Mark 13 is known as the ‘little apocalypse’ – it’s where Jesus looks ahead to the signs that will precede his second coming. These signs are as follows:

• First, the preaching of the gospel to all nations: Jesus says in Mark 13v10: “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” It is really interesting to note that today – with mobile communications, radio, satellite TV and the Internet – for the very first time in history, the gospel of the kingdom is being, and even today, will be preached into the whole world and to all nations. Yes, there are tribes and peoples that have still not heard, but the nations certainly have. Not in the UK, but the church around the world is larger and growing faster today than any other time in history. This generation could very well be in the last of the last days. Again, no one knows for sure but it could well be.
• Another sign is the great tribulation. Jesus says in Mark 13v7-8: “When you hear of wars and rumours of wars” [like maybe Afghanistan, Iraq, ISIS, Syria, Ukraine, rumours of a new cold war with Russia?]… Jesus said: “When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”
• Another sign are false prophets working signs are wonders: Mark 13v22: “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” False religions and false prophets – people claiming that there are many different paths up the same mountain, different faiths, cults, psychics, faith healers, new ageism, crystals and black magic, the world is awash with such things.
• Let me mention another sign… Almost three thousand years ago, God said through the prophet Amos that just before the coming of the Lord, the Jews would return from the four corners of the earth and rebuild the nation of Israel. The Scripture says: “I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God’ (Amos 9:14-15 NIV). This prophecy was mostly fulfilled when Cyrus, King of Persia conquered Babylon in 538BC, and then issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. But Bible prophecy has not been fulfilled until it has been fully filled. God said He would give Israel their own land, never again to be uprooted but you remember that Jerusalem and the Temple were completely destroyed by the Romans in 70AD and Israel was then disbanded and ceased to exist as nation. But nearly 2000 years later… ‘In 1948 the nation of Israel was re-born. In 1949 they elected their first president, hoisted their own flag, instituted their own constitution and started minting their own money. It’s an amazing fulfilment of prophecy. Now listen to what Jesus said in Mark 13v28-29: “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the doors!” In Scripture the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. Surrounded and threatened by hostile neighbours, she stands today as a testimony to the accuracy and reliability of God’s prophetic Word.’

Jesus said that when we see these things we should know that His return is near. He says: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (…) Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42, 44 NIV).

Source: The UCB Word For Today devotional 01/09/2014

Mark 13 is known as the ‘little apocalypse’ – it’s where Jesus looks ahead to the signs that will precede his second coming. These signs are as follows:

• First, the preaching of the gospel to all nations: Jesus says in Mark 13v10: “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” It is really interesting to note that today – with mobile communications, radio, satellite TV and the Internet – for the very first time in history, the gospel of the kingdom is being, and even today, will be preached into the whole world and to all nations. Yes, there are tribes and peoples that have still not heard, but the nations certainly have. Not in the UK, but the church around the world is larger and growing faster today than any other time in history. This generation could very well be in the last of the last days. Again, no one knows for sure but it could well be.
• Another sign is the great tribulation. Jesus says in Mark 13v7-8: “When you hear of wars and rumours of wars” [like maybe Afghanistan, Iraq, ISIS, Syria, Ukraine, rumours of a new cold war with Russia?]… Jesus said: “When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”
• Another sign are false prophets working signs are wonders: Mark 13v22: “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” False religions and false prophets – people claiming that there are many different paths up the same mountain, different faiths, cults, psychics, faith healers, new ageism, crystals and black magic, the world is awash with such things.
• Let me mention another sign… Almost three thousand years ago, God said through the prophet Amos that just before the coming of the Lord, the Jews would return from the four corners of the earth and rebuild the nation of Israel. The Scripture says: “I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God’ (Amos 9:14-15 NIV). This prophecy was mostly fulfilled when Cyrus, King of Persia conquered Babylon in 538BC, and then issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. But Bible prophecy has not been fulfilled until it has been fully filled. God said He would give Israel their own land, never again to be uprooted but you remember that Jerusalem and the Temple were completely destroyed by the Romans in 70AD and Israel was then disbanded and ceased to exist as nation. But nearly 2000 years later… ‘In 1948 the nation of Israel was re-born. In 1949 they elected their first president, hoisted their own flag, instituted their own constitution and started minting their own money. It’s an amazing fulfilment of prophecy. Now listen to what Jesus said in Mark 13v28-29: “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the doors!” In Scripture the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. Surrounded and threatened by hostile neighbours, she stands today as a testimony to the accuracy and reliability of God’s prophetic Word.’

Jesus said that when we see these things we should know that His return is near. He says: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (…) Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42, 44 NIV).

Source: The UCB Word For Today devotional 01/09/2014