"Let the reader understand"?

[Katia_0203]

Hey guys,

Every time I read this verse I wonder about it, so I decided just to ask you all :)

"When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
--Mark 13:14

My question about this verse isn't what it's talking about, but the bolded part. Did Jesus actually say "let the reader understand", or did Mark write that in? Because if Jesus said it, it means he knew future generations would end up reading a bible...and wouldn't this confuse the disciples when Jesus says "let the reader understand" when he's just speaking to them?

I know Jesus obviously knew the NT of the bible would be written and widely distributed in the future...but I'm wondering if he actually said it and meant it for us, the generation of His 2nd coming.

One more random question that I just thought of from the same chapter of Mark. Read this verse real quick:

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."
--Mark 13: 28-30

In my NIV bible, the word "generation" has a footnote next to it. It says "generation" could also mean "race". If this is the case, would it be referring to the people of Israel, since the fig tree represents Israel? Meaning that Israel will not be dismantled/split up/disintegrated until sometime during the Trib? I mean the people of Israel aren't dismantled, but they flee to the mountains from the AC after the Abomination of Desolation...so since we are seeing signs of people trying to cut Israel into little pieces and giving them to other peoples, that would infer the Rapture and the Trib are very, very close at hand because the people of Israel cannot be moved from Israel until "all these things have happened", which would be during the Trib?

God just put these questions on my heart after reading Mark last night and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. Could anyone provide some insight or try to explain some of this to me? It would be lovely :hug

[CrochetGirl]

Regarding your question about Mark 13:14, when the translators translated Jesus' words, they were very careful about putting His exact words in quotation marks (and in red in red letter editions). So, it would seem that Jesus actually spoke these words.

Jack Kelley has a good answer to your question about generation vs. race. You can read it here: http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/matt-2434-generation-or-race/#more-8404

Hope that helps some.

[WarriorOfTheFather]

I recommend watching this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7948275816532754853

Chuck Missler describes the Interpretation very well in my opinion on those Verses, actually the "abomination that causes desolation" is what I mean.

[KissyLoves]

Your point about Mark 13:14, made me think of this verse:

Revelation 1:3 (New International Version)
3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

There we are "reading" again. What you say makes sense. I'll watch the Churck Missler video at home tonight.

[House of Light]

In the KJV....the "let the reader understand"...is in parantheses. Jesus did not speak this.....it was added in.

[Mensh]

In the KJV....the "let the reader understand"...is in parantheses. Jesus did not speak this.....it was added in.

I agree. In my NASB it is also in parenthesis and not in red ink.

[Bound2Him]

I always thought the let the "reader understand" was whoever was reading the book of Daniel?

[House of Light]

I always thought the let the "reader understand" was whoever was reading the book of Daniel?


We aren't talking about the book of Daniel. We are discussing a verse in Mark. See the OP.

[Last Samurai]

I would have trouble with Jesus saying "let the reader understand". To me, it would seem as though he would not say such a thing. Would that not make the Disciples less interested if they knew a future generation would understand something they could not?

I don't think he spoke those words. This has been an excellent topic and question. Great job with the question. :)

[bvaliant4him]

The way I understand it, the writer of the gospel of Mark put those words in because this gospel was written at the time when the city of Jerusalem was surrounded by Roman armies, so the reader would know if the warning referred to him.