The Abomination of Desolation (Mark[13]14-37)
The Abomination Of Desolation
Text: Mark 13:14-37
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (06/06/98)
Introduction: A terrible day is coming. A day in which men will wish themselves to die but cannot.
Rev. 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
A day during which famine, disease and war will ravage the earth with a magnitude never known before, during this time one-third of the world's vegetation will be destroyed one third of it's oceans contaminated, one third of all fresh water polluted, and a full one-half of the world's population will perish.
Rev. 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Rev. 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
This will indeed be a horrible day for mankind. This day is a period of seven years known in the Bible as the Tribulation; the Great Tribulation; and the Time of Jacob's Trouble. It is this time period which Jesus speaks of in our text for today. As we study the text we'll notice some further characteristics of the Great Tribulation.
Vs. 14. "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,)"
Back in vs.4 the disciples had asked Jesus to tell them what sign would indicate His second coming and the end of the world. Here it is.
This is a clear and unmistakeable sign!
When this occurs every Jew will know that the Lord's coming is near.
Let me explain (review briefly the main points on understanding Bible Prophecy)
1. The Tribulation pertains to the Jews.
2. Signs are for the Jews.
3. The Church's departure is not precede by signs.
So this will be a sign strictly for the Jews.
What is this abomination of desolation? Jesus said that it was spoken of by Daniel and "let him that readeth understand". We are commanded to have a proper understanding of this verse and we are told where to read. So let's turn to Daniel 9-20-27.
1. The seventy weeks or seventy sevens represent seventy sevens of years. vs.24
2. Sixty-nine of the weeks passed from the time that the command went forth to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince. vs.25
3. The seventieth week is separate from the sixty-nine and indicates the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel. vs.27
4. The seventieth week of Daniel is synonymous with the great tribulation.
5. The middle of the seventieth week is the time that the abomination of desolation occurs. vs.27
We gain further light on this passage in II Thess. 2 where Paul again used this identical sign in dealing with false teaching on the matter of the Lord's return.
II Thess. 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;
4 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.
When this abomination of desolation takes place it is the time as Jesus said "then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:"
The Jews religion will have been horribly desecrated, the antichrist will have committed the blasphemy of all blasphemies, and an intense persecution against the Jews will be unleashed.
Rev. 12 speaks of this. See vs.1-6; & vs.13-17
This persecution will come swiftly upon Israel. She will not have much time to run, she will virtually escape with only the clothes on her back. Read vs. 15-18
Vs.19 "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."
The horrible persecution and slaughter of God's people during the tribulation will make Nazi Germany look like a Sunday School picnic. It will be intense and universal; there will be nowhere to hide.
Illus: Modern-day computer technology makes it virtually impossible for you to hide.
Revelation gives us further insight into the reason for this horrible persecution.
Rev. 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Rev. 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Vs.20 "And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:"
Some people get all bent out of shape with the idea that God would send judgement upon man. And yet, even in the midst of the fiercest judgement ever poured out upon mankind, we can see the mercy and longsufferring of God. The Lord shortened the days. Why?
"but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days."
We are told in I Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
The elect, of course, are those who have been justified by faith, who have been born again.
Although no believers will enter the Tribulation (they are raptured out I Cor. 15; I Thess 4) there will be those who are saved during the Tribulation. Among them are 144,000 Jewish witnesses (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) Rev. 7.
A person who hears the Gospel today may say, "Aha, I'll believe it when I see it! Once you Christians are taken away, then I will believe, then I will get saved."
You won't either; read II Thess. 2:10-12, But it is for the elect sake that the days of the great Tribulation are shortened.
Vs.21 "And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:"
Vs.22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders,"
We live in a day when there is a preoccupation with the supernatural. Satanism, witchcraft and the occult are enjoying tremendous popularity. God is not the only one who performs supernatural wonders.
II Thess. 2:9 "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."
This statement should not surprise us for a couple of reasons.
1. Many professing believers are being deceived by signs and wonders today.
2. The Word of God is clear on the deceitful nature of Satan.
II Cor. 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
So we must not accept these supernatural phenomenon at face value but examine them in the light of scripture for the Word of God not experience is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Vs.23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."
