prophecy

Don’t be caught napping

by

“No one knows, so Watch!” Mark 13:28-37

When will these things happen? Not sure we can say for certain. All we know is that any one who thus far has proposed a specific timetable has been wrong. But Jesus gives us a general idea.


He uses the illustration of a fruit tree awakening from its winter sleep. As the sun returns with its light and warmth, the tree (identified as a fig) begins to leaf out. What does this signify? That summer is near.

In the same way, he says, when the things he has been talking about begin to happen, we can know that the time is near, very near, even knocking at our door. He narrows it down to a generation which will live to see the end. Of this he is certain, as certain as the word of the Son of God can be.


But the exact time and date? No one knows. Not any man. Not any angel in heaven. Not even Christ himself. Only God the Father knows. We are to take heed and pay attention. We are to watch and pray because we do not know when the time is.

Jesus compares himself to a man taking a long trip far away. While he is gone, he expects his people to be diligent about his business, to do the work he has given them to do, and to keep in touch so they will be aware of his arrival. So are we to be watchful. We are not sure when he will arrive. His plane might be delayed or traffic is a mess. He could come at any hour of the day. Just don’t be caught sleeping when he’s expecting to be met at the gate.


Third time is a charm. Jesus cannot stress this enough:

  • v.33 Take heed, watch and pray
  • v.35 Watch therefore
  • v.37 I say to all: Watch!

Copyright 2023 David J. Cooley

Coming soon

by

October 12, 2023

“…with great power and glory.” Mark 13:24-27

Tough times are coming. The terrible events that Jesus speaks of were given as prophecy but sound a lot like the news headlines of our present day. I suppose all generations faced with such terror and destruction have seen their day in the same way. They wonder with us, Is this it, Lord?

But there is more to come. Things not related to “man’s inhumanity to man” but to natural events that are beyond any storm, earthquake or volcanic inferno anyone has ever witnessed. Things that are not confined to our puny planet. Jesus outlines four cataclysmic events:

  • The sun shall be darkened
  • The moon shall not give her light
  • The stars of heaven shall fall
  • The powers that are in heaven shall be shaken

The first three might be explained in terms of rare but not uncommon astronomical events, such as solar and lunar eclipses or meteor showers. But Jesus gives these as a signal that something else is about to occur. They must be significant enough events that will attract attention. Ones that astronomers will not be able to comprehend.


Science has recognized the clockwork precision by which the universe runs (but, alas, not the Source of that mechanism). What if that clock suddenly burst into a mass of flying gears, axles and springs?

As we develop telescopes that peer deeper and deeper into space, we uncover more questions than answers. Assumptions on how the universe began and continues are being shaken. We are now encountering light rays from the beginning of the universe. We know less than we thought and what we thought we knew is being tossed into the nearest black hole. Is the universe as stable as we hope it to be?


These events that Jesus describes may not last long enough for any explanations to be attempted. Their only purpose is to herald the next big event: Then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.


No one will have a chance to ask: What caused this? How did this happen? Why didn’t we see it coming? The coming of Jesus in the clouds will be absolutely overwhelming. It will push out all other thoughts and concerns. This is it. It has finally happened!


The angels will come and swiftly gather up those who have kept their faith, those who have held true to the Lord. None will be missed or lost in the ruins. God will be faithful as he always has been. It will be time for eternity to begin as those former things pass away.

Copyright 2023 David J. Cooley

False Christs

by

“Look! There he is!” Mark 13:21-23 ESV

At one time, it would have been fully believable to hear someone say “Look! There is Jesus!”, but those days are past. Jesus has been resurrected, he is no longer dead, but he also is no longer present with us in physical form. We must rely on his spirit and his word for guidance and comfort in our present time.

So, we must be very careful when we hear something like “Jesus has come back! He is just over there!” Anyone who makes this claim is intentionally deceiving you. We don’t have to worry about missing him. We won’t need to be told.

We will be the first to know.

What does it mean to be false? Today we fill our minds with a lot of fiction and fantasy in the form of movies, videos, games, books, etc. We have become quite comfortable with worlds and scenarios that are just not real. How do we tell when something or someone is just plain deceptive, misleading or not genuine?

Jesus tells us that these pretenders will be very convincing. They will be attractive, becoming, capable of incredible prophecies that actually come true. Or not. Who cares? It’s all so thrilling! They will perform amazing signs and wonders. Miracles will abound, seducing even the most faithful believer to turn away and follow them.

Please note that there are actual prophecies, signs and wonders that come from God. The trick is knowing what is real and what is not. (Hint: who gets the glory and credit? If it is a man or woman, beware!)

Get to know the real Jesus Christ while you can. Study his Word consistently and spend more of your time in prayer. Learn to trust him for the daily affairs of your life. This can be hard, stressful work, but soon you will see the rewards.

Copyright 2023 David J. Cooley

Run!

by

“But when ye shall see…” Mark 13:14-20

The disciples’ original question was “when will these things happen” and “how will we know when”. Now Jesus gives them the answer: when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not. This is not new information. They know their prophecy. That is why they were alert when Jesus appeared on the scene. He reminds them that this is the same thing the prophet Daniel has warned them about.

What is the abomination of desolation? Is it a person? A spirit? The antichrist? Not sure I can answer that satisfactorily here. It is described in the strongest of terms. An abomination is something detestable, filthy, disgusting. In biblical thought it often refers to idolatry. To desolate is to stun, stupefy, appall, devastate, to lay waste. Not the sort of thing any person would look forward to, even if it is a sign of the Lord’s coming.

Take inventory: how many things are going on in the world today that were not spoken of even a few years ago? I’m not suggesting a “frog in the pot” approach where we slowly become accustomed to strange new ideas. These things seem to happen after a few hints then are suddenly upon us in full force. Anyone standing in the way is destroyed. All you need do to realize this is to watch the news. But something worse is coming. Worse than anything anyone has experienced before.

Jesus provides a very practical response. In fact, it is not spiritual at all. He just says, Run. Did you get that? RUN! Don’t stop to take anything with you. Pray for help and protection, but go! Things will get so bad, that God will have to intervene to prevent the total annihilation of all flesh.

We aren’t given times and dates and checklists to figure this out. For Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it will be a gut-level response. It will be overwhelming revulsion; a sickening sense of helplessness and hopelessness on the deepest spiritual level. Everything of God that is good and true will be rejected horribly. But do not despair. Just get away. Jesus is coming and coming quickly.

Copyright 2022 David J. Cooley

Alarming and disquieting events

by

“…ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars…” Mark 13:7, 8

What were the questions the disciples asked Jesus? “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (Mark 3:4). When and when. Hearing about the destruction of the temple brought to their minds all sorts of catastrophic prophecies they have heard. They compiled these together and came to a single conclusion: THE END IS NEAR.

But so far Jesus hasn’t given much insight as to when. He’s already warned them against deception. Now he speaks of wars. He says they will hear of wars and reports (or rumors) of wars. He doesn’t deny they’re coming. He doesn’t warn against spreading unverified information. Instead he tells them not to be troubled when they hear of them. They’re going to happen. There’s no stopping them. Of course we should be concerned for the victims of war, but keep your head.

Bad times tempt people to fear the world is falling apart. It doesn’t matter if it’s a military uprising, political manipulation or an economic upheaval. It could be social unrest or the mass undermining of morality. We tend to put ourselves in the same rut, declaring again and again: THE END IS NEAR.

Jesus demands a different conclusion: The end is not here yet. He repeats himself in verse eight, expanding on what he said in verse seven. Still no hint of when. Just an indication that these kinds of events will be the beginning of sorrows. And in the following verses he gives some clear ideas of what form these sorrows will take (stay tuned).

So, the disciples have received two items of instruction thus far: 1) Don’t be deceived, even by those who claim to come in his name; and 2) The end will not be heralded by big headlines in the evening news. They are bound to happen as a matter of course. The end is not yet. And the clear implication is that he’s already told us what business (preaching the Good News) we are to occupy our time with. So keep at it.

What’s that commotion?

by

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions… (Luke 21:9 KJV)

Sometimes when children are put to bed they furtively whisper, laugh and giggle instead of going to sleep. And parents may confront them with “What’s all that commotion in there?” But our use of the word in that way is a mere shadow of it’s actual meaning.

Merriam-Webster gives the primary definition of commotion as “a condition of civil unrest or insurrection.” Luke could not have picked a better word to describe our current events as he relates what Jesus had to say about the approach of the end times. More often we remember Mark and Matthew’s rendition of “wars and rumors of wars.” But Luke has hit upon something that is much closer to home.

