Another section of scripture that provides important keys to understanding the future based on bible prophecy is Matthew 24. Mark 13 and Luke 21 are companion passages to this section of scripture. In this chapter Jesus is answering the questions of His disciples concerning the time of His return and the end of the world (a world controlled by the Gentiles). His answer provides some insight to what we often refer to as “the signs of the times.”
Matthew 24:3 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Jesus first warns the disciples about the many men who will appear on the scene claiming to be the Messiah. He also prepares them for the fact that these false messiahs will be very convincing and will actually deceive many people.
He then goes on to warn them about wars and rumors of wars that will characterize those times. These wars will involve nations and races or ethnic groups. Time has proven “religion” to play a significant role in these wars as well. The end times will also be a time in which famine, disease and earthquakes are prevalent throughout the world. Jesus then goes on to describe these signs as the “beginning of sorrows,” a term that is used to describe birth pains. The implication is that these signs would increase in frequency and intensity until He returned.
Then comes the most ominous warning of all for the disciples. Jesus warns that they will be persecuted and killed because of their faith in Jesus. He then goes on to declare how the times leading up to His return will be characterized by a lack of love. Friend and family will turn on one another as a direct consequence of conflicting beliefs about Jesus. Though many will die, the Lord promises that not one hair on the head of His followers will perish. In other words, true life begins after death for those who trust in the Lord Jesus as Savior.
In the midst of all this many false prophets will appear on the scene and will deceive many. Sadly, the times are revealing that the majority of these false prophets come from within the professing church.
At this point Jesus identifies a specific prophecy that identifies His return is near—the abomination of desolation spoke of by Daniel the prophet.
Matthew 24:15–16 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains….”
Where did Daniel speak of this event?
Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
This is a good example of how the prophecies in scripture link to one another to provide insight and understanding.
This event is future to the time that Jesus was speaking. It would be a desecration of the temple, which means that there will be a functioning temple prior to the occurrence of the event being referenced. This abomination would be a thing or person standing where it ought not—that would seem to reference something like an idol. “The holy place” and “where it ought not” could reference any part of the temple, the whole of which is considered holy, but more likely refers to the inner sanctum, the holy of holies. The Apostle Paul gets more specific regarding this event in his letter to the Thessalonians.
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Again, we see how one scripture sheds the light of understanding on another scripture. The Lord declares that when this event happens, the people in Jerusalem and Judea should immediately flee to the mountains; they shouldn’t even take the time to stop and get anything. Why?
Matthew 24:21–22 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
This is the event that will usher in the last half of the 70th week that is known as “the great tribulation.” We know that this is the last half of the 70th week since Daniel 9:27 (quoted above) declares that it will happen in the middle of that week. Jesus declares that this time on planet earth will be worst since the beginning of the world. There will be no more devastating time to live on planet earth than these last 3.5 years before Jesus returns. It will be so bad that all humanity would be destroyed if the Lord didn’t intervene.
There will be many people who will try to take advantage of what is happening in the world who will seek to profit from those who are suffering and seeking relief. So Jesus warns again of the many false Christ’s and false prophets that will arise on the scene. He warns that they will in fact be able to perform signs and wonders that would deceive even true believers if that were possible—implying that it is not possible.
Jesus is very specific in saying that His return will be clearly visible to those on planet earth—just as visible as lightning that strikes in the east but shines to the west. At the end of that 3.5-year period the people on earth will see Him returning in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Jesus then tells a little parable that I think has been misinterpreted by many of the best known prophecy teachers. He says that when you see the branch of the fig tree beginning to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. He then states that the generation that sees “all these things” will live to see the fulfillment of this prophecy—to see His return.
Prophecy teachers like to focus on the fig tree as representative of Israel and conclude that the generation that saw the birth of the state of Israel in 1948 will not pass until He returns. However, the context of the passage is in reference to the signs and events about which the Lord has been telling the disciples. These events include the abomination of desolation, an event that happens in the middle of that final 7-year period before He returns. I think this statement is being made for the encouragement of those believers who will come to know the Lord as Savior during the tribulation period and will need this promise to encourage them through such difficult times. The main point is that just as surely as the blossoming of the fig tree is a harbinger of summer, so these signs are a harbinger of the soon return of Jesus as King.
(to be continued…)
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