While reading Mark chapter 13 I was intrigued that the Savior ends teaching the apostles about the signs of the second coming with a final commandment to "Watch." He had been talking about the incredible wickedness and sorrow that would take place before his coming. He also talks about great affliction that had never been known to man since the creation; this is pretty significant considering the awful things witnessed throughout history.
Nation shall rise against nation
He is very specific about the signs that will come in this Chapter. One is that "Nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom: there shall be earthquakes and divers places and there shall be famines and troubles; these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:8).
This scripture also jumped out at me because the night before reading this chapter I had watched a documentary on World War II and the terrible tragedy and affliction that had come with that war. Talk about nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The historic casualty count of this war is unmatched in our worlds history. 9 million Jews, 24 million Soviets, 20 million Polish, 20 million Chinese, 5 million Germans and the list goes on. Over 60 million battle casualties with over 20 million casualties of postwar disease and famine; a world total of over 80 million men, women and children all loved children of God who suffered terrible death in this war. All because of one man. Again Mark 13:19 Talks about "An affliction such as was not from the beginning of creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."
It is also important to mention the creation and first use of two atomic bombs dropped on a city of men, women and children in Japan killing 60-80 hundred thousand each time within an instant. This event changed our world and warfare as we know it. Talk about "earthquakes in divers places" and why that would have been such a significant event and thing for the Savior to add in that scripture, at that time right after he had just mentioned nation rising against nation. Also in Joel 2 we read about blood, fire and pillars of smoke. I don't think there is a pillar of smoke more feared upon the earth than that of an atomic boom and blood and fire is exactly what surrounds them. It makes sense to me that this world changing, war changine technology would be mentioned in the scriptures.
And this is the "beginning" of sorrows. It is interesting that after this scripture that nation shall rise against nation, is when he explains that the gospel shall be "published" to each nation. When Christ speaks about the end of the world he doesn't always speak chronologically but I believe he does here. I also believe, unlike others might, that the gospel "published" does not have to mean physical missionaries. I could be completely wrong and it is only a personal side thought but I think that even the internet getting into many homes across the world, with the ability to reach into nations that are closed to the gospel at this time may still be considered published. Who would have imagined this very significant, historical and world changing event "the creation of the internet". And I believe that Christ may be mentioning it here in the "gospel being published first among all nations" (Mark 13:10). Who could have imagined that every nation across the world would have access to the gospel. Every word that Christ speaks is calculated. Every word.
A Hastening and a Ripening
I believe we are seeing both a Hastening and a Ripening. A Hastening of the work and a Ripening of wickedness. I will save most of these thoughts for another post but I have heard a lot about "the hastening" of the work with the change in missionary age. As far as ripening, I used to be skeptical that in the Book of Mormon there were groups of people that could become so wicked in the space of a very few years. I almost thought it was unrealistic to have such a change but I have definitely been proven wrong. I have seen more change and acceptance of wickedness in the last few years than I have in my entire lifetime.
An Answer
So why did that word "Watch" seem to awake me out of my reading and intrigue me in these verses? Because again it was an answer to my prayers of "What am I to do to change such a wicked world and the events that I am seeing unfold?" That simple word "Watch" meant to me that these things are supposed to happen and that even though I am doing my part to minimize these things I should watch, observe and take note.
In Mark 13 Christ shares the parable of the fig tree, an example that these people knew well since their calendars and timetables were often based on natural events around them. So this was something that they were very familiar with. When a fig tree puts forth leaves "ye know summer is near." (Mark 13:28) So in other words these things I have talked about are also signs that the season of Christ's coming is near. You don't know the exact day but you know that he is coming.
Sleep
With this word "Watch" two times in these verses Christ also uses a form of its antonym in a warning. That we not "Sleep". He tells us to watch "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." (Mark 13:36) I find myself spiritually sleeping sometimes. I find that I try to turn these things off in my mind and live in excess and pride without considering how this will take a toll on my spirit. I am not saying to live in a isolated or not be a leaven to the world but it is easy to "sleep". The gospel is like pushing a round rock up the hill. If we aren't pushing forward spiritually we start to loose ground. The small and simple things of the gospel (scripture study and prayer) done every day are so important! These things allow for the spirit to whisper and guide us in our lives and in all that we do.
Along with the word "sleep" another scripture comes to mind about what sleep could mean.
He is very specific about the signs that will come in this Chapter. One is that "Nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom: there shall be earthquakes and divers places and there shall be famines and troubles; these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:8).
This scripture also jumped out at me because the night before reading this chapter I had watched a documentary on World War II and the terrible tragedy and affliction that had come with that war. Talk about nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The historic casualty count of this war is unmatched in our worlds history. 9 million Jews, 24 million Soviets, 20 million Polish, 20 million Chinese, 5 million Germans and the list goes on. Over 60 million battle casualties with over 20 million casualties of postwar disease and famine; a world total of over 80 million men, women and children all loved children of God who suffered terrible death in this war. All because of one man. Again Mark 13:19 Talks about "An affliction such as was not from the beginning of creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."
