LUKE 21

 Jesus was in the temple when he observed the rich and a poor woman giving to the treasury. The rich gave out of their abundance and the poor woman gave out of her poverty all the livelihood that she had. 

His disciples remarked about the beautifully adorned temple, and Jesus replied that one day "these things which you see --- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." His disciples asked when will this happen?

Jesus warned them not to be deceived, "For many will come in My name saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 

Nation will rise against nation...there will be great earthquakes...and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you...wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents...and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. 

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near...For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled...And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

 Then Jesus talked about His Second Coming: There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and in the sea and of the nations on earth, there will be great distress. Men's hearts will fail from fear and expectation of those things, "for the powers of heaven will be shaken."

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and life your heads, because your redemption draws near. 

 Next, Jesus used the parable of the fig tree: when they are budding, you know that summer is near. So when you see the things He just described happening, the kingdom of God is near. 

Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will by no means pass away.

He warned again not to be distracted with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this world because that Day will come unexpectedly. 

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

COMMENTARY

Regarding the rich giving to the treasury out of their abundance and the poor woman giving all of her livelihood, God looks at the sacrifice and how much we keep back for ourselves. 

Then the disciples wanted to direct His attention to the wealth and value of the temple. But Jesus wanted them to know that it would all be gone. So they asked when.

This section of Luke corresponds with the Olivet Discourse in Matthew and Mark. In Matthew's and Mark's gospels, the question posed was "What is the sign of Your coming?" and "the end of the age?" In Luke's gospel, he emphasizes that "there shall not be left one stone upon another," which is the destruction of Jerusalem. The question: when shall these things be (no stone left upon another), is no longer prophecy but history. This occurred in A. D. 70.

Some of the disciples present to hear the answer to the question would have likely still be alive these 40 years later to see the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and would remember Jesus' words. (Of course, this similar destruction will occur in the Great Tribulation period, too, after the temple is rebuilt.)

Jesus described the characteristics of the times, and even now: there will be false Christs, wars, famines, illnesses, earthquakes, and fearful sights from heaven, which will probably intensify as we get closer to Jesus' coming. 

Then Jesus said, regarding the nation Israel and persecutions, "...they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prison..." which did happen to the disciples. 

And the betrayal by parents and family and friends...hated by all men for my name's sake, McGee said this verse refers to the 144,000 Jews who will be indestructible during the time of the Great Tribulation Period. I did not confirm. 

From the time of the first destruction of the temple (and likely before) we have been living in the times of the Gentiles. When those times are fulfilled, Jesus will return. But just before then, there will be great signs in the sky and great distress on earth. Again, this will be during the Great Tribulation.

The Destruction of the Temple - Colman, 1835

 

LUKE 17

 Jesus said snares in life will be impossible to avoid, and "...woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend [believers]."

If a brother sins against you, and asks forgiveness, forgive him; if he sins seven times in one day against you, and asks forgiveness, forgive him.

The disciples asked Jesus to give them more faith because they felt incapable of keeping such standards, and Jesus told them that if they had faith as a mustard seed, they could do anything. He told them a parable about a servant serving his master and not expecting special favor for doing what was his duty in the first place. According to the MacArthur Bible Study: the demanding standards Christ set may have seemed too high to the disciples, but they represented only the minimal duties for a servant of Christ.

Next, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem and ten men who were lepers cried out to Him, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. Immediately, they were cleansed as they went on their way. Then one man returned to Christ, glorified God, and fell down on his face at Jesus' feet to thank Him. The man was a Samaritan. Jesus pointed out that there were ten men, and only the one returned to thank Him, and He was a foreigner. Jesus told him that His faith saved him. 

Then the Pharisees asked Jesus about the kingdom of God, and He answered that the kingdom of God will come without observation because it is within you. He told His disciples that they will desire to see the days of the Son of Man, but they will not. And some will say, " 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."

Jesus also told them that in those days it will be like it was in the days of Noah and of Lot --men ate, drank, and married, and then the floods came or fire and brimstone came from heaven and all were destroyed. "So it will be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed."

Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 

He also told them that there will be two sleeping and one will be taken and the other left, or two in the field and one will be taken and one left, and the disciples asked where; and Jesus replied: "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

COMMENTARY

Jesus told His disciples to be very careful not to cause anyone, particularly a young person, to end up in hell. It would be better for you to drown in the sea. 

He also commanded believers to forgive always. Be ready for forgive and as many times as the offender asks forgiveness, forgive. Now, He also makes room for believers to point out a brother's offense, and God willing, it leads to repentance. 

Jesus taught His disciples that keeping God's Law is their duty and they should not expect special privilege. We cannot earn favor with God for doing what we are already commanded to do. 

The story about the ten lepers demonstrated the need for a grateful heart toward Christ. Only one man was grateful to Jesus for healing him, and He was a Samaritan. Jesus forgave his sins. He was saved, but the other ten were not. They were not even grateful for what Jesus did. 

When the Pharisees asked about the kingdom of God, Jesus did not tell them that the kingdom was inside of their wicked hearts, but that it was in their midst, right before them. The kingdom is in the hearts of those who believe He is the Savior. 

THE SECOND COMING

McGee said it best: 

One of the greatest delusions of our time is that man is going to improve himself and his world; that he is going to build the kingdom of God without God. He expects to bring in the Millennium without Christ. 

Jesus is now speaking about His second coming. He was an eschatological teacher and He spoke about the future. He warned His disciples not to be misled about His second coming. There will be two phases to His return. The first is the rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18): a taking away of believers from the earth; but in this passage He is talking about the second phase: His return to earth to establish His kingdom. This occurs after the rapture and Great Tribulation. 

The first time Jesus came, His people failed to recognize Him. They expected a conquering Messiah to overthrow Rome. Instead, He came as a baby and lived a life of poverty. Then He went to the cross. But in His second coming, He will not be isolated to one place, and all will see Him. It will be like lightning in the sky. 

In that time, the people will be distracted with their selfish, personal pursuits, eating, drinking, and marrying, ignorant of God and His judgment. Jesus tells us to remember Lot's wife. She loved the world, and she was made into a pillar of salt for her disbelief. In that day, no one will be able to avoid calamity. No one will save his life.

For those taken out of the world and the ones left behind, this is not the rapture, but judgment. This is what Jesus talked about in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:37-41. The ungodly are taken away in judgment and the one left behind will enter the Millennial kingdom. One will be working, one will be sleeping implies that this will happen all over the world. 

Finally, there is the Battle of Armageddon (See Revelation 19:17): when the whole world will prepare to fight Christ, and lose. And then Christ will set up His kingdom upon the earth. 

The Battle of Armageddon

  

LUKE 13

 Jesus was asked about the lives of those who suffered and died at the hands of Pilate, and He in turn asked them if they supposed those people were worse sinners than others, because all that mattered was that they repented or they would likewise perish. The same for the people who were killed when a tower fell on them. 

Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

He spoke a parable of a fig tree and, the owner seeing there was no fruit on it wanted to cut it down, but the keeper told him to wait because he will fertilize it and see if it bears fruit. But if not, then he will cut it down. 

Next, Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath and a woman with an infirmity of eighteen years, unable to stand upright, was there; and Jesus healed her. She was made straight and glorified God. But the religious rulers, reminded Him of the six days of work and one day of rest, rebuking Him for working on the day of rest. Jesus called them hypocrites and asked which one of them does not lead his ox or donkey to water on the Sabbath. Therefore, He said the woman should be loosed from the bond on the Sabbath. And the leaders were put to shame, but the people rejoiced.

Jesus asked what the kingdom of God was like, and He said it was like a mustard seed that is planted in a garden that grows into a tree where the birds of the air may rest. Or the kingdom is like leaven, which a woman hid in meal until it was all leavened. 

