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The Gospel of Mark

  1. Lesson One
    Servant of God, Servant of All (Mark 2–7)
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Good News and the Son of God (Mark 1, 8–9, 11–12, 15, 16:1–8)
    14 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Second Exodus (Isa 40–41, 61, Jer 31)
    15 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Prophet and Son of Man (Deut 18:18, Dan 7:13–14, Mark 10, 13–14)
    14 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience
    14 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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The Gospel of Mark Second Exodus (Isa 40–41, 61, Jer 31) In | The Response of Creation to Jesus’ Second Coming
Lesson 3, Activity 6

In | The Response of Creation to Jesus’ Second Coming

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In the time when Jesus was born, there were many false messiahs making similar claims. Jesus says in Matthew 24:11 that the same thing would happen before He came again: “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” Jesus predicted a dramatic cosmic response to His Second Coming that would help distinguish it from the arrival of imposters. When He did this He drew on imagery from earlier Old Testament prophecies. 

But in those days, following that distress,
“the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
Mark 13:24-25 (NIV)

Dr. David E. Garland notes that as helpful as these events may be to distinguish Jesus from false messiahs, they are not given as signs. They represent the gravity and glory of God’s presence when He returns to judge and gather His elect. 

The ProphetsJesus
The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. (Is 13:10)The sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. (Joel 3:15)The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. (Mark 13:24)
All the stars will fall. (Is 34:4, LXX)The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. (Is 13:10)The stars will fall from the sky. (Mark 13:25)
The earth and the heavens will tremble. (Joel 3:16)And the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (Mark 13:25) 

Source: David E. Garland, ed., A Theology of Mark’s Gospel, 2015, p. 528.

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