The modern translations give a broader sense of what is in mind: revolts, uprisings, disturbances, tumults. One scholar calls it simply disorder, as opposed to peace, which is the order of God.

There is no need to list specific events as examples of this commotion. The riots, demonstrations, confusion, deception, corruption, violence and even mass killings of today will give way to other unthinkable means of disorder tomorrow.

As horrible as these things may be and might become, Jesus says “be not terrified.” They are merely signposts of what lies over the horizon. The end will not come until later. There is still time for the Lord to complete his purposes; still time for him to comfort, strengthen and save all who come to him.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 ESV

Wonderful buildings

by

“Take heed that no one deceives you.” Mark 13:1-8

How much of the future should we seek to know? The Bible has always spoken against pursuing knowledge about tomorrow outside his counsel, the most famous being King Saul’s desperate grab for that very thing at Endor (I Samuel 28). Yet at the same time, God speaks in words of prophecy to his people about things to come.

Jesus has completed his teaching in the temple and the band of disciples makes their way back to Bethany at the Mount of Olives. As they leave, one of them is awestruck by the magnificence and splendor of the temple buildings. Jesus turns this into an opportunity for prophecy, saying that these great buildings will be broken down stone by stone, leaving only rubble.

This must have been a shock to the disciples. The temple was the core of Judaism. Without it, the sacrifices for the sins of the people and the nation could not be made. Yet no one remarked on or questioned this saying. Later, four of his closest men came to him while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, and asked “When will these things be? What will be the sign?”

There is a great difference between Saul’s request and that of the disciples. Saul sought information in ways forbidden by God. The disciples asked a natural question of the most natural person: Jesus, the speaker of the prophecy, who just happened to be God in the flesh.

Jesus then gives his famous list of signs: the appearance of false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, nation arising against nation and kingdom, earthquakes and famines. These things, he says, are but the beginning of birth pangs. Yet in the midst of it all, we are not to be frightened, for they must come about. It was if he was saying, “Now you know. Stop worrying.”

But first he gives what may seem to be an unlikely instruction: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Sometimes it seems we humans jump at the chance to believe anything but the truth. Eve in the Garden is the earliest example. All it took was a little questioning for her to act against what she had previously known without a doubt. Jesus warns his disciples – the apostles – about the very same thing. Don’t be misled. Don’t be led astray.

He warns of someone actively seeking to get us off track. It is not an accident nor a blunder nor a mere misunderstanding. Someone is lying in wait to take us where we would not ordinarily have gone. Someone is cunning enough for us to think it is a good idea, in fact, the best thing to do. This someone would have you believe they come in the name of Jesus. They may even claim to be Jesus himself.

How do we overcome this? There’s only one good answer. You must know Jesus closer than you would know any brother. His voice must be easily recognizable to your heart, as the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Draw near to him and he will draw near to you (James 4:8). Start today. Sooner is better than later.

Keeping up appearances

by

“…and for appearances sake offer…” Mark 12:35-44

The Jews have had enough. They started the game but Jesus kept winning. Now no one dared to ask him any more questions. And they certainly didn’t want to face any more of his. Jesus turns his attention to the crowd that had gathered around him in the temple.

To their credit, the scribes were good students of the Scriptures. They had discovered a great truth: The coming Messiah would be a son of David, the great king and psalmist of old. Yet the Messiah stood there before them, unrecognized. He had fulfilled many prophecies announcing his arrival. Only a handful remained to come true, and in a few days, these, too, would be fulfilled. Why had they missed him? We don’t know the exact details of their thinking, but one thing is certain: the Messiah had not come according to their expectations. He would not be just a mere descendant of David, but David’s Lord. He would be God in the flesh.

The scribes gave the appearance of possessing great knowledge of the Messiah. Yet the people readily saw what they could not. Messiah was right there in their midst bringing the blessings and glory of God to the whole world.

The scribes thought their knowledge and position brought them God’s acceptance and approval. They dressed the part, offering long prayers and earning the respect of the people, who honored them in public gatherings. Yet they failed in very basic ways to practice God’s law and share his love to the people in their care.

Some things seem self evident, but the truth of the matter can be quite different. Jesus moved to the temple treasury and watched as people gave their contributions. People marveled at the rich offering large sums of money. Jesus saw what the others did not notice and pointed it out to his disciples: a poor widow who put in two small copper coins valued at half a cent apiece. She put in all that she had, while the others gave out of their surplus. They had plenty more at home, while she had nothing left. Jesus commended her by saying she had put in more than all the others combined.

