The Synoptic Apocalypse

The Disciples Ask Jesus When the End will Be:

Mark 13:1-4

13:1 As he came out of the temple,
    one of his disciples said to him,
    "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"
13:2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings?
    Not one stone will be left here upon another;
    all will be thrown down."

13:3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives
    opposite the temple,

    Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
13:4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign
    that all these things are about to be accomplished?"

Mark 13:1-4 in Synoptic Perspective

 

Jesus Warns His Disciples of False Messiahs,
Prophecies Wars and Natural Catastrophes:

 Mark 13:5-8

13:5 Then Jesus began to say to them,
    "Beware that no one leads you astray.
13:6 Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!'
and they will lead many astray.

13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed;
    this must take place, but the end is still to come.
13:8 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 birthpangs.

Mark 13:5-8 in Synoptic Perspective

 

Warnings of Persecutions of the Believers,
The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed to All

Mark 13:9-13

13:9 "As for yourselves, beware;
    for they will hand you over to councils;
    and you will be beaten in synagogues;
    and you will stand before governors and kings
    because of me, as a testimony to them.

13:10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.

13:11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over,
    do not worry beforehand about what you are to say;
    but say whatever is given you at that time,
    for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child,
    and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
13:13 and you will be hated by all because of my name.
    But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:9-13 in Synoptic Perspective

 

The Abomination of Desolation
"Head for the Hills!"

Mark 13:24-36

13:14 "But when you see the desolating sacrilege
     set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand),
    then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;
13:15 the one on the housetop must not go down
    or enter the house to take anything away;
13:16 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.
13:17 Woe to those who are pregnant
    and to those who are nursing infants in those days!
13:18 Pray that it may not be in winter.
13:19 For in those days there will be suffering,
    such as has not been from the beginning of the creation
    that God created until now, no, and never will be.
13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days,
    no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect,
    whom he chose, he has cut short those days.
13:21 And if anyone says to you at that time,
    'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'Look! There he is!'--do not believe it.
13:22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear
    and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
13:23 But be alert; I have already told you everything.

Mark 13:14-23 in Synoptic Perspective

 

The Son of Man Appears

Mark 13:24-27

13:24 "But in those days, after that suffering,
    the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
13:25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

13:26 Then they will see 'the Son of Man
    coming in clouds' with great power and glory.
13:27 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.

Mark 13:24-27 in Synoptic Perspective

 

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet?

Mark 13:28-31

13:28 "From the fig tree (cf. Mark 11:13-20) learn its lesson:
    as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves,
    you know that summer is near.
13:29 So also, when you see these things taking place,
    you know that he is near, at the very gates.

13:30 Truly I tell you,
    this generation will not pass away
    until all these things have taken place.
13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away,
    but my words will not pass away.

Mark 13:28-31 in Synoptic Perspective

 

Mark's Jesus Does It Again!

Mark 13:32-37

13:32 "But about that day or hour no one knows,
    neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
    but only the Father.
13:33 Beware, keep alert;
    for you do not know when the time will come.
13:34 It is like a man going on a journey,
    when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work,
and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
13:35 Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know
    when the master of the house will come,
    in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,
13:36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
13:37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Mark 13:32-37 in Synoptic Perspective

 

Problems in the Text of the Synoptic Apocalypse:

1) Is there a "Seam" between 13:2 and 13:3?

13:2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings?
    Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
13:3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple. . .

2) Who is the "reader" in 3:14 "let the reader understand"? 
    Does this Statement Contradict the Setting of the Passage
    as an Out-of-Doors Discourse in 3:3?

3) Does 13:30 Contradict 13:32?

13:30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away
        until all these things have taken place
13:32 "But about that day or hour no one knows,
        neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father"

4) Does the Description of a Diaspora Community in 13:9 Contradict
    Jesus addressing Judeans, Jerusalemites and Rural People in 13:14-16?

13:9 "As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils;
        and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand
        before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them" 
13:14-16 "then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;
        the one on the housetop must not go down
        or enter the house to take anything away;
        the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat."

5) Did Mark Alter the Original Sense of an Anti-Temple Logion of Jesus?

    Mark

14:57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
14:58 "We heard him say,
    'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands,
    and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"

15:29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
    "Aha! You who would destroy the temple
    and build it in three days,
15:30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!"

    See also:

John 2:18 The Jews then said to him,
                "What sign can you show us for doing this?"
           2:19 Jesus answered them,
            "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
           2:20 The Jews then said,
                "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
                and will you raise it up in three days?"
           2:21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.

Acts 6:13 They set up false witnesses who said,
                "This man (Stephen) never stops saying things
                 against this holy place and the law;
          6:14 for we have heard him say that
               this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place
                  and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us."

6) Did Mark Reinterpret an Original Logion of Jesus
    about an "Abomination of Desolation" as a "Destruction" at 13:14?

"But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be"?
    (cf. parallels in Luke and Matt).

7) Does Mark Place an Original Logion of Jesus
    into an Apocalyptic Context
    to Explain what he Believes to be
    the Impending Destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple
    to be Followed by the End of the World?

Note: