In Matthew 24:15, Jesus revealed that the abomination of desolation prophesied by Daniel was not completely fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the rebuilt Jewish temple in 167 BC. When Christians saw such an abomination again signified by the Roman armies beginning to surround Jerusalem (which occurred in AD70), they would need to hastily flee the city and area with the utmost urgency, not even stopping to gather possessions or basic travel necessities or pause for any reason. Their very lives would depend upon the speed of their flight!
This is when God would destroy the Jewish temple (as Jesus had prophesied); and it would be a very terrible time, especially for those who are most vulnerable like pregnant or nursing women. Jesus commanded His followers to pray that this not occur in winter or on a Sabbath. The destruction of the temple would be an awful massacre of the Jews who rushed into Jerusalem as the Romans besieged the city, the end result that the Romans abominated and demolished the temple, leaving a wake of Jewish blood behind them: this was God’s judgment!
However, we also observed that the tribulation Jesus was ultimately speaking of was THE great tribulation that the saints of God would endure right before His second coming. The destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 foreshadowed such a future great tribulation. If God did not mercifully end THE tribulation, every Christian alive on earth at that time would eventually be exterminated at the satanic hands of Antichrist and his followers. The 3rd and most significant abomination of desolation to come will be Antichrist taking his seat in the temple of God (which is Christ’s church) and exalting himself as God, demanding worship. False christs and false prophets will then be raised up, performing amazing miracles through the power of Satan, and attempting to deceive Christians that Jesus has already returned. But they will not be able to fool the elect – not one of Christ’s sheep will be lost! No matter what they proclaim, Jesus will not be out in the wilderness or in an inner room.
This is because His return will be unmistakably evident to all, just as lightning illuminates the entire sky. At the conclusion of this time of unprecedented tribulation, the universe will literally be shaken by God. This cosmic disorder will throw unbelievers into a terrified panic, but the elect of God will recognize that Christ is about to appear, and that their salvation is near. Then the sign of the visible glory of the resurrected and glorified Son of Man will appear, Christ in His unveiled glory, signifying that He is about to descend to meet His people who arise to meet Him in the air, carried up by His angels sent out with a loud trumpet blast. This is the sign of His coming, and this spectacular event ends the present evil age. This answers the disciples’ questions of when Jesus will come and what precedes the end of the age.
Listen to last week’s teaching on Matthew 24:15-31 below.
