Mark 13:24-27 - Judgment & Rejoicing

We’re diving into Mark 13:24-27, where Jesus paints a vivid picture of His return—a day when the heavens will shake, the sun will darken, and the Son of Man will come in glory. This passage stirs our hearts to reflect on the coming judgment, the weeping of those apart from Christ, and the rejoicing of those gathered to Him. It’s a sobering yet hope-filled reminder of what’s to come. Join me as we unpack the terror and triumph of that day, digging into God’s Word to find comfort and purpose in Christ. Let’s look to Jesus, our true hope!

Transcript

94 - Mark 13:24-27 - Judgment & Rejoicing

Intro

• If you have your Bibles please open with me to Mark 13 and find verse 24.
  • Our text today continues with the words of Christ to His Apostles regarding the Last Days.
• Today Jesus’ words will cause us to reflect upon what is to come in the judgment of God falling upon the earth and the second coming of our Lord.
  • An event that will bring great joy to all who are found in Christ but also…
  • An event that will bring great terror to all who are not found in Him…
• Our scripture today will cause us to consider both the great joy and the great terror that will fall upon the earth at the return of our Lord…
  • As we do, our time together will be divided across three points…
  • We will discuss…
    • The Coming Judgment…
    • Weeping and Rejoicing… and…
    • The Great Gathering…
• With that in mind let us read our verses today and open in prayer.

Mark 13:24-27

• Much of this chapter we find Jesus speaking about the judgment of God in two ways…
  • First He points out the coming destruction that is going to fall upon Jerusalem and the beautiful Temple that they had just left.
    • However, throughout this chapter we learn that it is not simply the Temple and Jerusalem that Jesus is speaking about, but He is also speaking of judgment that is yet to come.
  • It is true that across much of this chapter we find events that were fulfilled in 70 AD but we must remember that those events also look ahead to final judgment.
  • However, our verses today are a bit different….
• Our verses that just read though stand apart from this pattern…
  • J.C. Ryle points this out in his commentary over Mark 13 when he writes of  these verses…
    • “This part of our Lord’s prophecy on the Mount of Olives is entirely unfulfilled.”
  • That is to say that these verses do not have a dual understanding but are about things that are yet to come.
    • To state it differently…
      • We cannot look at these verses and consider how they were fulfilled in part in 70 AD, that is just simply not the case.
    • Furthermore, they have not been fulfilled as of yet, but we are still awaiting the fulfillment of these verses.
  • That means that our time together today will be a bit different, we are not considering a partial fulfillment like we have in previous verses…
    • Instead, we are considering these verses and how they are a snapshot of what is yet to come upon the earth.
• To appreciate this summary of what is to come let us start with…

