Jesus’ forecast that the temple would be torn down in ruins (13:1–2) fell as bad news on the ears of faithful Jews. Naturally they wanted to know more, and in particular when will these catastrophes occur? Notice how the language of the disciples’ request for information is taken directly from Dan 12:7. That is the hermeneutical key to the entire discourse, set on the Mount of Olives where divine revelation was supposed to take place in the last days, according to Zech
Mark 13:1–13