast that it covered 1/6th of the entire area of Jerusalem.  Jesus had just “dropped the bomb,” indicating that it would be destroyed.  The four fishermen disciples asked some questions about the future.  They wanted to know when “these things” (the destruction of the temple) and “all these things” (his coming and the end of the age) would happen.

1. Jesus warned that the destruction of the temple was immanent.  It would happen within their lifetime.  It was part of God’s judgment upon the present Jews in Jerusalem for having rejected their Messiah.  It would not be delayed (14-20; 28-31).
2. Most of the other signs (false Christs, wars, persecutions, earthquakes, famines, etc.) will come and go throughout the entire age – intermittently, like birth pains.  They are not signs of the end, but of the age itself.  During this age the gospel will be preached to all nations, then the end will come (5-13; 21-23).
3. When Christ does come, it will be obvious – a cataclysmic event which cannot be hidden..  But no one will know the day nor the hour beforehand, so believers must keep awake and prepared for it at any time (24-27; 32-36).

LORD,  may we keep awake and proclaim your gospel to the nations in anticipation of your appearing.