Which predictions remain predictions, and which limits are explicit?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The discourse retains its unknown time, specified warnings, conditional elect wording and separately attributed annotation without adding historical fulfilment or universal preservation guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

# Mark 13

Leaving the temple, a disciple points to its stones and buildings. Jesus says those great buildings will be thrown down, with no stone left on another. Seated on Mount Olivet opposite the temple, he is asked privately by Peter, James, John and Andrew when these things will happen and their sign. No miraculous omen or dimensions of masonry are supplied.

He warns against deception: many will come in his name saying they are he, deceiving many. Wars and rumours must occur but are not yet the end; they should not fear. Nations and kingdoms rise against one another, with earthquakes in diverse places and famines, the beginning of sorrows. They must look to themselves: delivery to councils, synagogue beatings and standing before governors and kings for his sake as testimony. The gospel must first be preached to all nations. When led and delivered up they should not prepare their speech beforehand, but say what is given that hour, since the Holy Ghost speaks. Brothers betray brothers to death, fathers sons, children rise against parents and cause their death. Hated for his name, one enduring to the end will be saved. No specifically imperial office or date is identified.

At the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not, with the reader told to understand, those in Judea are to flee to mountains. A person on the housetop should not enter the house to take anything, nor one in a field return for a garment. He pronounces woe for pregnant and nursing people and tells them to pray these things do not happen in winter. Tribulation is described as unprecedented since creation and never afterward equalled. Unless the Lord shortened the days no flesh would be saved; for his chosen elect he has shortened them. They must disbelieve claims that Christ is here or there. False Christs and prophets show signs and wonders to seduce, if possible, even the elect. He has foretold all things. The qualification if possible is retained, without turning signs into specified counterfeit tricks or importing the identity of the abomination.

After that tribulation the sun darkens, moon gives no light, stars fall and heavenly powers move. They see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory; angels gather elect from four winds, earth’s uttermost part to heaven’s uttermost part. Neither all mankind as the explicit viewing audience nor falling from courses is added.

The fig-tree parable compares tender branches and leaves indicating near summer with seeing these things and knowing it is very near, at the doors. Jesus says this generation will not pass until all are done; heaven and earth pass but his word does not. No generation is identified with an added historical date. The day or hour is known to neither man, angels nor Son, but the Father. Separately, the admitted annotation says the Son is not absolutely ignorant of judgment day: as teacher he does not know it so as to teach us, since it is not expedient. This is not recast as a limited earthly commission.

He commands taking heed, watching and praying since the time is unknown. A comparison describes a man leaving his house for a far country, giving servants authority over work and commanding the porter to watch. They must watch, not knowing whether the house’s lord comes in evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning, lest a sudden arrival find them sleeping. What he says to them he says to all: Watch. These warnings are prospective teaching, not narrated completed events.

The story inside

Temple question; deception and persecution; flight and tribulation; cosmic signs; fig tree and watchfulness.

Lessons worth keeping

1
If it were possible qualifies seducing even the elect.
2
This generation is not dated in this span.
3
The annotation explains not teaching an inexpedient date.

Test your recall

Four apostles; end not yet; winter; if possible; four winds; teacher; Watch.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 116007–116083
13:1. And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him: Master, behold what manner of stones and what buildings are here. 13:2. And Jesus answering, said to him: Seest thou all these great buildings? There shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down. 13:3. And as he sat on the mount of Olivet over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him apart: 13:4. Tell us, when shall these things be and what shall be the sign when all these things shall begin to be fulfilled? 13:5. And Jesus answering, began to say to them: Take heed lest any man deceive you. 13:6. For many shall come in my name saying, I am he: and they shall deceive many. 13:7. And when you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, fear ye not. For such things must needs be: but the end is not yet. 13:8. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places and famines. These things are the beginning of sorrows. 13:9. But look to yourselves. For they shall deliver you up to councils: and in the synagogues you shall be beaten: and you shall stand before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony unto them. 13:10. And unto all nations the gospel must first be preached. 13:11. And when they shall lead you and deliver you up, be not thoughtful beforehand what you shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye. For it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 13:12. And the brother shall betray his brother unto death, and the father his son; and children shall rise up against their parents and shall work their death. 13:13. And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake. But he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved. 13:14. And when you shall see the abomination of desolation, standing where it ought not (he that readeth let him understand): then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains. 13:15. And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house nor enter therein to take any thing out of the house. 13:16. And let him that shall be in the field not turn back to take up his garment. 13:17. And woe to them that are with child and that give suck in those days. 13:18. But pray ye that these things happen not in winter. 13:19. For in those days shall be such tribulations as were not from the beginning of the creation which God created until now: neither shall be. 13:20. And unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh should be saved: but, for the sake of the elect which he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 13:21. And then if any man shall say to you: Lo, here is Christ. Lo, he is here: do not believe. 13:22. For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets: and they shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce (if it were possible) even the elect. 13:23. Take you heed therefore: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Lines 116085–116130
13:24. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light. 13:25. And the stars of heaven shall be falling down and the powers that are in heaven shall be moved. 13:26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with great power and glory. 13:27. And then shall he send his angels and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 13:28. Now of the fig tree learn ye a parable. When the branch thereof is now tender and the leaves are come forth, you know that summer is very near. 13:29. So you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know ye that it is very nigh, even at the doors. 13:30. Amen, I say to you that this generation shall not pass until all these things be done. 13:31. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my word shall not pass away. 13:32. But of that day or hour no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. Nor the Son.... Not that the Son of God is absolutely ignorant of the day of judgment, but that he knoweth it not, as our teacher; that is, he knoweth it not so as to teach it to us, as not being expedient. 13:33. Take ye heed, watch and pray. For ye know not when the time is. 13:34. Even as a man who, going into a far country, left his house and gave authority to his servants over every work and commanded the porter to watch. 13:35. Watch ye therefore (for you know not when the lord of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning): 13:36. Lest coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping. 13:37. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch.