Living Ready in the Last Days: #1 Signs of the times

We begin a brand-new series, Living Ready in the Last Days, with part one: Signs of the Times.

As Christians, we believe Jesus is coming back—but let’s face it, the idea of His return often stirs up fear and uncertainty. In Mark 13:1-8, Jesus’s disciples wrestle with similar anxieties as they ask Him about the signs of the end. His response challenges them—and us—not to place our trust in the temporary things of this world but to focus on God’s sovereignty instead.

In this message, we explore:

• The historical and spiritual significance of the temple in Jesus’s time.
• Why fear of the future is a distraction from faith.
• How trusting in Jesus offers peace in the midst of life’s chaos.

Are you ready to let go of fear and put your trust in the One who holds the future? Tune in to discover how you can live ready—today and every day.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

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Chapters

• 0:00 Trailer
• 0:17 Theme song--"The Dirt Path" by Jeremy Edwards
• 1:21 Podcast Greeting
• 2:41 Introduction: Second Coming of Jesus
• 5:32 Reading of the Passage: Mark 13:1-8
• 6:52 v1-2 The Disciples' Admiration of the Temple
• 10:58 v3-4 The Private Question on the Mount of Olives
• 13:38 v5-6 The Warning Against Deception
• 15:52 v7-8 The Preliminary Signs: Wars and Disasters
• 21:20 What does this teach us?
• 31:33 Invitation--Trust God and believe in Jesus
• 33:56 Podcast Closing Prayer
• 37:04 Outro

Transcript

LIVING READY IN THE LAST DAYS

PART ONE: SIGNS OF THE TIMES

     As Christians, we believe that Jesus is coming back again. Why? Because Jesus said He would. While we believe this, the common reaction, even within the Church, is fear. Much of that fear has to center around the question, “Are you ready?” Well, what does it mean to be ready? This is what we will be exploring over the next several weeks.

     In our passage for today, the disciples become concerned over signs that Jesus mention. Much as the events happening around them made disciples uncertain of the future, we find ourselves in troubling times.Raging wild fires, wars, and kids unsafe in schools are things having us question the future. And as believers, is it time for Jesus to return? But Jesus himself gives us a message about navigating such times.

     Mark 13:1-8(CEB):

1 As Jesus left the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What awesome stones and buildings!”

2 Jesus responded, “Do you see these enormous buildings? Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.”

3 Jesus as sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? What signs will show that all these things are about to come to an end?”

5 Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many people will come in my name, saying ‘I’m the one!’ They will deceive many people. 7 When you hear of wars and reports of wars, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. 8 Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be earthquakes and famines in all sorts of places. These things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end.”

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

     The temple was the central place of worship and national pride for the Jews. But the temple mentioned in our passage was no the original built by Solomon. That temple had been destroyed when God’s people were taken into exile because of their sin. When they returned, they built a new one. This is the new one. However, by the time Herod (the crazy leader over Judea who killed babie in attempt to kill the newborn Jesus) begins to rule that temple had fallen in disrepair. Herod renovated the temple to a point it was acknowledged as one of the wonders of the world during that era. So, in verse 1, when the disciples say to Jesus, “Look! What awesome stones and buildings,” we get an idea of the beauty they saw. Of course, Jesus shocks them in verse 2 by saying, “Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.” This prophecy was indeed fulfilled in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the temple.

     Not knowing that, and shocked by Jesus’s words, the fishermen brothers approach him in verses 3 and 4, asking, “When will these things happen? What sign will show that all these things are about to come to an end?” Fear is at the heart of their question. They cannot fathom a world without the temple. And they believed, as did most Jews, that the Messiah would takeover the temple. This is an attempt by them to calm their fears by obtaining certainty and control.

     Jesus answers them, but in a way that is typical of Jesus. He answers in a way that does not answer all their questions. In verses 5 and 6, he says, “Jesus said, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. Many people will come saying, ‘I’m the one!’ They will deceive many people.” Essentially, Jesus is saying that you all are worried about signs, but what you should be worried about are people claiming to be me. “Watch out” literally means “keep your eyes open” or “beware.” False messiahs and deliverers who offer themselves as the solution to the world’s problems are dangerous because they will lead people astray from God’s truth.

     Continuing in verses 7 and 8, Jesus says, “When you hear of wars and reports of wars, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be earthquakes and famines in all sorts of places. These things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end.” The NIV and many other translations end verse 8 with, “These are the beginning of the birth pains.” The moment of joy in pregnancy is when the child is born, but leading up to the moment is a lot of suffering. As the time for the child’s arrival draws near, the suffering intensifies reaching its height at the moment of birth. Before the world comes to an end, at the time of Christ’s return, suffering will reach its apex.

     What was Jesus trying to teach His disciples in this response? What does it teach us? Remember, the disciples think the destruction of the temple is associated with the end of the world. Jesus responds with a warning to keep an eye out for false messiahs and assurances that the destruction of the temple was only part of the suffering that was to come. Was Jesus sharing this to scare the disciples?

     Think how this section begins. The disciples are amazed by the temple. Where was their focus? What was their trust in? A man-made object. Man-made objects are temporary, with hope that fades. When the disciples learn that the temple will be destroyed they are afraid, so they seek to know signs and obtain some way they can have control in the situation. But Jesus does not share any sign with them. He warns about false messiahs and suffering to come, but it is not meant to scare the disciples. It is meant to shift their focus from man-made objects and themselves to God. Rather than panic over what was beyond their control, Jesus wanted the disciples to trust in God’s sovereignty, for God is the One ultimately in control.

     As we watch news reports about wild fires, school shootings, snowmaggeddon, wars, and national security threats, the temptation is for us to panic. But fear is a tool of the enemy. We should be vigilant to discern truth from deception, but discernment is not gained by knowing signs, it is gained by knowing Jesus. Security and survival is not dependant upon our control but us trusting in God who is in control.

     I am not saying we celebrate all these different forms of suffering, nor are they necessarily God’s will for them to happen. We live in a broken and messed up world that no amount of technology, education, money, or power can solve. It does not mean we do not try, but our hope is not in those things. Our hope is in Jesus. He gives peace to our hearts and minds so we can operate, function, and thrive in the midst of turmoil.

     As we reflect on the signs of the times and the uncertainty of the world around us, Jesus's message to His disciples remains clear: don't place your trust in the temporary, man-made things of this world. Instead, trust in the One who is eternal and unchanging—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When fear threatens to take hold—whether it’s fear of the unknown, fear of suffering, or fear of the future—remember that Jesus offers a different way. He tells us not to be alarmed. He invites us to look beyond the chaos and focus on Him, the One who is in control of all things.

Today, I want to ask you: Where is your trust? Are you putting your hope in the temporary, the uncertain, or even in your own ability to control things? Or are you ready to place your trust fully in Jesus, the One who brings peace in the midst of the storm?

If you’ve been holding onto fear or looking to things that cannot save you, this is your moment to let go. Jesus is calling you to trust in Him, not just for today but for eternity. He is the true source of peace, hope, and salvation.

Will you respond to His call? Will you take this opportunity to say, “Jesus, I trust You with my life and my future”?