A Broad Overview

• We just read these verses so let me point out a few things before we get into our main points…
• First, make note of the timing of when these things will be…
  • In Verse 24 Jesus says of these things that will occur they will be…
    • “...after that tribulation…”
  • Considering the context of this passage what He is referring to is our prior passage, verses 14-23.
    • Specifically the “...abomination of desolation…” that is yet to come and its impact on the world in that day.
    • There is coming upon the earth a great tribulation that will be unlike anything the world has ever witnessed.
  • Glance up with me at verse 19 to see this short description…
    • Vs. 19-20
      • These things will occur, this great tribulation will come upon the earth.
  • However, this tribulation does not mark the end but instead ushers in the final days and the return of our Lord.
• In that our verses describe the cosmic nature of His return…
  • Back in verse 24 and 25 we learn that…
    • “...the sun will be darkened…the moon will not give its light…the stars will be falling from heaven…”
  • This represents the complete judgment of God falling upon the earth…
    • We will talk about this more in just a moment but for now just consider how intense any of these things would be.
    • Is there anything more consistent in our natural world than the sun, moon, and stars?
      • We expect, and rightfully so, the sun to rise in its proper place at its proper time.
      • We expect the moon to shine in its phases as it has without fail since the beginning of creation.
      • It would be a strange sight to glance up at the night sky and see nothing but a void where the stars had once been hung.
    • Can you imagine the terror we would experience if the sun was darkened and the moon did not shine?
  • Yet our verses tell us plainly that there is coming a day where we will not have to imagine it but it will be a reality for those who dwell upon the earth.
• It is after that we find the promise of the return of Christ upon the clouds and the gathering of the saints to Him.
  • These final verses of our text remind us of the important truth that our Lord will one day return for His bride which is the church.
  • When He does it will be seen by all and it matters not where the believer is found…
    • Whether in the farthest corner of the earth or in heaven we shall all be gathered with our God and King.
  • This is great comfort for the one who is found in Christ…
    • Church, we will not only one day see our Lord but we will be gathered with Him on that day.
    • It will be a day where all doubt is removed and our faith becomes our sight as we behold the One who purchased us by His blood.
  • However, at the same time it will be terror to those who have rejected His sacrifice.
• For His second coming will not be anything like the first…
  • Again, we could consider the words of J.C. Ryle as he pondered the difference between the first coming of Jesus and His Glorious return.
    • “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 Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonoured, 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 kingdoms of this world for His inheritance,—to rule them with righteousness,—to judge all men, and to live for evermore.”
  • What a grand difference between when Christ came the first time and when He shall come again and how amazing it is that we dwell between the two.
    • We live at such a unique time…
      • We are able to look back at the birth of Christ, consider His life, His death, marvel at the Resurrection and Ascension.
    • Yet we also live in a time where we can look forward to His return…
      • Knowing He will come in full power and authority on display for all of Creation.
• As you think on this and as we prepare to step in our first point I would ask you to first be mindful of your existence and the time in which you live.
  • For example, have you ever considered…
    • Why you live now and not at the time of Noah?
      • Or…
    • Why you dwell here and not within the walls of Sodom? 
  • Could we not have easily been born at either of those times and places?
    • Certainly we could have!
  • You and I have no control over when, where, and to whom we were born.
    • If you have never considered that I would urge you to do so, it is a humbling thing to think about how little influence you have over your own existence.
    • I cannot help but consider Esther when I think about this…
      • She was elevated to the position of Queen within the Persian empire and was instrumental in stopping the genocide of her people.
      • In the midst of that drama she was given some advice from her cousin and guardian Mordecai.
      • He urged her to act and asked her this question…
        • “...who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
      • In other words he was asking her to consider her life, her existence, her position, and to recognize the little control she had over any of it.
    • I am asking us today to do something similar as we step into these verses and consider what is to come.
  • For we do not simply want to look ahead and think about what will happen in the final days…
    • We must also consider the time in which our God has placed us and the responsibility we bear as we know the judgment that is to come. 
    • So as we step into these verses I just ask that you keep at the back of your mind this question…
      • Why has God placed me in such a time and such a place as this?
• With that let us step into our first point as we consider…

