\n<\/p>
INTRODUCTION <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The great signal that the city is about to fall is the \u201cabomination of desolation,\u201d prophesied by Daniel (v. 15). <\/span> When that occurs, the \u201cgreat tribulation\u201d has come (v. 21). <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE TEXT <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTherefore when you see the <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in <\/span> <\/span> Judea <\/span> <\/span> flee to the mountains . . . .\u201d (Matthew 24:15-31). <\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL <\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The phrase \u201cabomination of desolation\u201d means an abominable act that brings desolation. <\/span> Every temple destruction in <\/span> Israel <\/span> \u2019s history was preceded by such an abomination. <\/span> Eli\u2019s sons do abominable things in the tabernacle, and Yahweh sends Philistines to destroy it (1 Samuel 2-6), and Israel fills the temple with abominable idols (Ezekiel 5:9, 11; 6:9, 11; 7:3-9; 8:6-17) and as a result Yahweh leaves the house to be desolated by the Babylonians. <\/span> In both cases, \u201cabomination\u201d refers to liturgical sins committed by <\/span> Israel <\/span> and especially by the priests. <\/span> Daniel <\/span> 11:31 <\/span> prophesies that a similar process will occur during the \u201cintertestamental\u201d period: The king of the South will encourage Jewish apostates (v. 30) and these Jewish <\/em> forces will desecrate the sanctuary, end \u201cregular\u201d sacrifice, and set up the abomination of desolation (v. 31). <\/span> Many Jews will remain faithful, but they will \u201cfall by the sword and by flame\u201d (v. 33). <\/span> The abomination is not something done by Gentile oppressors; the abomination is that sin of <\/span> Israel <\/span> that provokes Yahweh to send the Gentile oppressors. <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n What event is Jesus talking about? <\/span> We can get a hint of what Jesus is talking about by noting the connection with <\/span> 23:38 <\/span> : \u201cYour house is being left to you desolate <\/em> .\u201d <\/span> Jesus has been talking about the blood shed in the city ( <\/span> 23:34 <\/span> -35) and the fact that <\/span> Jerusalem <\/span> rejects prophets and stones those sent to her (v. 37). When the Jewish persecution of Christians becomes frenzied (vv. 9-10, 21), then the city is about to fall. <\/span> Jews see the Romans coming, and want to purify the city so they can win the battle; Christians are a defilement in the camp, so the Jews act like Phinehas (Numbers 25) and slaughter the people who brought the plague. <\/span> Like Jesus Himself, His disciples will become a scapegoat. <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FLIGHT <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the Lord sent fire from heaven onto <\/span> Sodom <\/span> , <\/span> Lot <\/span> escaped (Genesis 19). <\/span> <\/span> Jerusalem <\/span> is the new <\/span> Sodom <\/span> (Revelation 11:8), and Christians are to be like lot, fleeing from the city in a great new exodus to the mountains (Matthew 24:16). <\/span> They are not to be like <\/span> Lot <\/span> \u2019s wife, who looked back to her old life (v. 17-18). <\/span> Flight during winter would be difficult, and Christians leaving the city on the Sabbath would be conspicuous (v. 20). <\/span> Persecution will be so intense that even the elect will be in danger, but the Lord will mercifully interrupt it (v. 22-24). <\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n SON OF MAN <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The destruction of <\/span> Jerusalem <\/span> that follows the abominable slaughter of God\u2019s holy people is the manifestation of the Son of Man (v. 27). <\/span> By destroying <\/span> Jerusalem <\/span> , Jesus will prove that He is the Lord, enthroned in heaven, ready to avenge His bride. He will leave the corpse of the city for the Roman \u201cvultures\u201d to finish off (v. 28). <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" INTRODUCTION The great signal that the city is about to fall is the \u201cabomination of desolation,\u201d prophesied by Daniel (v. 15). When that occurs, the \u201cgreat tribulation\u201d has come (v. 21). THE TEXT \u201cTherefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-nt-matthew"],"yoast_head":"\n