Field Orders - Mark 13:16

Mark wrote how Jesus toward the end of the age, “you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand), then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains. And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house”, and in chapter thirteen and verse sixteen of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said, “let him that is in the field not turn back again” where we read:

And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

The verse reads, “And let him that is in the field ...” Mark began with the words, “and let him” or “and allow and permit the person” “that is in the field” which means “who is in the country seats, neighborhood hamlets, bit of tillages, lands and country”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to people who are in the “country lands” or upon their “farms” when the “abomination of desolation” occurs.

The verse goes on to say, “... not turn back again for to take up his garment.” Mark continued with the words, “not turn back again” which means “not to return or go back another time” “for to take up” or “for the purpose of lifting, raising or carrying off” “his garment” which means “the person's cloak, mantle or tunic”. Mark shared how Jesus said people who are out or working in their “fields” should not return home to “gather” even their “outer garments or tunics” when they perceive the “abomination of desolation” has taken place.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we discover the urgency Jesus promoted when the “abomination of desolation” takes place. People who are in their “fields” are not even to return home for their articles of clothing. These will be horrific times, and people who are followers of God will pay dearly for their allegiance to Him. God's desire is to save people from their sins through a relationship with His Son Jesus, and when they believe and trust in Him, no matter what fearful thing takes place in the world, they may rely upon His strength and wisdom to overcome it.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “woe to them that are with child”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".