Jesus went through the villages towards Jerusalem, teaching, when one asked HIm if there were few who were saved. He replied 

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many...will seek to enter and will not be able...The Master [will] shut the door and you [will] stand outside and knock...saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will...say..., 'I do not know you...' then you will...say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

Then Pharisees told Jesus to depart from there because Herod wanted to kill Him. But Jesus rebuked Herod and said on the third day He will be perfected. Then He cried out for Jerusalem saying, 

How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 

COMMENTARY 

The parable of the fig tree, again, represents Israel. When Jesus came, He found Israel not walking in the light, though they were promised blessing if they obeyed God. He would have cut her off, but the keeper of the vineyard said he would fertilize and wait to see if fruit will come, representative of God's patience with Israel. However, Israel has rejected Christ, and they were scattered abroad. Today, those who live in Israel do not live in peace, and there will not be peace in Israel until Jesus returns. 

The parable of the mustard seed serves to demonstrate Christendom. The larger it grows the more it loses its true character. The birds symbolize Satan who is always active in influencing the Church. Furthermore, leaven represents evil (hypocrisy). You can see that a little hypocrisy will infect the truth. Some believe leaven to symbolize the gospel in this parable, and that spreading it will convert and save the whole world. But there will be no peace and no kingdom on earth until Jesus returns to establish His kingdom Himself. The Church cannot bring in His kingdom.

When someone asked if few would be saved, Jesus basically told him that the cost of following Him is great. In the OT, we see the multitudes following Christ and glorifying Him and praising Him, but by the time of His crucifiction, it seemed the multitude turned on Him. That is how finicky people are. But in this moment, Jesus told the man to make sure you are saved; don't just assume because you are a Jew that you will go to heaven. Others who are not sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be admitted, while you will be standing outside the door, unable to get in. 

 

LUKE 12

 The crowds following Jesus had swelled and people were trampled. 

Jesus told His disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy." Nothing will be kept secret. Also, do not be afraid of those who can only kill the body; but fear Him who not only can kill the body but can send your soul to hell. Know that God values His own more than the sparrows, whom He does not forget. 

Jesus also told them that whoever confesses Him before men, He will confess before God; but he who denies Him before men will be denied before God. Anyone who speaks against Him will be forgiven, but if he blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Do not worry what you should say when they bring you before authorities because the Holy Spirit will help you.

Then a man in the crowd wanted Jesus to tell his brother to share half of the inheritance, and Jesus said He was not come to arbitrate and warned him of covetousness because life is more than our possessions. Then Jesus gave a parable: A man enjoyed plenty from his fields and decided to build a bigger barn to store all of his goods. He told himself that he could relax for years: "eat, drink, and be merry." But the Lord called him a fool because that night God required his soul, and after his death, his possessions were no longer his but someone else's. 

So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink or wear because life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. You cannot add to your life by worrying. God cares for His creation, how much more will He care for you, "O you of little faith?"

Seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you. 

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Jesus also warned them to be ready and waiting for when the Master returns. Watch and be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Be a faithful and wise steward that when the Son of Man returns will find his servants doing his work. Those who slack will be cut off. 

And those who do not know better will be given less punishment, but to those who knew and still slacked, much more will be required of them. 

Jesus told His disciples that He came to send fire on the earth, but first He must be crucified. Jesus did not come to bring peace, but division. There will be divisions among families where some believe and others do not. 

Finally, He pointed out that Israel knows the sign of the skies, but they are not able to discern the times. 

COMMENTARY

Jesus did not want to judge the man regarding the inheritance with his brother because that is not why He came the first time; He came to save. However, during His Second Coming He will sit in judgement. However, Jesus did warn the man to be careful of covetousness, which is why He told the parable of the foolish rich man who stored up his goods in a barn and then died the next day. His attitude was sinful because he was selfish, self-centered, and materialistic. He coveted wealth and luxury. Better it would be if he stored up his treasures in heaven. Life is not all there is. Man has an eternal soul, and one day he must give an account for his life in the presence of God. 

The parable about the master returning from the wedding pertains to Israel regarding Jesus' Second Coming. When Jesus returns for His Church at the time of the rapture as the bridegroom, He should find His believers ready and doing His will, and they will rise to meet Him in the air. However, where "bridegroom" changes to "thief in the night," that is an unexpected return. That is His Second Coming.

