THINK ABOUT IT!

· What is the rapture? When will it take place? 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

· What prophecies need to be fulfilled before the rapture can take place?

· What great event will follow the rapture?

In Mark 13 we have Mark's account of what we know as the "Olivet Discourse". Here Jesus is talking about future events, especially the "Tribulation Period".

I. QUESTIONS ON THE FUTURE - Vss. 1-4

· What does Jesus' comment about the destruction of the temple teach us about being enamored with "things"? Vss. 1-2

· Jesus' discourse was a result of the questions asked by the Peter, James, John, and Andrew.

II. PRELIMINARY EVENTS - Vss. 5-13

A. False Christs Vss. 5-6

B. Wars And Rumors Of Wars Vss. 7-8

C. Persecution Vss. 9-13

1. Vs. 9 - Start of difficulty

2. Vs. 10 - Spread of the Gospel

3. Vs. 11 - Spirit guidance

4. Vss. 12-14 - Serious hatred against the saints.

¨ Although we have certainly had "hints" of these things happening now, and in the past, these things will occur during the first part of the Tribulation Period.

Vss. 5-6 - False Christs - Revelation 6:1-2

Vss. 7-8 - Wars and Rumors of Wars - Revelation 6:3-4

Vs. 8 - Earthquakes etc. - Revelation 6:5-6, 12-17

Vs. 9, 11-14 - Persecution - Revelation 6:9-11

Vs. 10 - Gospel Preached to All Nations - Revelation 7:1-10 - 144,000 Jewish

Evangelists

III. DANIEL'S PROPHECY FULFILLED - Vss. 14-18

A. What To Look For Vs.14

B. What To Do Vss. 14-18

§ The "Abomination of Desolation" is described in Daniel 9:24-27

§ This begins the second part of the tribulation.

IV. THE GREAT TRIBULATION - Vss. 19-23

A. Its Magnitude Vss. 19-20

B. Its Danger Vss. 21-23

q Who are the elect mentioned here?

q What do these verses teach us about false teachers today?

V. THE RETURN OF CHRIST - Vss. 24-27

A. Natural Phenomenon Vss. 24-25

B. His Arrival Vs. 26

C. The Gathering Of The Elect Vs. 27

Ø Jesus' arrival will be glorious and victorious - Revelation 19:11-14

Ø Jesus' arrival will be to the Mount of Olives - Zechariah 14:3-4

VI. THE FIG TREE - Vss. 28-31

A. The Parable Vs. 28

B. The Interpretation Vss. 29-31

ü What generation that shall not perish is referred to in these verses?

ü How should Vs. 31 motivate us today?

VII. THE CALL TO WATCH Vss. 32-37

A. The Secret Time Vs. 32

B. The Sure Formula Vs. 33

C. The Steadfast Servant Vss. 34-37

· Do we as Christians do much watching and praying? Why not?

· Titus 2:11-13 tells us about our behavior as we watch and pray.

· Why should recent world events motivate us to watch and pray?

· How will Christians be "sleeping" when Jesus returns?

· How do we know that the admonition is for us today? Vs. 37