Many people like to know what is coming in the days ahead. We like to know the weather forecast several days in advance, along with knowing what’s going on around town in advance. Sometimes when we don’t know what to expect in advance we can get worried. Because people like to know what will happen in the future, there is a proliferation of fortune tellers, astrologers, and other prognosticators in many cities. In our Scripture today the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gives us a glimpse of some of the things that will truly happen in the last days before His triumphant return. Let’s take a quick look at some of the things that Jesus said would happen in those days.
As our passage opens, Jesus spoke about the “abomination of desolation” which the prophet Daniel had spoken about (Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11). Daniel’s prophecy of this abomination has two fulfillments. The first was through the Greek emperor Antiochus IV. The Greek empire, founded by Alexander the Great, ruled over much of the Balkan peninsula, parts of North Africa, and most of western Asia, including Israel. Antiochus IV, who ruled the empire from 175 - 164 BC, had a particular hatred for the Jewish people and religion. In 167 BC he defiled the rebuilt Second Temple in Jerusalem, setting upon the altar statues of Zeus, and sacrificing a pig upon the altar. He also forced the priests to eat swine flesh. This was the abomination of desolation Daniel foretold. Jesus predicted that this will happen again (vs. 14). Someone similar to Antiochus IV, who also has a particularly vehement hatred for God’s people, will commit a similar abomination, some type of vile sacrilege. Many believe that the Temple will be rebuilt again in Jerusalem, and that in the last days the Antichrist will similarly defile that Temple.
Jesus describes the days that will follow as being particularly severe for believers, for God’s people (vs. 15-18). The Antichrist and his followers will persecute Christians so severely that they will need to flee for their lives, sometimes so quickly that they won’t be able to take all of their belongings with them. Jesus warns them that they won’t even be able to return to their homes for extra clothes. It will also be particularly difficult for pregnant women, and if it is wintertime.
This time, the Lord Jesus stated, is a time of such great tribulation, that it will be the worst in human history (vs. 19-20). We might think that the days of World War II were especially bad. Some here have either fought in or lived through other wars, and they were bad. However, Jesus said that this time, coming shortly before His return at His Second Coming, will be the worst in human history. God has mercy, though, and for the sake of His children He will shorten those days.
Jesus then warned us to not be fooled and deceived by people posing as false messiahs and prophets (vs. 21-23). There have always been people who have posed as great religious leaders, but their message is false. Unsuspecting people, particularly those who are Biblically illiterate, who don’t know their Scriptures, will fall for these false prophets messages. Jesus warns us to not be deceived. We need to be vigilant and discerning who is teaching good and solid Biblical doctrine and who is teaching heresy and other false messages in order to avoid deception. The way to do that is by getting into God’s Word and studying it, and through prayer, relying on the Holy Spirit.
Those who are alive at that time should not be taken by surprise when these events happen. Jesus has told us about them beforehand (vs. 23). He has warned us to be prepared, to understand the signs and stay faithful. He has warned us to stay vigilant and discerning with the Antichrist and false teachers. We can trust in God’s sovereignty. As Christians, we can trust that He is in control, and that He has promised to shorten these days for the sake of His Blood-bought children.
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