“And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:” – Mark 13:5

Beware.

Be aware.

Anticipate.

Be alert.

Watch.

Put them all together and their nuanced differences combine into the anticipatory watchfulness who is waiting for the intervention of God in history.

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:” – Mark 13:5

In teachings of last things or any other prophetic events at any time, there is much room for deceit.

Take heed!

Jesus says to take heed. In Mark 13, he predicts the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. That prediction was fulfilled in A.D. 70. He uses the occasion to speak of other events both in the near and distant future and to allude to his second coming.

“And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

It was a major pronouncement, It was a dramatic prediction. It was a dire warning. One would expect the questions that came next:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

It was to that specific request that Jesus answered: “ Take heed lest any man deceive you:”

Jesus told them that many will come pretending to be the Christ. Don’t believe them or follow them.

Don’t let rumors of wars trouble or deceive you. They are not the end of the world.

Don’t quit following. Don’t be deceived. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be led astray.

Nor should you be deceived, shaken, led astray, or discouraged when “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

Trouble is not the end of the world.  It is to be expected. You may be persecuted, but the gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed. “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

Beware. Take heed. Don’t be deceived. God is in charge.