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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_13:14-23
14"But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15the one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 16and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 17But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18But pray that it may not happen in the winter. 19For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him; 22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance."
Mar_13:14
NASB, NKJV "the abomination of desolation"
NRSV "the desolating sacrilege"
TEV "the Awful Horror"
JB"the disastrous abomination"
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NASB "'standing where it should not be'"
NKJV "'standing where it ought not'"
NRSV, NJB "'set up where it ought not to be'"
TEV "'standing in the place where he should not be'"
The participle standing is perfect active accusative masculine in The Analytical Greek New Testament by Barbara and Timothy Friberg, p. 154 (cf. TEV), but perfect active accusative neuter in The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament by William D. Mounce, p.219 (cf. NASB, NRSV, NJB). If neuter, then it refers to (1) "the abomination" (bdelugma) or (2) to Titus' army (strateuma). Mat_24:15 adds "standing in the Holy Place" (i.e., the Holy Place of the temple), which implies the masculine gender and refers to the Roman General. This, too, fits Titus, who set up the Roman standards (which stood for their gods) in the temple in Jerusalem.
▣ "(let the reader understand)" This means "to think about carefully" or "to consider well" (cf. 2Ti_2:7). This is a comment from the author of the Gospel. It apparently was meant to trigger further discussion (i.e., the Abomination of Desolation from Dan_9:27; Dan_11:31; Dan_12:11) on the subject by the person reading the text aloud to a study group in a worship setting, somewhat like our modern Sunday School classes.
▣ "'those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains'" Eusebius, a church historian from the fourth century, records that the Christians fled Jerusalem to Pella, about twenty miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, just before the Roman siege encircled the city in a.d. 70 (cf. Hist. Eccl. 3:5:2-3).
Mar_13:15 "'the one who is on the housetop'" The houses had flat roofs. They were used as the place of social gathering in the hot months. It has been said that one could walk across Jerusalem on the roofs of houses. Apparently some houses were built next to the city's wall. When the army was seen, immediate flight was necessary.
Mar_13:16 "'coat'" This referred to the outer robe, which was also used as sleeping cover. Men working in the field would not have had this with them.
Mar_13:17 "'woe'" This term is used in the OT to designate judgment prophecies. It was a way of referring to a funeral dirge or lament. God's judgment on Jerusalem would affect believers as well as unbelievers (as will the Great Tribulation).
▣ "'to those who are pregnant'" This obviously refers to the destruction of Jerusalem only. It would have been difficult for pregnant women to flee rapidly over the wall. This has nothing to do with the Second Coming! These disciples' questions to Jesus relate to three separate issues: the destruction of Jerusalem, His Second Coming, and the end of the age. The problem is that these questions were dealt with at the same time. There is no easy verse division by topic.
Mar_13:18 "'in winter'" Rapid travel would have also been difficult in winter for pregnant women and little ones.
Mar_13:19 This can be viewed as (1) the severity of the end-time persecution of believers and God's judgment on unbelievers or (2) an Oriental hyperbole. It is hard to know whether references are literal or figurative (compare Joe_2:28-32 and Peter's use of it in Acts 2, where it is not taken literally). The NT is an eastern book. They were much more accustomed to exaggerations and figures of speech than we are as modern westerners. It is never a question of taking the revelation seriously. It is a hermeneutical question of the intent of the original inspired author. To take the NT literally every time and in every place is not biblical conservatism, but improper interpretation.
This verse might be an allusion to Dan_12:1, but with an added phrase. The elect are those whose names are in the book of life (i.e., believing Jews, the true remnant, and believing Gentiles, the mystery of God hidden, but now revealed, cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13)!
▣ "since the beginning of the creation" See Special Topic at Mar_10:6.
Mar_13:20 The interpretive question is to which of the three events (i.e., (1) destruction of Jerusalem; (2) the Coming of Christ; or (3) the end of the age) does this refer? These three events are discussed in overlapping ways. There is no clear and precise verse division. It seems to me this refers to the Second Coming and the end of the age and not the destruction of Jerusalem, because the Christians fled the city before its destruction.
▣ "'Unless'" This is a rare second class conditional sentence called "contrary to fact." It states an incorrect premise which makes the conclusion incorrect. Literally this would imply "If the Lord had not shortened the days (which He did) no one would be saved (but they were)."
▣ "'the Lord'" This must refer to YHWH, not Jesus. YHWH is the One who elects/chooses (cf. Eph_1:4).
▣ "'been saved'" This is the use of the term in its OT sense of physical deliverance (cf. Jas_5:15), not spiritual salvation.
▣ "'but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose'" See Special Topic below.
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▣ "'He shortened the days'" This phrase implies that the unchangeable God (cf. Psa_102:26-27; Mal_3:6) can alter His plans! His character and redemptive purposes never change, but the prayers of His people do affect Him and often alter His plans. This is mystery! But it is the essence of intercessory prayer.
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Mar_13:21 "'if'" This is a third class conditional sentence, which means potential action.
▣ "'do not believe Him'" This is a Present active imperative with the negative particle, which usually means stop an act in process, but in this context it could not have this normal implication.
Christians need to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves (cf. Mat_10:16). Naive Christians, gullible Christians, baby Christians are all too common. We must test the spirits (cf. 1Jn_4:1) to see if they are truly God's spokespersons. It is so sad to me when I hear of believers flocking to trees, screen doors, or special holy sites to see Jesus. This context is very clear! When He comes all will see Him and know Him (cf. Mat_24:27).
The immediate context of Mar_13:14-23 refers to those escaping from Jerusalem, not to be deterred by someone claiming Christ had appeared in the city, in this place, or that.
Mar_13:22 "'will show signs and wonders'" These false christs will perform miracles. Be careful of always identifying the miraculous with God (cf. Exo_7:11-12; Exo_7:22; Deu_13:1 ff; Mat_24:24; 2Th_2:9-12; Rev_13:13-14). False believers can do miracles (cf. Mat_7:21-23).
▣ "'if possible'" It seems to me that the contingency of Mar_13:22 may be contextually related to the contingency of Mar_13:20 (i.e., a second class conditional) because the elect (cf. Mar_13:20; Mar_13:22) cannot be led astray!
Mar_13:23 This was one of Jesus' ways (which reflect YHWH's predictions in the OT) of proving to His followers His control of history and redemption by foretelling upcoming events. YHWH and His Christ control time and history! Even hard times are part of His overarching redemptive plan.