Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
A Walk with the Master Series
The Fig Tree
Mark 13:26-31
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, Mar 13:25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Mar 13:26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Mar 13:27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Mar 13:28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. Mar 13:29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ar 13:30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
When Jesus was teaching on the tribulation, He explained what the end times would be like. The tribulation would be just before His return to the earth to set His feet on the Mount of Olives. This was to be the fulfillment of the promise of the angels to the disciples in Acts 1:11, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
As we have said before, this is not when the Lord comes for the church. That event takes place seven years before at the rapture of the church when Christ returns for His bride.
After the rapture, the tribulation will last for seven years with three separate judgments taking place during that time. Each one will be more severe than the previous. These judgments are the Seal Judgments of Revation chapters 6 and 7, the Trumpet Judgments of chapters 8 and 9, then the Bowl Judgments of chapter 16. These catastrophes will culminate in the final battle called Armageddon, and at the end of this battle, the Lord will return with the armies of heaven as seen in Revelation 19:11-21.
That is the timing for the portion we are studying today. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, Mar 13:25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Mar 13:26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
The Lord then assures the readers that His return is so certain that the parable of the Fig Tree will predict how near the end is because these judgments have taken place. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Mar 13:28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. Mar 13:29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ar 13:30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Our hope and joy is knowing that we will not have to face that awful time of the tribulation because we will be in heaven with the Lord and will be part of the armies of heaven when the Lord returns to take His place as the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
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Bible Reading for the Year
May 19th, 1 Chronicles 3-5; John 8:1-20
Prayer Needs
Please pray for Jimmy and Donna Dixon. Jimmy’s father passed away Thursday afternoon. The funeral will be Tuesday the 19th, in Roanoke Rapids at the Wrenn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12 until 2 PM. A graveside service will follow.
Thank you for praying for Dr. Joe Jordan. He has been transferred to rehab. This will be an intense time of recovery, and he covets your prayers for strength and stamina through the process.
Please pray for Shirley Deans. Shirley saw the ear, throat, and nose doctor about her throat cancer. She had a PET scan on Friday, May 15th over her entire body. On the 27th she will see the cancer doctor about the PET scan, and on the 28th she will have surgery to biopsy a lymph node in her neck.
Please also pray for Kenny Deans. He is continuing treatment for his leg. He will also be seeing a doctor about possible kidney stones.
Please pray for Peggy Warren. She is still in a lot of pain.
Please continue praying for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. She is having stomach issues caused by the medication. Please continue to pray for complete healing.
Please continue to pray for Robbie Harvey who has MAC lung disease. He fell and broke several ribs, but he is feeling better now. He has started a new medication for his lung disease.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia