Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 13:
3 Now as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
Jesus speaks privately to His four Jewish disciples. His discourse is focused on the Jewish people whereas Paul’s writings are focused on the Gentiles. They asked three questions in verse 4:
Tell us-
When will these things be?
What will be the sign of Thy coming?
When all these things will be fulfilled?”
Notice that they were asking of His return to earth. They had no understanding or expectation of the catching away.
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
6 For many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
10 And the Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
13 And you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
The believers in Christ are not among those who will flee. They will have been harpazo’d prior to the abomination of desolation. Jesus Himself points to Daniel chapter 9 as the key to end-time prophecy and specifically the abomination of desolation as the key. Whoso readeth, let him understand!
19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
The Bride of Christ will be spared and protected from the great tribulation but will be able to observe it from Heaven!
20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
The elect are those who are included in the 144,000.
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
Jesus warns the disciples twice, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Once at the beginning and once at the end. How do we keep from being deceived? By the whole Counsel of GOD Who has given us The Holy Spirit.
Jesus speaks of the end times and is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He tells us “Let the reader understand”. It is vital that we understand what is happening before our eyes at this point in history. Let our priorities reflect this understanding.