Mark 13:1 - Olivet Discourse

May 3, 2026

Olivet Discourse #

Mark 13:1-6

Introduction

As Jesus is coming out of the temple, one of the disciples comments on the beautiful building that the temple is. Jesus then prophetically told them of the overthrow of the temple. Once they arrived on the Mount of Olives. The questions came, “When shall these things be?” “What shall be the signs when all these things shall be fulfilled?” The Olivet Discourse is recorded with more detail in Matthew 24-25. It also appears in Luke 21:5-36.

My goal is to give you an outline of this chapter, to have a good grasp on the Olivet Discourse.

It is important to recognize a few things.

1. The questions were asked by Jewish men asking about the overthrow of the Jewish temple. This cannot be overlooked, and becomes especially important midway through, as Jesus does bring up the book of Daniel. This chapter greatly deals with the tribulation period, and specifically how God deals with Israel during that time.

We stand behind Israel. There are those who hate Israel, this is not new. Today, there are many “christians” that hate Israel. The protestants; those who recognized the error of the catholic church, protested and came out of the catholic church are the ones who accept that the church replaces Israel. God still has a plan for Israel, that is undeniable. We are not protestants, because we never were part of the catholic church. Protestant churches are: Lutherans, Methodists, Calvanists (Reformed or Reformers), Presbyterians all had roots in the catholic church, and protested. Baptists were never a part of it.

We hold to a pre-tribulational rapture, we will not be here when this takes place.

I. The Beginning of the Tribulation (5-13) #

A. Beginning of Sorrows #

  • Verse 8 - " these are the beginning of sorrows"

    • Sorrows as of child bearing or the pains of childbirth

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 - 3* — For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

    • Just as a woman has birth pains, that come… and sometimes there are false alarms.

i. False Christs (6) #

    • There are always false prophets out there, and you always have to be ware of false preachers

1 John 4:1–3 —1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

ii. Political problems (7-8) #

    • Rumors of wars
    • Actual wars!

iii. Natural disasters (8) #

    • These kind of follow the idea of the horses in Revelation 6… again this is just an overview, and not meant to be a detailed account.

B. Don’t be Discouraged #

i. This is written to the Jews and believers in the tribulation period. #

    • Their families would betray them, that is discouraging!

ii. No preparation – the Spirit will lead them! – Again for the tribulation period #

iii. Hated by all (13) #

    • That is similar to us:

John 15:18 — If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

    • Endurance to the end is for the tribulation saints; context! Not salvation today.

II. The Middle of the Tribulation (14-18) #

  • This is the clear dividing point of the first 3.5 years, and later 3.5 years.

A. Abomination of desolation (14) #

  • Dan 9:24-27 – each week represents 7 years time (490 years total)

Daniel 9:27 — And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

  • This decree was in 445BC – Jesus was born in 5BC (dates were slightly off), and died at roughly 33 years old. He would have died in 27-28 AD… 483 years with 7 remaining. That first 483 years was fulfilled in Christ 1^st^ coming. 7 remaining years are the tribulation!
  • The 1^st^ part of the tribulation period the antichrist will be nice, and stand with Israel

i. The antichrist will decimate their temple they rebuild. #

    • During the tribulation period: 14 “(let him that readeth understand)”

B. Affliction (15-18) #

i. They will be running for their life! #

III. The End of the Tribulation (19-27) #

  • This is a last 3.5 years

A. Wrath of God poured out! #

  • Mark 13:19-20 – great judgement is poured out on the earth

Revelation 14:10 — The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Revelation 14:19 — And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Revelation 15:1 — And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Revelation 15:7 — And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Revelation 16:1 — And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Revelation 16:19 — And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Revelation 19:15 — And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

i. The Elect (20) – the Jewish witnesses, and gentile believers in tribulation #

ii. Deception continues (21-23) #

B. Close of tribulation (24-27) + Son of God #

C. Watch (32-33, 27) #

  • The next thing on God’s Calendar, is the trumpet, and rapture!
Tags: Mark Preaching Outlines End Times Prophecy Second Coming Tribulation