You don’t need to be a biblical scholar with a doctorate and hundreds of accolades to be acceptable in God’s sight. You don’t have to be good at Bible trivia or Bible baseball or even know the books of the Bible in order by heart. It’s okay if you can’t remember all Ten Commandments or which one is the Seventh. The only test you’ll get will be at heaven’s gate. And if you know Jesus, you’ve already passed. All that is needed is for him to recognize, welcome and embrace you.

You talkin’ to me?

by

What will the owner do? Mark 12:1-12

The discussion about the authority of Jesus has ended. Or has it? Jesus begins telling a parable about a vineyard in the hearing of the Jewish leaders. Though the disciples often sought explanations to Jesus’ parables, Mark tells us the officials did not. His meaning was plain to them.

Jesus tells of a man who planted a vineyard. He outfitted it with everything needed to protect and operate the venture. Then he rented it out to growers to run the place while he went on a long journey. At harvest time, the owner sent a slave to collect his portion of the crop. The tenants beat the slave and sent him away with nothing. The owner sent others to collect, but each time the tenants treated them shamefully, injured them or even killed them.

Finally, the man sent his beloved son, thinking, “Surely they will respect him.” But the growers figured that if the heir died, the vineyard would belong to them. When the son arrived, they killed him and threw his body out of the vineyard. What will the owner do now? He will destroy the growers and give the vineyard to others.

Jesus drives home his meaning by quoting Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. This, coupled with the obvious allusion to the unproductive vineyard of Isaiah 5, left no room for misinterpretation. And the Jewish leaders understood him fully. They realized that Jesus equated them with the treacherous growers. After all, their ancestors had rejected and reviled God’s prophets.

To their credit, the officials did not attempt to shift the blame to others. To their discredit, they excused themselves, rejecting Jesus’ message and that of the scriptures they knew so well. They knew what he was saying, but refused to apply his words to themselves. They could not – dared not – see themselves in that light.

So they acted in the lack of light they had and sought to seize Jesus on the spot. The only thing that prevented them was the presence of the crowds. Fear of the people outweighed any fear of the Almighty in their hearts. So they retreated.

Jesus does not have to document or certify his authority. It is obvious and effective. All pretenders to the throne have to slink away. Any attempt to deny that authority in our own hearts will ultimately fail. Is there anything you need to set right and yield to him?

Copyright 2020 David J. Cooley

Afraid to ask

by

“…they will kill him…” Mark 9:30-32

Jesus takes his disciples through Galilee once again, but his purpose is not the same as before. Now, instead of seeking to proclaim the good news to people, he avoids them. He desires to keep his whereabouts secret so he can teach his disciples about what lies ahead. He has told them these things before, but he realizes they have not grasped what he was saying. He now stresses three important points:

  • He will be delivered into the hands of men
  • They will kill him
  • He will rise three days later

From our vantage, this could not be more clear. But we have the benefit of history. We knew where this story was going when we picked it up. They did not. The disciples have seen an ever increasing cavalcade of signs and wonders. There seems to be no end to his miraculous power. Surely they expected God to usher in his kingdom at any moment. There was no clue that mere mortal men could thwart this plan.

Yes, they have seen a little opposition from the quarrelsome scribes and Pharisees, but nothing that threatened to draw blood. Jesus had always stymied them with a few words of wisdom. Even devils fled at his command. And if anyone did try to lay their hands on him, surely the multitudes of people who had been the beneficiaries of his grace would rise up against his enemies.

As incomprehensible as all this may have seemed, the last thing Jesus said puzzled them most. What did he mean by saying he would “rise three days later”? The resurrection of the dead was an abstract idea to them. It was outside their knowledge and experience. Too bad they were afraid to ask him about it. It would have been nice to hear his answer.

The subject of resurrection can be troublesome to us today, too. We are told that we are nothing more than a cosmic accident, a random assortment of atoms and molecules that happened to form together as a thinking, living being. When our life energy fades, we die and return to those atoms and molecules. Our mind and consciousness dissipates into nothingness, leaving no imprint on our former surroundings.

But Paul tells us otherwise. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then “our preaching is in vain, your faith also is vain…. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

What about it? Do you really believe in the resurrection?

Copyright 2020 David J. Cooley