The Coming Judgment

• These verses open up with a terrible description of what will happen with the sun, moon, and stars.
  • Consider though that what is occurring in these verses represent something that God has ordained from the beginning of Creation.
    • It was on the fourth day of Creation where we find this verse…
      • Genesis 1:14 - “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,”
      • We are accustomed to tracking the seasons, days, and years by the earth's position in relation to the sun.
    • This is not a surprise to us, however, let us not miss that they were also created to be for “...signs…”.
  • Knowing this let us turn to the book of Isaiah, chapter 13, and see what scripture says to us about the sign described in our verses today.
• Isaiah 13 is a chapter that reminds us that God is not simply the God of Israel but He is the Ruler of all Creation.
  • With that there is coming a day where His patience will be exhausted and His judgment for sin will fall upon the nations.
  • Let us start reading in verse 6…
    • Isaiah 13:6-13
  • You see this imagery of the sun and moon being darkened and the stars being shaken from their place is not a new thought.
    • Jesus pulls this imagery together to remind us that this coming judgment will impact all of creation, and…
    • It will be a terror unlike anything this world has ever seen.  
  • Isaiah 13 is far from the only place we see this type of language used, allow me to give a few other examples…
    • Isaiah 34:4 - “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll.  All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.”
  • Or Joel 2:31…
    • Joel 2:31 - “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
      • That verse may be familiar to you…
      • Peter quotes this verse on the day of Pentecost as he shared the Gospel to those in Jerusalem.
    • This verse, however, looks ahead to the final judgment that is coming upon the earth.
  • This is detailed throughout the book of Revelation but most clearly we see it in Revelation 6:12 and 13.  
    • Revelation 6:12-13 - “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.”
• All of these verses represent a cosmic display of the judgment of God falling upon the world.
  • Any way you spin those verses they are terrifying and dreadful…
  • It serves to remind us that the God in which we serve is not passive…
    • It reminds us that there is coming a day in which there will be reckoning for all who continue in rebellion against Him.
    • Hebrews 4:13 tells us…
      • Hebrews 4:13 - “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
  • We must pause and consider the weight of what we are talking about, the God who created everything that is seen and unseen, will hold mankind individually responsible for our actions.
    • We cannot hide from this God…
      • Just as He will one day roll back the sky as a scroll, darken the sun, cause the stars to fall from their place, and turn the moon to blood…
    • So also will He look upon our lives and judge us rightly.
• As He does on that day we must realize that we will be found either…

Weeping or Rejoicing

• Turn forward with me to Daniel 7…
  • Jesus tells us in Mark 13 that when these celestial events occur, when the heavens are shaken, that He will come upon the clouds.
  • This is a reference to a description that we find first in the book of Daniel, which is why we are turning there now.
• In Daniel we find much that helps us understand the things that are to come, and in Daniel 7 verse 13 we find the description of Jesus coming upon the clouds.
  • Let's read it together…
    • Daniel 7:13-14
  • Daniel describes one who comes upon the clouds in a way that displays Divine Authority.
    • Just so we are clear that there is no other understanding here let me share with you an interaction between Jesus and the high priest in His final hours.
      • Matthew 26:64 - “Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 
        • This a reference back to Daniel 7 and this reference was understood by the high priest, the next verse makes that clear.
      • Matthew 26:65 - “Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.”
    • They considered it blasphemy because they viewed Jesus as a mere man, but He is not a mere man…
      • He is the Lord of all Creation and He possesses Divine power and authority.
  • Though some may doubt it, all will one day witness Him splitting the sky and coming upon the clouds clothed with all Glory and Honor.
• On that day there will be two very different reactions to the Son of Man, let us talk about both…
  • First, some will be found weeping, mourning, and in terror…
    • For on that day they will know that they have rebelled against this Great God and King and they will be held accountable for their actions.
    • Revelation 6:15-17 gives us a view of this reaction…
      • Revelation 6:15-17 - “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
      • What an appropriate question asked of those who try to hide on that day, who can stand?
    • There will be nowhere to hide, there will be no final option to repent, it will be a day of terror and dread for which we cannot even comprehend.  
      • Knowing this and even talking about this reaction should cause us to pause and consider our own salvation.
      • We should pause and ask, am I truly found in Christ?
        • Though we may fool those around us the reality is that on that day none can hide and He will not be fooled.
      • Let us consider this with trembling and fear knowing that if we have not truly believed, if we have not placed our faith in Him that on that day we will be destined for destruction.
    • I do not speak about this lightly nor do I intend to scare a person into making any sort of decision…
      • What I do desire to do is to share the truth of what scripture says about eternity.
        • What is clear regarding scripture is that there will be a great divide of people.
        • On the day of Judgment our God will divide people to those on His right and to those on His left.
        • Those on His left will be delivered over to eternal punishment and those on His right will inherit eternal life.
      • The interesting thing is that in both groups there are great similarities…
        • In both groups you will find…
          • Idolaters, liars, thiefs, murderers, the sexual immoral, among other notable sins.
        • It may cause you to wonder, what is the dividing line, what will separate those the condemned from the blessed?
      • Paul writes to the church at Corinth and reminds them of this dividing line…
        • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
          • You know all of us could find ourselves in that list of sins.
            • We all find ourselves guilty before God in at least one way.
          • However, I would imagine that all of us are guilty in multiple ways…
            • We have committed sexual sins, we have worshiped other gods, we have stolen and have been greedy…
            • Paul tells us that those who are unrighteous will not inherit eternal life.
          • However, I stopped reading before the end of that passage, let me share with you how that passage continues….
        • 1 Corinthians 6:11 - “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
      • The dividing line on that day is not going to be that one side is more righteous than the other…
      • Instead the dividing line will be those who have been washed and redeemed and those who have not.
    • Those who have not will mourn and weep and wail on that day, it will be a terrible tragedy when all man realizes their guilt before their Holy God.
  • However, there is another group, another reaction when the Son of Man comes upon the clouds.
• The Redeemed, the Church, those who have been washed and sanctified by the Risen Lord will be found rejoicing at what I would call…

