Ryle on Mark 13:24-31

Imported boundary: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Mark from the Internet Archive DjVu OCR for the 1858 Robert Carter St. Mark volume. Title pages, preface, contents, running heads, page numbers, OCR boilerplate, and indexes are not mirrored. The source includes Ryle's printed Scripture text and exposition; this scan-derived text remains needs-verification.

Primary passage: Mark 13:24-31.

Source Text

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall he darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 20 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall "he send his an- 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree ; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near : 29 So ye in like manner, -when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these gels, and shall gather together his things be done, elect from the four winds, from the 31 Heaven and earth shall pass uttermost part of the earth to the ut- away : but my words shall not pass termost part of heaven. away.

* The meaning of the " abomination of desolation," in this passage, has always perplexed the commentator. The most common view undoubtedly is, that it signifies the Roman armies, who executed God's judgment on the Jewish nation. It may be questioned whether this interpretation completely ful- fils the prophecy. I venture, though with much diffidence, to sug- gest that a more complete and literal accomplishment yet remains to come. The remarkable words of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, ap- pear to me scarcely to have received yet a complete fulfilment : u He, as Go 1, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. ii. 4.) I own that it seems to me by no means improbable This part of our Lord's prophecy on the Mount of Olives is entirely unfulfilled. The events described in it are all yet to take place. They may possibly take place in our own day. The passage therefore is one which we ought always to read with peculiar interest.

Let us observe, in the first place, what solemn majesty will attend our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming to this world. The language that is used about the sun, moon, and stars, conveys the idea of some universal convulsion of the universe at the close of the present dispensation. It reminds us of the apostle Peter's words, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." (2 Pet. iii. 10.) At such a time as this, amidst terror and confusion, exceeding all that even earthquakes or hurricanes are known to pro- duce, men "shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." The second coming of Christ shall be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant, born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethle- hem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He shall come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized, and feared by all the tribes of the earth. He came the first time to suffer - to bear our sins - to be reckoned a curse - to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned, and slain. He shall come the second time to reign - to put down every enemy beneath His feet - to take the king- tliat a personal anti-christ, yet to be revealed at Jerusalem, may prove the final accomplishment of these words. I desire to avoid dogmatism on the subject. I only suggest it as a possible and probable thing. 287 doms of this world for His inheritance - to rule them with righteousness - to judge all men, and to live for evermore. How vast the difference ! How mighty the contrast ! How startling the comparison between the second advent and the first ! How solemn the thoughts that the sub- ject ought to stir up in our mincls ! Here are comfortable thoughts for Christ's friends. Their own King will soon be here. They shall reap according as they have sown. They shall receive a rich reward for all that they have endured for Christ's sake. They shall exchange their cross for a crown. Here are confounding thoughts for Christ's foes. That same Jesus of Nazareth, whom they have so long despised and rejected, shall at length have the pre-eminence. That very Christ, whose Gospel they have refused to believe, shall appear as their Judge, and helpless, hopeless, and speechless, they will have to stand before His bar. May we all lay these things to heart, and learn wisdom !

Let us observe, in the next place, that the first event after the Lord's second coming, shall he the gathering of His ekct. " He shall send His angels and gather together His elect from the four winds." The safety of the Lord's people shall be provided for, when judgment falls upon the earth. He will do nothing till He has placed them beyond the reach of harm. The flood did not begin till Noah was safe in the ark. The fire did not fall on Sodom till Lot was safe within the walls of Zoar. The wrath of God on believers shall not be let loose till believers are hidden and secure. The true Christian may look forward to the advent of Christ without fear. However terrible the things that shall come upon the earth, his Master will take care that no harm comes to him. He may well bear patiently the partings and separations of this present time. He shall have a joyful meeting, by and bye, with all his brethren in the faith, of every age, and country, and people, and tongue. Those who meet in that day, shall meet to part no more. The great gathering is yet to come. (2 Thess. ii. 1.)

Let us observe, in the next place, how important it is to note the signs of our own times. Our Lord bids His dis- ciples "learn a parable of the fig tree." Just as its budding leaves tell men that summer is near, so the fulfil- ment of events in the world around us, should teach us that the Lord's coming " is nigh, even at the doors." It becomes all true Christians to observe carefully the public events of their own day. It is not only a duty to do this, but a sin to neglect it. Our Lord reproved the Jews for "not discerning the signs of the times." (Matt. xvi. 3.) They did not see that the sceptre was passing away from Judah, and the weeks of Daniel running out.

Let us beware of fall- ing into their error. Let us rather open our eyes, and look at the world around us.

Let us mark the dry- ing up of the Turkish power, and the increase of mis- sionary work in the world.

Let us mark the revival of Popery, and the rise of new and subtle forms of infidelity.

Let us mark the rapid spread of lawlessness and contempt for authority. What are these things but the budding of the fig tree ? They show us that this world is wearing out, and needs a new and better dynasty. It need its 289 rightful king, even Jesus. May we watch, and keep our garments, and live ready to meet our Lord ! (Kev. xvi. 15.)

Let us observe, lastly, in these verses, how carefully our Lord asserts the certainty of His predictions being fulfilled. He speaks as though he foresaw the incredulity and scepticism of these latter days. He warns us emphati- cally against it : - " Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

We ought never to allow ourselves to suppose that any prophecy is improbable or unlikely to be fulfilled, merely because it is contrary to past experience. Let us not say, " Where is the likelihood of Christ coming again ? Where is the likelihood of the world being burned up " We have nothing to do with " likely or unlikely" in such matters. The only question is, u what is written in God's word " The words of St. Peter should never be forgotten : " There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of His comiug " (2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.) We shall do well to ask ourselves what we should have thought if we had lived on earth two thousand years ago. Should we have thought it more probable that the Son of God would come on earth as a poor man, and die, or that He would come on earth as a King, and reign ? Should we not have said at once, that if He came at all, He would come to reign, and not to die ? Yet we know that He did come as "aman of sorrows," and died on the cross. Then let us not doubt that He will come the second time iu glory, and reign as a King for evermore.

Let us leave the passage with a thorough conviction of the truth of every jot of its predictions. Let us be- lieve that every word of it shall prove at last to have been fully accomplished. Above all, let us strive to live under an abiding sense of its truth, like good servants ready to meet their master. Then, whatever be the ful- filment of it, or however soon, we shall be safe.*