The Abomination - Mark 13:14-23 Series

Mark 13:14 "When you see 'the abomination of desolation' standing where he does not belong-- let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of tribulation unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now-- and never to be equaled again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and per-form signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. 23 So watch out; I have told you everything ahead of time.

Introduction

Does it seem a little strange to you that Jesus tells his disciples to run when the judgment comes? Does it really do any good, when God brings his judgment, to run and hide? Can you outrun God’s judgment on you? And if it’s not directed at you, why wouldn’t God just protect you from it to begin with? Why does he tell us to run?

We’re studying the Olivet Discourse and we left off last time at v.14 which is where things get ug-ly. And if you were here last time you’re thinking, “Get ugly? Weren’t thing’s already ugly—wars, earthquakes, famines, flogging, betrayal, your own children murdering you—isn’t that already fairly ugly? It’s the beginning of ugly. But Jesus said, “Don’t even be alarmed at that—that’s just the begin-ning of pains.” But in v.14 something happens that changes everything.

Mark 13:14 When you see 'the abomination of desolation' standing where he does not belong-- let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Don’t sweat the beginning of pains, but when you see the abomination, run fast because that event will kick off a period of unparalleled, unprecedented tribulation that makes the beginning of pains look like a walk in the park. And when Jesus talks about how bad it’s going to be, he really piles it on. Other parts of the sermon are very concise and abbreviated, but not here. This paragraph that describes how bad it will be takes up 20% of the Olivet Discourse in Mark. He really wants us to get this.

14 "When you see 'the abomination … then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.

The cloak was considered essential for survival. In Exodus 22:26, it says if you’re holding some-one’s cloak as collateral for a loan, you have to give it back before sundown. It’s illegal to hold it over-night because it was so essential for survival. But here Jesus says you’d be better off to leave even your cloak behind than to take the extra few seconds to grab it. That’s how bad it’ll be.

17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

No offense to pregnant women, but they’re not exactly known for their foot speed. And if you can’t move fast, you probably won’t make it.

18 Pray that this will not take place in winter

Winter is the rainy season in Israel, so the rivers in the canyons are all swollen and uncrossable. You don’t want rain when you’re trying to make your escape.

19 because those will be days of tribulation unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now-- and never to be equaled again.

What more could you say than that? He does say more.

20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive.

Jesus is saying, “That time will be horrible, horrible, horrible beyond what you can imagine horri-ble.

What Is the Abomination?

And what’s the signal to run? The abomination of desolation. And what is that? An abomination is something God especially hates. It’s used most often of idolatry. Desolation refers to a place that has been destroyed, ruined, or abandoned. So the idea is that there will be ruin that’s associated with some horrible, idolatrous abomination. You say, “That sounds a little vague. Something horrible will hap-pen in connection with something detestable? That’s what we need to be watching for? Could we get a little more specific?”