Troubled Times Ahead Series

As we look at the events of recent history, in this country and around the world, we wonder are we seeing the beginnings of the end times? We ask the question, when will Jesus come back? Will we, the church, be raptured out before it all gets bad?

Often, I feel like we are one big family, crammed in the family minivan out on a road trip. And the question that comes up over and over again: “Are we there yet?” “How much longer? When is the end?

I don’t know about you but considering all that is happening in the world today, I’m ready for Jesus to come right now. We are living in what is perhaps the most dynamic time in all of earth’s history. We are seeing things, good and bad, that our grandparents never dreamed would ever happen. Yet we are seeing things happening in our nation that grieves us deeply. We wonder what is in store for us, as Christians. Look around, it seems the whole world is against anything and anyone Christian Jesus tells us plainly:

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

That hate the world has for Jesus and those who belong to him will only get worse, if I understand my Bible correctly. I am here to preach the whole counsel of God. But I will hear many so called Christians ask me, “But doesn’t God want me to be happy?” Often that is asked in such a way to justify some sin. The fact is, nowhere in the Bible is the call from God to His people to be happy, but the call is clear for His people to be holy.

1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

And with holiness will come joy that is eternal and transcends our circumstances. The fact of the matter, as we look into the future, our circumstances as Christians will only get worse. Jesus tells us that in the world we will have trouble:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

In fact Jesus warns us time and time again of trouble times ahead. As we look into Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, Jesus is answering the questions the Disciples had in verse 3.

Matthew 24:3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Our focal passage will dive further into that question.

Matt 24:15–22

Many commentators believe these verses deal with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple back in 70 AD. Yes the destruction at that time was great along with the tribulation suffered by of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea. Forty years after this event, the Jewish historian Josephus wrote,

“All the rest of the wall encompassing the city was so completely leveled to the ground as to leave future visitors to the spot no ground for believing that it had ever been inhabited.” He also claimed that when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and devastated Judea, 97,000 Jews were enslaved, and another 1.1 million died by slaughter and starvation. [1]

So there was a short term aspect of Jesus’ prophecy, but I believe there is also further significance to these words for the future beyond the destruction of 70 AD.

Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

First of all I want to emphasize what Matthew added here "(let the reader understand)" and is found also in Mark 13:14. Matthew and Mark were writing for future readers and for their understanding. Any Bible scholar of that day (and today for that matter) with any knowledge of the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Daniel, know that this verse has direct reference to Daniel, especially since Jesus mentions him by name.

“The abomination of desolation” is mentioned 3 times in Daniel, in chapters 9, 11, and 12. Just what is the “abomination of desolation?” The Jews of Jesus’ knew very well what this was. In 167 BC during the oppressive reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, he polluted the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and erecting a pagan shrine in the temple. Afterwards, when the temple was cleansed and the Jews instituted a festival called the “Festival of Lights” that we call Hanukkah.

When you see the “abomination that causes desolation” (NIV) “standing in the holy place.” What is that “holy place?” The implication is clear, at very least the temple is indicated, and more specifically, the very Holy of Holies within the temple may indicated as well. Remember Jesus and His disciples were sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple. The abomination will be set up in the temple, and that will bring desolation. However Jesus was looking to future and not backwards with His reference to Daniel. Jesus, drawing a conclusion from what we had said previously in verses 4-14, He said in verse 15, “Therefore when,” Jesus did not say if but when. This was something that was going to happen. Daniel makes the timeframe quite clear in his prophecy of 70 weeks in Daniel 9:24-27.