Conservative Friends Bible Study of Mark #24 Mark Chapter 13 Verse 28 - Chapter 14 Verse 11

Mark 13:28-31 includes the parable of the fig tree. To the ancient Israelites, the fig tree could also be understood as a symbol for the nation of Israel. In ancient Hebrew, the expression “heaven and earth will pass away” was understood to mean that everything in the entire Universe would be gone. However, the plural form, “heavens” refers to the place Heaven. Often, early Friends saw the events in the book of Revelation as events to be interpreted as of spiritual importance to the individual. However, the eschatological events in the Gospels were usually seen as events to happen in actual history.  The section in Mark 13:32-37 tended to be usually interpreted by Friends as the need for each individual to be spiritually ready for one’s physical death. However, Mark 13:32 could also be sometimes interpreted among Friends in the personal sense: No one knows the time when the Lord will suddenly make Himself spiritually known to an individual or a group (such as in corporate worship). The Greek term basileia often had a sense of almost being a kingdom-nation, or a Nation-State. The Shakers (who in 1747 grew out of Quakers) from their outset adopted almost wholesale the Quaker eschatological language and views as applying to the spiritual coming of Christ to an individual. Early Friends were not afraid to allow for the possibility of the complete presence of God to be known by an individual on this side of heaven. Mark 14: 1-11 explores the woman who anointed Jesus with very expensive perfume in the home of Simon the Leper. The word “leprosy” was used to designate the then incurable disease that we now know today is only mildly contagious. However, “leprosy” could also be used for any skin disease. The word “Judas” is the same name as “Judah”. The name Judas Iscariot in the New Testament means a man named Judas from the town of Cariot. Greek (Hebrew, & English) Terms (Largely in order of podcast appearance)Anthrōpos – man, human beingHebrew: ’adam - man, mankindSon of Man = Son of Mankind = Son of AdamOuranos – sky, heaven (> English: Uranus)Apokalupsis – revelationParousia – presence, [coming, advent] pareimi v. - be present Apousia – absence apeimi v. – be absentZōē – lifeAiōnios adj. – eternalAiōn – an age, a period (English: eon < aiōn)Zōē Aiōnios – eternal life [= Life of the Ages], Everlasting Life Bios – life, livelihoodKingdom of God = Kingdom of Heaven = Eternal Life = LifeBasileia – kingdom, domain, stateBasilikos adj. - royalEschatology – end times theologyEschatos adj. – last, finalRealized Eschatology – The inward understanding of “end times” in the Gospel according to JohnGinōskō v. – know, experienceGnōsis – knowledgeGnōstikos adj. – knowledgePseudognōstikos adj. – false knowledgeWorship < worth+shipLepros – leperLepra – leprosyDēnarion - denarius, [ > dinar in Serbia]Ioudas – NT Judas = OT Judah (> Judea) (> English: Jew)Iakōbos – NT James = OT Jacob Iēsous – NT Jesus = OT JoshuaSepphōris – Sepphoris – ancient Hellenic town, 6 kilometers from NazarethPhilippos – Philip (horse lover), a Greek not Hebrew name The reading at the beginning of this episode is an adaptation of a declaration George Fox made twice in his Journal.  In the Rufus Jones edition, it is near the end of Chapter VI [177] and again near the end of Chapter XI [315].A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.We will be publishing video interviews with Conservative Friends on YouTube.  See our YouTube channel.  The first interview is with Susan Smith. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.