Believers should live in the "expectancy of His return." But we must be working for the kingdom until that day. Christians will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for their works. It is not a judgment for salvation because that had already been determined. It is for rewards, just as there will be degrees for punishment.  

Second Coming of Christ - 

 

LUKE 10

 Jesus assigned seventy others to go out (two by two) before Him into the areas He would go, saying, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest...I send you out as lambs among wolves..."

Again, if the household received them, they were to stay and eat whatever was given them; but if they rejected them, they were to "wipe off" the dust of that city because "...the kingdom of God has come near you," and "...it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city." 

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.

When the seventy returned, they rejoiced at the power given to them over demons, but Jesus told them that He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, "[n]evertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jesus also prayed and thanked God the Father that He had hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to babes.

All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 

He told His disciples: "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

Then a lawyer asked Jesus what He must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him what was written in the law, and the man replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus told the man he was correct, and to do this and he will live.

Then the man got snarky and asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor." Jesus replied with a parable: a man came from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by thieves on the way. He was left on the side of the road, bleeding and naked. First a priest passed by, and moved to the opposite side of the road to avoid the man; then a Levite did likewise. But a Samaritan came up and saw the man, dressed his wounds with oil and wine, placed him on his animal, and carried him to the nearest inn. He took care of the man and paid the innkeeper to finish caring for him until he was well. Jesus asked the lawyer: "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" The lawyer said the one who showed mercy. And Jesus replied: "Go and do likewise." 

Lastly, Jesus was at the home of Martha and Mary, and they sat at his' feet while He taught; but Martha was distracted by serving and complained to Jesus to have Mary help her. Jesus told her, "Martha, you are worried and troubled about many  things. But...Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

COMMENTARY

The seventy disciples whom Jesus sent out were set to prepare those cities for His coming. The time was limited because the office was temporary. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. The harvest Jesus talked about was the harvest before His going to the cross. The next harvest will be at His Second coming. Today we are sowing the seeds for THAT harvest. (see Matt. 13:36)

Regarding the Good Samaritan parable: McGee shared something from Dean Brown of Yale University who said there are three classes of men that represent the three philosophies of life:

1. The Thief: His philosophy says: what you have is mine. This is socialism/communism.

2. The priest and Levite: Their philosophy says: what I have is mine. This is rugged individualism that has gone to seed. His cry is: Let the world be damned, I will get mine. This is godless capitalism.

3. The Good Samaritan: His philosophy says: What I have belongs to you. This is a Christian philosophy. What I have is yours if I can help you. 

In addition, Jesus said the man came from Jerusalem, the city where man approaches God. But the man was on his way to Jericho, "the accursed city." Humanity fell. The Thieves are of Satan (John 10:8). The priest represents ritualism and ceremonialism, which cannot save anyone. The Levite represents legalism, which also cannot save anyone. Then Christ came, represented by the Good Samaritan. "He is able to bind up the broken-hearted. He is able to take the lost sinner, half dead, lost in transpasses and sins, and help him." 

Another way to look at the world or mankind: the world is drowning; man is drowning in his sinfulness. Ritualism and formalism (religion) says to the one drowning: "Swim, brother, swim." Legalism and liberalism tells the same: "Hang on, brother, hang on." Man cannot swim or hang on. Therefore, Christ can not only rescue the man from drowning, but He can also teach Him to swim. 

The Good Samaritan by V. Van Gogh, 1890

 

LUKE 4

After His baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. In that time, He ate nothing and was hungry. Satan tempted Him: "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Jesus replied, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "

Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, offering them to him  if He would bow down and worship him, but Jesus rebuked Him and said: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."

Lastly, Satan brought Jesus to Jerusalem, high upon the pinnacle of the temple, and provoked Him to throw Himself down. Satan twisted Scripture and misused several verses; but Jesus replied, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " 

After that, Satan left Jesus until a later time. 

