I do not think we can treat this "little apocalypse" (Mark 13) as virgin words of Jesus. There is all sorts of evidence that suggests that the accounts were developed from earlier sources that in turn also exhibit signs dating them to after Jesus' death. We are already a generation or more form Jesus' supposed time.
Mark 13:1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" |
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2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down." |
Informed by Josephus' War |
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3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, |
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4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accomplished?" |
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5 And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. |
This seems to assume that Jesus planned all along to die and return in resurrected form. I would think this more likely represents a rationalization that took place after Jesus' death. |
6 Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. |
"My name?" What is that supposed to mean? As a messiah or anointed ruler, perhaps, as this did occur in the war of 66-73 (e.g., Menahem, John of Gischala, and Simon bar Giora was probably a deliberate corruption for his real secret identity, Simon son of Ger = "a (hu)man being"). |
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7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. |
The coming of the SoM will not be achieved through warfare. |
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. |
Wars are just antecedents to the coming of the SoM. |
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9 "But take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them. |
This seems more to do with the period when the early gentile-Christians were separating themselves from Judaism, so would have to follow Jesus' own time, unless Jesus actually was precient. |
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10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. |
This surely was an attempt to explain away why the end did not occur as quickly as assumed. |
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11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. |
See 9 |
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12 And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; |
12-13 Continuation of 7-8 |
13 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. |
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14 "But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; |
"This aside" is meant to warn readers that Josephus was wrong to say that the messiah who would come to rule the world, predicted in the book of Daniel, was Vespasian (or Titus). The detail is, IMHO, clearly based on Titus' subjection of Jerusalem. The "mountains" = Masada. |
15 let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything away; |
Full retreat after Titus captures the capital of Judea |
16 and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. |
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17 And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! |
The woman who ate her own child on account of famine in the city under seige, as told in War. |
18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. |
It happened in Summer (9 Ab in 70 CE would probably July-Sept, depending on intercalations) |
19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. |
Well, I'm sure there have been many horrific events, like the holocaust or other attempts at regional ethnic cleansing and total war, that match the Judean war of 66-73 CE. |
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20 And if the Lord had not shortened the days (Joel 2:11), no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. |
Joel 2:11 "... the day of the Lord is great, very glorious, and who shall be able to resist it?" "Human being" is probably a reference to Simon bar Ger, see 6 above. As it was, Simon came out of hiding in royal apparel as the carnage was raging around after the city fell, and was captured by the Romans for later execution at the triumphal celebration in Rome. |
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21 And then if any one says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. |
Explaining it all away |
22 False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. |
Vespasian and/or Titus were thus "false christs." |
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23 But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand. |
A later gloss that assumes Jesus knew all about what would happen 66-73 CE |
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24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, (Joel 3:15) |
24-25 All comes from book of Joel |
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven (Joel 2:10 & 3:15), and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Joel 2:10). |
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26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. |
26-27 I cannot be sure whether Jesus is being made to refer to himself, an anacrhonism of sorts, as I would think this doctrine was developed after Jesus' death, or of Jesus was using "Son of Man" talk, although I doubt it. The reference to a "son of man" is from the book of Daniel, but the coming on the clouds is a later adaptation. |
27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. |
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28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. |
28-31 This is all Christian lore about how Jesus knew well what would happen 66-73 CE. |
29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. |
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30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. |
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31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. |
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32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. |
"If you were fooled by Josephus into thinking that Vespasian or Titus were the predicted ruler, then you are wrooooong!" |
33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. |
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