The Great Gathering

• Flip back with me very quickly to the Gospel Mark and find again our final verse of this passage.
  • Mark 13:27
• As long as our Lord tarries there will be all sorts of questions regarding timing and order of events regarding last days.
  • I say again, as I have in previous weeks, our Lord did not share this with us for us to argue over how these things will play out.
  • He provided us with this snapshot of His return so that we can look ahead and be comforted knowing that one day He will return and gather us together.
  • From the farthest corner of the earth to the ends of the heavens we will be gathered with the One who died in our place.
    • All the Redeemed from all the ages coming with Jesus.
    • Oh what a great reunion that will be as the True Church is gathered together before their King.
    • Can you imagine it?
• Oh what great comfort is found in this reality…
  • Comfort on two fronts…
    • First, there is great comfort in death.
      • Knowing that those who have perished in Christ are not lost but will be a part of this great gathering of believers.
      • Do you have a loved one that has gone home to be with the Lord?
        • Then take heart and take comfort in the fact that those who die in Him will forever be found in Him.
          • 2 Corinthians 5:8 - “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
        • There is comfort in this reality.
    • Second, there is a great comfort in the suffering we experience in this life.
      • Knowing that no matter what we face this side of heaven will not compare to the Glory we will one day know.
      • How great is this to consider and how it should fuel our daily lives.
        • It puts all things into perspective when we consider that…
          • “...the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  (Romans 8:18b)
        • There is nothing we can experience this side of heaven that will take away from the Glory we will one day see.
  • More than comfort though it should also fuel our efforts…
    • Knowing the joy in eternity for those in Christ should drive us to share with others this great Gospel we have believed.
  • There is hope in our verses today, there is joy in our verses today, because the Christ who died for us will come again to gather us with Him.
• Do you long for it?  Do you look ahead toward it?  Do you live for it?

Closing

• As we close today…
• I want to take you back to where we started…
  • It is no accident that you were born when you were born in the place you were born and in the time.
  • It is no accident that you are here today, so I would ask you to consider…
    • Why?
    • Why has God placed you here today, why has He given you access to the Gospel living between the Resurrection and the Return?
• For some of us here today it may be so that we can be saved, maybe you have never considered your life and your guilt before this great God.
  • If that is you today I want you to know that there is hope and it is in Jesus…
    • Salvation is found in His Name alone because He paid the price for your sins upon the cross.
    • I urge you to place your faith in Him and repent of your sins and be born again.
• For others who are in Christ today, what does the Lord desire you to do with the information you have been entrusted with?
  • As you ponder that God has placed you here and now I would only urge you to yield yourself to the Spirit of God.
  • With that we will pray and go into a time of response to the Word…