News spread of Jesus, and all who heard him teaching in the synagogues glorified Him. One day He read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

And He closed the book and said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Then they could not believe that He claimed to be the Messiah. Jesus told them that "...no prophet is accepted in his own country." And the people were filled with wrath, and they sought to throw Him off a cliff, but He evaded them.

Then Jesus cast demons from a man in the synagogue of Capernaum. The demons cried out: "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are - the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked the demon and commanded him to come out, and the people were amazed that He had authority and power to command unclean spirits. 

Next, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. Many others came to Jesus to be healed, and "He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them." Also He also cast out many demons, many saying: "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"

And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

COMMENTARY

Why was Jesus tempted? To demonstrate to us that He was sinless -- to prove that all power had been given to Him. Satan wanted Him to PROVE to man that He was the Savior by "throwing Himself down..," which "is not faith but presumption. Faith is quietly waiting upon God, doing His will." Faith is not seeing, but believing. Also, keep in mind, the doubters would have still not believed because they were always looking for a reason to disbelieve.

Satan tempted Jesus in every way: to turn stones into food, to satisfy the body (physical); to offer the kingdoms of the world, to gratify the desire for power and control (psychological); and to throw Himself down from the temple, to bypass the cross and suffering (spiritual)..., but each time Jesus rebuked Satan with TRUTH! Jesus was faced with every temptation and wrestled with the basic earthly problems of mankind, and He was victorious for mankind. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. When man is faced with  temptations, he needs to be armed with TRUTH and the Holy Spirit, too. 

When Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue and proclaimed the Scriptures fulfilled in their hearing, He did not continue to the end of the passage (sentence): "...and the day of vengeance of our God." He only read up to the portion of Scripture that had been fulfilled that day, because the remainder of the sentence  will not be accomplished until His second coming. That is a day of vengeance -- the Great Day of the Lord.

credit: Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness - James Tissot

  

Mark 13

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus had pronounced judgment on the temple; that is why in Mark 13, one of the disciples asked Jesus to look at the temple and its buildings...like, how could this ever go away? But Jesus replied, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Later, at the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus when these things will happen, and what signs will there be?

THE TRIBULATION 

First Jesus told them to beware of those who want to deceive them by claiming to be Him. Also, they will hear about wars and rumors of wars; nation will rise against nation; there will be natural disasters and famines and troubles. 

He told them to be watchful because they will be brought before councils, religious rulers, and kings for Jesus' sake, and they will be beaten. "But the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." He said not to worry what to say because the Holy Spirit will give them the words to speak in that moment. And family members will betray one another and may even cause the other to be put to death. Believers will be hated because of Him, but those who persevere to the end shall be saved. 

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Daniel spoke of the abomination of desolation, and "when you see it standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then...flee..."

For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 

And furthermore, 

...the sun will be darkened...the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.  

Those who see the beginnings of these signs, that generation will not pass away before all of these things have occured. It will be a short time. And no one knows the hour it will happened -- only the Father in heaven. So watch and pray!

COMMENTARY

These are eschatological events regarding the Great Tribulation period and the second coming of Christ. The disciples could not understand how Jesus could proclaim an end to the temple in Jerusalem, but Jesus told them that these buildings would pass away. As Paul explained in 2 Cor. 4:18, "...the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."        

Mark was not present when Jesus told the four disciples these eschatological prophecies therefore, they told the others, including Mark, who recorded it here for us. In Matthew's gospel, he recorded the three questions asked: When will these things happen; what is the sign of His coming; and what is the sign of the end of the world?

Mark recorded Jesus' answer regarding false Christs. Not the AntiChrist, but antichrists who: DENY Christ's (1) virgin birth, (2) miracles, (3) shedding of blood for sins of the world, (4) bodily resurrection, (5) heavenly ascension, and (6) His second coming. Many antichrists exist today and more are coming.    

THE SECOND COMING

The second coming is introduced by the darkening of the sun and moon. Jesus will arrive in the clouds in glory. This is completely different than the rapture -- the immediate snatching away of the church. This is the end of the tribulation period, and all will see.

So watch and be ready...  

credit: A Little Perspective