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Bible Reading
Introduction
From our previous studies in , you will recall that Jesus had told his disciples that the temple would be destroyed, not one stone would be left upon another.
Based on this pronouncement by Christ, a question was posed to Jesus by four of his disciples, asking when all of these things would take place.
A question was posed.
In response to that, Jesus began by outlining for them a number of general warning signs that should be expected.
Jesus began by responding with general warning signs that should be expected.
Jesus spoke of deceivers coming into the world;
Earthquakes, wars, rumours of wars, nation rising against nation, false teachers would arise etc.
He spoke of wars and rumors of wars;
He spoke of nation rising against nation;
He spoke of Earthquakes and famines.
But His words there were very general, and (importantly for the disciples) these were what He called the beginnings of birth pains.
As I mentioned last week, all of those warning signs continue in our own day.
Every single one of them.
The same signs are seen as we look at the world around us.
What was important for the disciples, as is important for us today as we observe these signs in the world, is that we need to heed the instruction of Jesus to be discerning.
Elabourate on “Be Discerning”...
As we come to the verses that we will consider this morning, we must notice that there is a change in the way in which the details are given.
In these next few verses, Christ moves from giving vague and general elements that show the beginnings of birth pains, to giving some very specific details to his disciples.
The details that we read of in this particular passage (along with the support from parallel accounts in Matthew and Luke) are not vague.
They are clear.
Now to our minds, the details may remain a little unclear due to the language and terminology, the same was not the case for the Jews and disciples of Jesus’ day.
Sermon Title: "Instructions for the Tribulation"
As we come to the text, we need to recognise that the central idea in this portion of Scripture is that Christ is giving his disciples instructions for a time of great tribulation that is approaching.
As we come to the text, we need to recognise that the central idea in this portion of Scripture is that Christ is giving his disciples instructions for a time of great tribulation that is approaching.
The word “tribulation” occurs in verse 19 of our text (NIV = distress):
The word for tribulation there is the Greek θλῖψις (Thripsis), which is variously translated as “tribulation”, “Affliction”, “distress”, “anguish” etc.
The essence of it is that there will be a time of great turmoil and hardship - difficult days!
The disciples will need to be prepared for this, and they will need to take action in this time that comes.
In my view, the words of Christ that are recorded for us here came to fulfillment at the fall of Jerusalem and the temple, in AD 70.
1.
The Sign of the Tribulation (v.14)
The first point that we will consider this morning is “The Sign of the Tribulation.”
Jesus speaks to his disciples here about a sign that is to come that will be a warning for them that this time of tribulation is at hand, and that they should thus respond accordingly.
The sign that Jesus speaks about is “The Abomination that causes Desolation”...
This abomination that causes desolation will be standing where it does not belong.
To our minds, this may be extremely puzzling language.
We don’t understand what was being spoken of.
We don’t understand the terminology being used.
But those to whom Christ spoke would have had a much greater appreciation of what was being said.
In the first place, there was a context to the word “abomination” - which is somewhat lost on us today!
What does “abomination” even mean, and in what context was it used for the Jews?
The term “abomination” ... appears more than 100 times in the Old Testament and just a few times in the New Testament.
An abomination is normally a great sin, commonly worthy of death....Scripture calls sexual sins like adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality abominations (e.g., , ).
But more often throughout the Bible “abomination” refers to major covenant violations, especially idolatry...
For example in Deuteronomy:
(in Deuteronomy alone, see 7:25, 13:6-16, 17:2-5, 18:9-12, 27:15, 32:16).
In the historical books, “abomination” always describes idolatry, often with child sacrifice (, ).
In the historical books, “abomination” always describes idolatry, often with child sacrifice (, ).
So the words that were being used in terms of abomination had a meaning to the people of the day.
The abomination was “A Detestable Thing,” and for the Jews, mostly related to things which were detestable in God’s eyes.
If we look across to Matthew’s Gospel, we find some additional words of Christ that were recorded by Matthew in .
Matthew there writes that this abomination of desolation was spoken of through the prophet Daniel.
Furthermore however, if we look across to Matthew’s Gospel, we find some additional words of Christ that were recorded by Matthew in .
Matthew there writes that this abomination of desolation was spoken of through the prophet Daniel.
That phrase is found in the prophecy of Daniel in a few places.
So the prophet Daniel speaks very clearly of this abomination of desolation - some abomination (probably referring to idol worship) being set up.
We need to now recognise that the words spoken by the prophet Daniel had a fulfillment even prior to the coming of Christ.
It was the Greek King Antiochus Epiphanes who later would fulfill that prophecy.
This Greek king was very powerful, and was attempting to spread the Greek influence of culture (Hellenism).
Antiochus issued a decree outlawing Jewish rites and worship, and he ordered the Jews to worship Zeus, rather than Yahweh.
This was an attempt to utterly eliminate all traces of Jewish culture.
This led to a rebellion by the Jews.
That in turn led to Antiochus raiding the Jewish Temple, plundering it of its treasures, and setting up an altar to Zeus.
He then proceeded to offer up Pigs as a sacrificial offering on the altar to Zeus.
Here was the abomination that causes desolation.
Such evil being set up in the very temple of God.
Unclean animals being sacrificed.
These events are recorded for us in historical books, including the book of 1 Maccabees (apocryphal writings).
This all led eventually to the Maccabean revolt.
And yet in our current text, as we consider the words of Christ, we see that he warns His disciples of another such abomination.
He tells them that when they see this abomination of desolation being set up where it should not be (referring to the holy place, the temple), then the disciples should know that there is trouble.
This will be the warning sign for them that they are to run!!
They are to flee to the mountains.
And friends, such an abomination did occur.
With reference to the abomination that Jesus was speaking of, if you go across to Luke’s account of this, he adds this detail:
Jesus said that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies, and when this took place, they would know that the desolation was near.
These signs would be very apparent to them, and they would know that immediate action was necessary.
And friends, precisely this happened.
In 70 A.D. following the Jews having revolted against the Romans who were trying to Hellenize them, the Roman forces surrounded Jerusalem and began to attack them.
A massive war broke out.
Jerusalem was on the brink of destruction.
2. The Urgency in the Tribulation (v.15-17)
That leads us to our second consideration from the text, and that is “The Urgency in the Tribulation.”
In verses 15-17, we find Christ’s words as He urges His disciples to take urgent steps to get out of Judea at this time when these events unfold.
The picture that is given is that there will be no time to even get the most basic of belongings when these events unfold.
It will be necessary to drop everything and flee to the mountains.
In those days, the houses of the people usually had flat roofs, with stairs going up on the outside of the house.
The roofs of these houses were used for relaxation and cooling off during summer evenings.
Jesus says, if you’re up on the roof of your house - get away as fast as possible.
Don’t go inside to gather your belongings.
Don’t think about what you’re going to need for your trip.
Just flee!!
He further says that if you’re out in the field, whether working in the field or just walking through it, forget about getting to your house and fetching anything there.
Just run away.
This would be a time that these disciples would learn just how loosely they were to hold on to their possessions.
Nothing was going with them.
One wonders if they limited their accumulation of goods after that, knowing that this day was approaching.
But we should pause to ask ourselves, are we ready to leave behind everything that we have here?
It’s a
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