It is also important to mention the creation and first use of two atomic bombs dropped on a city of men, women and children in Japan killing 60-80 hundred thousand each time within an instant. This event changed our world and warfare as we know it. Talk about "earthquakes in divers places" and why that would have been such a significant event and thing for the Savior to add in that scripture, at that time right after he had just mentioned nation rising against nation. Also in Joel 2 we read about blood, fire and pillars of smoke. I don't think there is a pillar of smoke more feared upon the earth than that of an atomic boom and blood and fire is exactly what surrounds them. It makes sense to me that this world changing, war changine technology would be mentioned in the scriptures.
And this is the "beginning" of sorrows. It is interesting that after this scripture that nation shall rise against nation, is when he explains that the gospel shall be "published" to each nation. When Christ speaks about the end of the world he doesn't always speak chronologically but I believe he does here. I also believe, unlike others might, that the gospel "published" does not have to mean physical missionaries. I could be completely wrong and it is only a personal side thought but I think that even the internet getting into many homes across the world, with the ability to reach into nations that are closed to the gospel at this time may still be considered published. Who would have imagined this very significant, historical and world changing event "the creation of the internet". And I believe that Christ may be mentioning it here in the "gospel being published first among all nations" (Mark 13:10). Who could have imagined that every nation across the world would have access to the gospel. Every word that Christ speaks is calculated. Every word.
A Hastening and a Ripening
I believe we are seeing both a Hastening and a Ripening. A Hastening of the work and a Ripening of wickedness. I will save most of these thoughts for another post but I have heard a lot about "the hastening" of the work with the change in missionary age. As far as ripening, I used to be skeptical that in the Book of Mormon there were groups of people that could become so wicked in the space of a very few years. I almost thought it was unrealistic to have such a change but I have definitely been proven wrong. I have seen more change and acceptance of wickedness in the last few years than I have in my entire lifetime.
An Answer
So why did that word "Watch" seem to awake me out of my reading and intrigue me in these verses? Because again it was an answer to my prayers of "What am I to do to change such a wicked world and the events that I am seeing unfold?" That simple word "Watch" meant to me that these things are supposed to happen and that even though I am doing my part to minimize these things I should watch, observe and take note.
In Mark 13 Christ shares the parable of the fig tree, an example that these people knew well since their calendars and timetables were often based on natural events around them. So this was something that they were very familiar with. When a fig tree puts forth leaves "ye know summer is near." (Mark 13:28) So in other words these things I have talked about are also signs that the season of Christ's coming is near. You don't know the exact day but you know that he is coming.
Sleep
With this word "Watch" two times in these verses Christ also uses a form of its antonym in a warning. That we not "Sleep". He tells us to watch "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." (Mark 13:36) I find myself spiritually sleeping sometimes. I find that I try to turn these things off in my mind and live in excess and pride without considering how this will take a toll on my spirit. I am not saying to live in a isolated or not be a leaven to the world but it is easy to "sleep". The gospel is like pushing a round rock up the hill. If we aren't pushing forward spiritually we start to loose ground. The small and simple things of the gospel (scripture study and prayer) done every day are so important! These things allow for the spirit to whisper and guide us in our lives and in all that we do.
Along with the word "sleep" another scripture comes to mind about what sleep could mean.
And others will he pacify, and lull away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away "carefully" down to hell.
(2 Nephi 28:20-22)
So what does it mean to Watch. I think we can all search for our meaning individually. To me it means to not stress so much that I lose hope. That these things are not only meant to be; but they have been foretold. That I need to do my best to help this world but I also need to prepare and wait. Having these signs to watch for is a tender mercy by the Savior because we know that it is all in the plan and that good things are to come.
Additional thoughts
An additional thought is there are two more things that worry me in this chapter of Mark.
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved." He is of course talking to his apostles who will in a few years all be martyred but I can't help but think that this was one of those messages that they were passing on to us as well. We are already seeing an anti-religious movement and hatred growing and spreading online, in Hollywood and throughout the world. What will we see come of this? Will it get worse? We need to endure.
Also it talks about the sun being darkened, the stars shall fall and the "heavens shall be shaken" (vs 24,25) Seeing how literal some of the previous verse events have become I can't help but wonder what this means and what possible planetary event we may witness. It could mean something simple like and eclipse or black smoke blocking our view but since I am a science junkie and I love astronomy I can't help but wonder what might be in store that will "shake the heavens".
Okay now it is time to end. I don't mean to sound negative, there are many positive events before the second coming as well but I will end this now in the same way that the Savior did as a reminder to myself ------"Watch".
Okay now it is time to end. I don't mean to sound negative, there are many positive events before the second coming as well but I will end this now in the same way that the Savior did as a reminder to myself ------"Watch".
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