“Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
- BSB “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
- NKJV “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
- NASB “Tell us, when will these things come about, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”
- NLT “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples ask when these things will happen and what sign will signal their fulfillment. Their question drives the whole discourse that follows.
Overview
They want both timing and a warning sign for the temple's destruction. Jesus answers by interweaving the near judgment on Jerusalem with the far horizon of his final coming, so that the discourse has both near and ultimate fulfillments. Rather than satisfy curiosity about dates, Jesus repeatedly calls them — and us — to discernment, endurance, and watchfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Acts 1:6–7Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
- Matt 24:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
- John 21:21–22Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
- Dan 12:6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
- Dan 12:8I heard, but I didn’t understand: then I said, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
- Luke 21:7They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 13:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.