Vs.24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,"
Last week we spent quite some time on one tribulation sign (the abomination of desolation), another sure sign of the tribulation will be the physical changes in the celestial bodies; ie. moon, sun, stars & likely planets as well. These signs were also foretold by the O.T. prophets.
Isa. 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isa. 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
Joel 2:30-31 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
We often overlook or take for granted the everyday blessings of the rising sun which sheds it's warmth on us, or the moon that sheds it's light by night. These are blessings from God, but during the tribulation as part of God's judgement on a wicked earth these blessings will be withheld.
Vs.25 "And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."
This verse is interpreted in two ways.
1). A literal reference to the stellar constellations.
2). The dismantling of the demonic realm.
Although both are Biblically accurate the first is more appropriate in light of the immediate context of vs.24.
Vs.26-27 These verses have nothing to do with the rapture. People often confuse the rapture with the actual second coming of Christ. These verses clearly deal with the latter.
The Rapture takes place prior to the great tribulation. The second coming marks the end of the tribulation and ushers in the millenial reign of Christ.
At the rapture NT saints, both the dead and the living, will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord I Thess. 4:13-18. At the second coming God will send his angels to the four corners of the earth to gather the elect vs.27. This will include the surviving tribulation saints (believing Jews and Gentiles), who will then enter the millenial kingdom Matt. 25:31-34. It will also include the resurrection of martyred Tribulation saints and OT believers Rev. 20:4-6.
In the rapture believers are caught up into the clouds, at His second coming Jesus will come with clouds. They are not clouds of rain, they are clouds of glory. They are the shekinah glory of God.
The Rapture is the hope of the church, the second coming is the hope of Israel.
Without question it is the second coming that Jesus refers to in vs.26-27. The following passages also deal with the second coming.
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Zechariah 14:1-7
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Rev. 19:11-16
Vs.28 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree;"
The fig tree in scripture is symbolic of the nation Israel. The fig tree is common in Palestine and would be easy for Jesus' Jewish audience to identify with. Here are a couple of other Bible examples.
This scripture is part of a prophesy against Israel.
Jeremiah 8:13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
"When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:"
When the first tender buds and shoots appear it is an indicator that summer is not far off and this plant will soon be in full blossom and produce it's fruit.
The budding of the fig tree as it symbolizes Israel is often interpreted to be the regathering of Israel as a nation in 1948. God's promise in the OT was that this would take place. See the following passages.....
Deut. 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
Jer. 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Ezekiel 11:17 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
There is no doubt that the regathering, at least in part, is a physical regathering of the nation.
However, to place 1948 as the blanket fulfillment of this verse is forcing an interpretation that is not in the text. If you study the OT passages you will find that the regathering of Israel is not only physical, but spiritual as well.
Deut. 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
Jer. 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Vs.29 "So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,"
In a similar way the disciples would know when Christ's coming was near. There would be unmistakeable indications that it was close. "These things", refers back to the events of vs.14-23
"know that it is nigh, even at the doors."
Once the events on God's prophetic calendar begin to unfold, (the next event is the sound of the trumpet); they will occur with amazing swiftness.
This is indicated in Rev. 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:" The phrase "shortly come to pass", does not indicate the nearness of the events but rather the rapidity with which they will unfold once they have begun.
Vs.30 "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done."
The Greek word for generation (genea) has two meanings.
1). A race, or people of a common ancestor. If this were the intended meaning than Jesus would obviously be referring to the nation Israel.
2). The balance of time allotted to a person or persons presently living.
In this case Jesus would be speaking of those who witness the events of vs.14-23 take place. The latter meaning is most in keeping with the context of this passage as it again conveys the rapidity of events which will unfold in less than a lifetime.
In either case let us also note that Israel is God's timepiece, not Bulova, or Seiko, or Timex, but Israel.
Finally, as to the sureness of these events we are told in.....
Vs.31 "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."
The passing of heaven and earth is an actual future event also spoken of by Peter in II Peter 3:7-12.
The words of Christ (not just these, but all His words) shall never pass away, they are eternal.