Mark 13:1-20

The Abomination of Desolation

There are 3 events and one purpose that we need to look at to get a proper understanding of the abomination of desolation

First, we look to the prophecy in Daniel, which foretold of Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan. 11:29-35)

“All Jewish religious practices such as circumcision, possessing the Scriptures, sacrifices, and feast days were forbidden on penalty of death (1 Macc 1:50, 63); and the imperial cult was introduced. Desecration of the Jewish religion reached its climax on 15 Chislev (December) 167 b.c. (1 Macc 1:54) when an altar or idol-statue devoted to Olympian Zeus (Jupiter) was erected in the temple (“the abomination that causes desolation”), and on 25 Chislev sacrifices, probably including swine (cf. 1 Macc 1:47; 2 Macc 6:4–5), were offered on the altar (cf. 1 Macc 1:54, 59). In this manner the temple was desecrated and rendered empty of Yahweh worshipers.” -Stephen R. Miller

This was a type used by Jesus to speak of both of the next two events

Second, we look at the immediate fulfillment in A.D. 70, as much of the end time prophecy shares a duplicate fulfillment with this event

The destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 is a major event in church (and world) history -> a small scale unfolding of the tribulation

A likely candidate was the Roman general, Titus, who entered the holy place, sacrificed swine, and took items from the holy place as a trophy of war

“If it refers to something during the war, the heinous crimes of the Zealots who occupied the temple precincts during the last years of the war are prime candidates. Josephus writes: ‘For there was an ancient saying of inspired men that the city would be taken and the sanctuary burned to the ground by right of war, when it should be visited by sedition and native hands should be the first to defile God’s sacred precincts. This saying the Zealots did not disbelieve; yet they lent themselves as instruments of its accomplishments.’” -David E. Garland

Lastly, and most completely, we look at the man of sin in the middle of the tribulation (Dan. 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:1-12)

This is the event that signifies the end (Dan. 12:8–13)

The one purpose is stated wonderfully in Daniel 9:24!

Jesus’ Warning

Jesus does not lament the temple, as He has already rejected it and was working to establish a better one long prophesied of

The temple would not be a safe haven in this event, and God warned them ahead of time to get away from the place His judgement is being poured out

Jesus instead lamented over the people that will experience the event, giving them warning to get into hiding immediately

In A.D. 70, it was directly to those living in Jerusalem at the time of the brutal event (Lk. 21:20)

In the seventieth week to fleshly Israel and all the tribulation saints who will be severely persecuted (Rev. 13:11-18)

God’s rejection and destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 was His stamp to the early church to move on from the law He already fulfilled

This was an issue in the early church who were tied to Jerusalem and Jewish religious influence (as seen in all the NT, especially Galatians)

Fleshly Israel is not God’s representative on this earth at this time (though they will be once again), and it is important the world and the church understand this (Lk. 21:24)

This is not that the Gentiles are God’s representative, but rather that they hold Israel in captivity (even today, as there is a mosque on the site of the Temple)

God’s representative is the church, which is available to Jew and Gentile alike!

You do not want to be here when these things start to unfold, and the only way to avoid it is to trust in Christ today