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13:2 In 66 AD, Jewish forces occupied Jerusalem, beginning what is called the Great Revolt. Four years later, the Roman army besieged and then occupied the city, breaching the walls and burning the Temple, which had been magni cently restored by Herod the Great in 20 BC. The sack of Jerusalem is commemorated on the famous Arch of Titus in Rome, which shows Roman soldiers carrying the treasures of the Temple, including the menorah, in a triumphal procession.
13:5 Seated on the Mount of Olives, in full view of the splendor of Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his disciples about the end times. In its magni cence, the Temple looks as if it will stand forever; but it will soon be destroyed. The world itself will come to an end. Jesus’ intent is to instill not fear, but hope. No matter what they may be forced to endure, “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (13:13).
Oculus Dei (skylight) of St. James Cathedral, Seattle
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....MARK 
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold.*
131As he was making his way out of the temple area one of his
disciples said to him, “Look, teacher, what stones and what buildings!”a 2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down.” The Signs of the End. 3* As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple area, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,b 4“Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?”5Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one deceives you.c 6Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and reports of wars do not be alarmed; such things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. 8Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes from place to place and there will be famines. These are the beginnings of the labor pains.
The Coming Persecution. 9d “Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them. 10But the gospel must first be preached to all nations.* 11When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say.e But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the holy Spirit. 12Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his
child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by all because of my name. But the
one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
The Great Tribulation. 14f “When you see the desolating abomination standing* where he should not (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains,g 15[and] a person on a housetop must not go down or enter to get anything out of his house,h 16and a person in a field must not return to get his cloak. 17Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days. 18Pray that this does not happen in winter. 19For those times will have tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of God’s creation until now, nor ever will be.i 20If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he did shorten